About 95% of seniors have chronic health issues that prevent them from getting the most out of life.
Senior living isn’t easy, especially if you deal with various common health problems. However, you can improve the later years of your life by understanding the problems many seniors face.
In this guide, you’ll learn about various health issues, their causes, and how to treat them. No matter how old you are, you can benefit from this information.
Here are 6 of the most common health problems among seniors.
1. Diabetes
Diabetes is one of the most common health problems seniors face, but you can prevent it with a healthy diet and exercise.
When you have diabetes, your body cannot create enough insulin or use it properly to control your blood sugar level. This often results in high blood sugar, which can permanently damage various parts of your body if left untreated.
The quickest way to detect diabetes is to get a blood test. It’s not curable, though when a doctor notices you have it, they may prescribe you an insulin medication.
In the early stages of diabetes, one will go through a “pre-diabetic” stage. This is when they have high blood sugar, but not high enough to be considered diabetes. This is the only stage in which diabetes is reversible, and it requires a complete change in one’s lifestyle.
2. Alzheimer’s
Another common health problem is Alzheimer’s, a type of dementia that affects various parts of one’s brain. This disease can deteriorate one’s ability to think, reason, and behave properly.
Alzheimer’s prevents nerve cells in the brain from communicating, resulting in their death over time. Several types of medications exist that help the brain’s nerve cells, though they can only be prescribed by a professional.
Currently, there is no known way to prevent Alzheimer’s. However, many that have Alzheimer’s also suffer from various cardiovascular issues. Because of this, you may lower your chances of getting Alzheimer’s if you avoid smoking and stay active.
3. Arthritis
Arthritis isn’t a disease, but it’s a condition that involves the swelling of joints. Some forms of arthritis are caused by poor immune systems, but many are caused by overuse.
Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that occurs from wear and tear. When doing stressful activities with your body, the cartilage in your joints can start thinning and cause your bones to grind together.
Rheumatoid arthritis is when the body’s immune system attacks its tissues. However, aside from attacking cartilage, it can also deteriorate the bones within the joint.
Seniors are at a higher risk of health issues like arthritis because the body naturally becomes unable to handle wear and tear. Yet, like many other issues, you can treat it with medication.
4. Cancer
Cancer is a destructive disease that involves the abnormal growth of cells in one’s body. While cell growth can help one recover from various wounds, cancer can prevent organs from functioning properly.
Many things can cause cancer, such as smoking, drinking, excessive sun exposure, and obesity. The chances of getting it increases as you get older because you’re likely to spend a lot of time doing unhealthy habits.
Aside from that, your body will take more time to recover from injuries. When you have a buildup of damaged cells, other cells can grow and multiply more than they usually would, causing cancer.
Doctors often treat cancer with surgery and special medicine. Depending on where the cancer is, they may cut out tissue to immediately rid your body of the cancer. Treatments like chemotherapy, which involve shrinking and killing cancer cells, are for more severe cases.
5. Obesity
Obesity is a global problem that affects over 1 billion people, including seniors. It can lead to a variety of other health concerns, including high blood pressure, heart disease, organ failure, strokes, and more.
While some health conditions can cause obesity, the main causes are overeating and lack of exercise. As a senior, it can be hard to stay active, but like many other issues, you can avoid getting obese by eating clean.
Walking often can also help you avoid getting obese because you’ll burn more calories. You’ll also prevent your bones and joints from weakening due to lack of use.
6. Hearing Loss
The last common senior health issue we’ll go over is hearing loss, which is caused by many things.
Some seniors can experience a loss of hearing when dealing with other health issues, like diabetes and high blood pressure. Changes within the ear as you age can also weaken your ability to hear.
While it doesn’t seem possible to prevent age-related hearing loss, avoiding loud noises will prevent things from getting worse.
If you do experience a loss of hearing, you can use hearing aids from Beltone Hearing Care to retain your hearing. These are small devices with microphones and amplifiers that attach to the ears, making it easier to hear loud sounds.
Avoid These Common Health Problems
Now that you know about the most common health problems seniors face, it’s time to start making changes in your lifestyle to avoid them. Although some of them are unavoidable, living a healthier lifestyle will provide you with numerous physical and mental benefits.
If you know a senior that has health concerns, help them determine what they can change in their life. Sickness prevention is all about taking initiative before you know there’s a serious problem.
For more health-related articles, explore the rest of our health and fitness sections!