Growing old can appear intimidating, from having wrinkles, forgetting where you placed your items, to greying hairs. It is also mostly accompanied by unique health issues, and this is where health insurance companies can prove to be helpful. When the natural aging process is coupled with poor lifestyle choices, this is even worse and can cause one to develop quite various health conditions. Families can play an important part in ensuring that their senior kin stay healthy. This article gives insights into the common health conditions among the elderly and how they can be managed and avoided.
Arthritis
Arthritis refers to the breaking down of the tissues in joints. It presents negative effects such as restrictions of movements in the joints, pain, and inflammation. Two major Arthritis types exist, and these are Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type among the elderly; it is majorly caused by wear and tear as the elderly have used their joints in their entire lifetime.
Arthritis symptoms include.
- Inflammation around and in joints
- Restricted movement of joints
- Joint tenderness, pain, and stiffness
Arthritis has no known cure; it can only be managed eusing corticosteroids and painkillers. One of the negative effects of arthritis is that it increases a person’s potential to fall.
Heart disease
Heart disease has been ranked to be one of the leading causes of death in adults above 65. Usually, as people get older, they often have various conditions, including high cholesterol and high blood pressure, increasing their probability of developing heart disease or even having a stroke. Some of the ways in which that one can reduce the risk of developing heart diseases include having a healthy diet, exercising, and having a good night’s sleep.
Hypertension
Also referred to as high blood pressure, hypertension is very common. Numbers show that one in every four adults in the UK has hypertension, but very few will even realize it. Therefore, it is imperative to have your blood pressure frequently checked to ensure you are well informed of your body’s health. Perceptible symptoms of high- blood pressure is rare. The only time a person notices hypertension symptom is when it has reached dangerously high levels, referred to as the hypertensive crisis. The symptoms include an irregular heartbeat, anxiety, and chest pain. Hypertension exerts a lot of pressure on the heart, blood vessels, and other major organs such as the kidneys. It also increases the risk of other potentially lethal medical conditions, including:
- Heart attacks
- Heart failure
- Heart disease.
- Vascular dementia.
- Kidney disease
- Strokes
Hypertension can be managed and treated in a variety of ways, which include:
- Quitting smoking: Nicotine has the effect of raising a person’s heart rate and blood pressure. If you smoke, then stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do to your general health.
- Watch your diet: Avoid foods with high levels of sugar and saturated fats. You can substitute them with vegetables and fruits.
- Leading an active lifestyle: Ensure that you exercise often. Start by ensuring that you regularly walk and then go into jogging.
There are also hypertension prescription drugs that you can get from your doctors or medicine prescription services such as HealthExpress.
Malnutrition.
Typically, malnutrition in adults aged over 65 is often underdiagnosed and can cause other elderly health issues, including muscle weakness and an overall weekend immune system. Malnutrition can result from other health problems, including alcoholism, depression, diet restriction, limited income, and reduced social contact. The elderly can avoid malnutrition by decreasing salt and saturated fat intake and, on the other hand, increasing their vegetables and fruits intake.
Asthma
Asthma happens when the airways of the body become delicate to allergens and get inflamed. The inflammation can result in a frightening and painful attack that causes the narrowing and tightening of the airways’ muscles, making it hard to breathe. Asthma symptoms include:
- Breathlessness
- A tight feeling around the chest
- Coughing
The elderly is vulnerable to asthma, and it’s even worse when they have flu or cold. Asthma is a life-threatening condition, and thus, managing it is particularly important.
Constipation and bladder control
Constipation and incontinence are common conditions among aging and can negatively impact their quality of life. While age-related changes may cause these two, bladder control issues and constipation can be side effects of some of the issues mentioned above. Thus, the elderly must manage each condition as recommended to ensure it doesn’t result in another condition.
In conclusion, when one is aging, they are typically growing weaker, and this is accompanied by quite a variety of health issues, as discussed above. To ensure a good quality of life, it is important that that one takes proactive measures to keep these conditions at bay, and when you got any of them, ensure that you adhere to the management procedures listed. Where medicine is needed, ensure you buy them from reputable sites, review sites such as UK ReviewsBird will help you out with this.
