When you have passed middle age, you might notice you are dealing with new health problems more frequently. That is why it is important to know how to take care of your health and what to do when you experience a health issue. Take a look at the following for some ideas on how you can deal with health problems that might arise as you age.
Heart disease
Unfortunately, over 30 percent of older men and 25 percent of older women have signs of heart disease. Those high morbidity rates eventually lead to heart attacks and fatalities among senior citizens.
Since other health issues, like diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure cause additional strain on the heart, it makes sense to manage those conditions with doctor recommendations, diet, and exercise. Get at least an hour of exercise every day, and if you smoke then look into quitting to reduce the risk to your heart.
Diabetes
Your chance of getting diabetes increases with age, so it is essential to control your blood sugar levels. If diabetes is untreated or poorly managed, it can lead to long-term problems like kidney failure, heart disease, blindness, foot problems, and loss of limbs.
Focus on eating a variety of fruits and vegetables daily and limiting foods with sugar, salt, and saturated fat. It is also recommended that you get at least one hour of exercise per day.
Joint pain and arthritis
Almost everyone will begin to experience arthritis in the senior years as a result of cartilage in the joints wearing out. Being overweight or obese, smoking and genetics increase the risk.
Natural products, like fish oil or glucosamine, may help joints, while pain relievers help ease discomfort. Gentle exercise, like chair yoga, swimming, and walking are excellent for arthritis sufferers.
Osteoporosis
Porous bones and low bone density are elements of osteoporosis. With this health condition, bones wear down more quickly than they can redevelop.
Osteoporosis can result in brittle, easily broken bones. Prevention starts with eating plenty of calcium-rich foods or taking supplements and improving muscle strength with activities like lifting light weights or using weights while exercising.
Sexual health
Many people enjoy an active sex life into old age. It is good for both mental and physical health, however, having many sexual partners increases the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Keep in mind that many STDs show no obvious symptoms at first, so if you are having intimate encounters with several partners it is crucial to be tested regularly. You can easily make appointments for STD testing in Dallas and other major cities.
Alzheimer’s disease
While we all forget things now and then, the type of memory loss that is a feature of Alzheimer’s disease is continuous and increases over time. Symptoms include regularly misplacing things, leaving items in unusual places, forgetting appointments, names, or conversations, and repeating the same thing many times.
Alzheimer’s prevention tactics involve keeping your mind active and getting plenty of physical exercise, which might help to delay the onset of the disease.
Depression
With age comes a number of social changes in life that can lead to depression in seniors. Losing a spouse, friends and family members causes sadness and loneliness. It can also be frustrating and isolating if it becomes difficult to do certain physical activities that we used to love.
While it can be challenging to deal with the social and physical changes that come with age, it can be an excellent time to start a new hobby or social activity. Look for community events and exercise programs designed for your age group.
Cancer
Cancer is a major health concern, but when it is detected early it is typically treatable with chemotherapy, surgery, and other interventions.
It is worth getting a mammogram to check for breast cancer, and if symptoms indicate a possible problem, a colonoscopy to look for potential colon cancer. Men should also be aware of the indicators of prostate cancer.
Vision problems
Like other parts of the body, our eyes can run into trouble as we age. From glaucoma to cataracts, there are many potential vision issues that require screening at your next appointment.
If you are seeing flashes of light, spots, blurriness, black tunnel effect, visual distortion, double vision, or any other eye problem, you should make an appointment immediately.
Urinary problems
With age comes a reduction of muscles and our organs become less effective, so it is common to experience issues with bladder control for both men and women.
There are medications that can reduce issues with urgency to urinate. Check with your doctor if you have any issues with urgency or have trouble urinating.
Whatever health issues life brings your way as you age, there are ways to cope and still live a fulfilling life. Remember to see your doctor for regular checkups and ask for information on any issues that arise. For example, concierge MD LA can provide on-demand access to doctors and other healthcare professionals who are ready and able to offer personalized care for various illnesses and ailments related to aging. Being well informed will help you know what to do when facing one of the common health conditions that affect seniors.
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