Common Senior Health Issues
Are you searching for “common senior health issues”? If you are, you may be concerned about what your loved one may face as they grow older. Today, people in the United States can look forward to living longer than ever before. Once you reach the age of 65, data suggests that you can possibly live another 19 years, on average, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
10 Common Senior Health Issues
For a lot of us, then, senior living includes carefully handling chronic conditions in order to stay healthy. Here are some examples of common health issues that today’s senior’s face.
Arthritis
Arthritis is possibly the number one condition that people 65 or older deal with. The CDC estimates that it around 50 % of adults over 65 and can lead to pain and poorer quality of life for some. Despite the fact that arthritis discourages you from remaining active, it’s invaluable to work with your physician to develop a custom activity plan.
Cancer
According to the CDC, cancer is the second leading cause of death among people over age 65. The CDC also reported that 28% of men and 21% of women over the age of 65 are living with cancer. If detected early on through test screenings, such as colonoscopies, mammograms, and skin checks. A lot of types of cancer are not curable, but are treatable. Although you are not always able to prevention of cancer, you can enhance your quality of life as a senior living with cancer, along with your treatment, by working with your medical team and maintaining and following their suggestions.
Alzheimer’s Disease
According to the Center for Disease Control, Alzheimer’s disease estimated that around 92,604 deaths of people over the age of 65 in 2014. The Alzheimer’s Association reported that 1 in 9 people aged 65 and older, which is around 11%, have Alzheimer’s disease. Because diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease is challenging, it’s hard to know the exact number of people are living with this chronic condition.
Heart Disease
According to the Center of Disease Control, heart disease continues to be the leading killer of adults over the age of 65, totaling around 489,722 deaths in the year 2014. As a constant condition, heart disease affects 37 % of men and 26 % of women 65 and older. As people age, they are continuously living with risk factors, such as having high cholesterol or high blood pressure , that increases the chances of developing heart disease or suffering a stroke.
Respiratory Diseases
Chronic lower respiratory diseases, such as COPD or pulmonary hypertension, are the third leading cause of death among people 65 years of age and older. Among people 65 and older, about 10% of men and 13% of women are living with asthma, and 10% of men and 11% of women are living with emphysema or chronic bronchitis. Even though having a chronic respiratory disease escalates a senior’s health risk, making you more susceptible to pneumonia and other types of infections, getting lung function evaluations and taking the prescribed medication, or using oxygen as advised, will go a long way toward maintaining your health and your quality of life.
Osteoporosis
According to The National Osteoporosis Foundation they estimate that around 54 million Americans over the age of 50 are affected by low bone mass or osteoporosis, putting them at risk for a break or fracture. They also estimate that by the 2020 that number will increase to 64.4 million Americans.
Falls
The risk for falls needing an emergency room visit increases as we age. Year after year, 2.5 million people ages 65 and older are cared for in emergency rooms due to falls, according to the Center for Disease Control. That’s higher than any other age group. According to a study published in August 2015 in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 1/3 of seniors who take a trip to the emergency room for a fall possibly may find themselves there again within 1 year. Also be wary that most falls occur inside the home, where tripping dangers include throw rugs and slick bathroom floors.
Diabetes
The Center for Disease Control, estimates that 25% of people aged 65 and older are living with diabetes, a serious senior health risk. Some studies have found diabetes caused 54,161 deaths among adults over the age of 65 in 2014. Diabetes can be diagnosed and addressed early on, with easy blood tests for measuring blood sugar levels. The earlier you know that you have diabetes or are at risk for diabetes, the sooner you can begin making adjustments to manage the disease and improve your long-term health outlook.
Pneumonia and Influenza
Even though the flu and pneumonia are not chronic, these infections are included in the top 8 causes of death in people over the age of 65, according to the Center for Disease Control. Seniors are more susceptible to these diseases and are less able to fight them off. Senior healthcare suggests getting yearly flu shot, and getting a pneumonia vaccine if advised by your doctor, to prevent these types of infections.
Substance Abuse
An examination of data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions suggests that 1 in 5 people over the age of 65 have had a substance abuse or alcohol abuse problem at some moment in their lives. Tobacco and Alcohol capped the list of non-medical substances abused by evaluation participators. Substance abuse and alcohol abuse are a huge concern for seniors’ health because the possibility of their interactions with prescription medications and the increased senior health risks, such as falls, related to intoxication.
Senior Living Facilities AZ
This list may seem intimidating, but with appropriate medical care, good lifestyle decisions, and support from family and health care specialists, today’s senior’s can enjoy a longer, high-quality life. To schedule a tour of one of our assisted living facilities, visit SLS Communities or for more information please call us today at 623-544-4777.