Common older age-related health issues: scientifically, there are a lot of physical and emotional changes that happen to our bodies in the form of overlapping diseases as we get older, such as diabetes, obesity, and other diseases that only affect adults.
Dr. Samhar Oqubamikael working in East Africa International Medical Center Kabalagala and Ndeeba branches is talking about geriatric medicine which refers to older age-related health issues affecting people aged over 65 years and possible treatment measures.
There are also adult health issues that affect older age adults than the rest of the population. We divide them into the main five which are: vision and hearing problems, uncertain falls, osteoporosis, dementia, and depression.
Most common older age-related health issues and diseases are usually ignored as they are more related to growth. Thus, geriatric medicine was established to diagnose and treat such diseases. Besides the medical services health professionals provide, on the other hand, adults also have a social life:
- Who do they live with.
- How they survive.
- How they are active.
- Can they eat or wear their clothes.
- Or bathe themselves.
Furthermore, there are other medical issues that medical professionals and caretakers should focus on, such as:
- What kind of illness do they have.
- What they feel, and the medicines they take.
Based on this, medical professionals and caretakers can tell the disease or sickness the victims are suffering and how best they can treat them.
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Table of Contents
5 Most common older age-related health issues adults explained.
1. The first health problem in adults is vision and hearing problems.
The first problem of the common older age-related health issues is hearing loss which is more common in adults than in other age groups. It is reported that up to 25% of people aged 65 years and above have hearing loss.
Hearing loss can be many things, for example, when cerumen commonly known as earwax fills our ears, the hearing is greatly reduced and this can be easily detected with an otoscope. The good news is that you can prevent it. Another cause of hearing loss in adults is presbycusis which comes with age and breeds slowly and we can eliminate it by hearing.
How to prevent these hearing problems in adults
There are simple ways to treat hearing-related problems in adults by doing the following.
- Adequately lighting the area where they live.
- Muffling the noise around them.
- Talk to them face to face when talking to them since adults have a lip perception that they develop over time.
Besides hearing problems, the other common older age-related health issue is vision loss where they cannot see things nearby clearly.
The best way to prevent vision problems is by getting the bride’s eyes covered and going to an eye doctor for a follow-up.
2. The second health problem in adults is uncertain falls.
The reports say that uncertain falls happen in 30% of people aged 65 and above. And out of the 30% who fall, 14% do not get up once they fall. More so, 90% of all fractures in adults are caused by these falls, which expose them to other diseases.
For example, as a result, they can get blood clots and stroke because sleeping in bed for long periods exposes the body to this as well. Therefore, we must remove anything around them that could cause them to fall. If there is an uneven environment, we need to improve it.
3. The third problem among adults is osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a health condition that weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break. It develops slowly over several years and is often only diagnosed when a fall or sudden impact causes a bone to break commonly known as a fracture. The most common injury in people with osteoporosis is a broken wrist.
Notably, osteoporosis is more common in women, especially those over 50 years of age caused by a deficiency of estrogen compared to men who are affected at 70 years and above.
Unfortunately, this loose bone problem can cause bone fractures even with minor injuries. For example, a spinal cord injury can lead to other health problems. You may also experience recurrent lung infections.
Usually, people who experience osteoporosis are those who:
- Do not get much sun.
- Live a sedentary lifestyle.
- Eat a diet low in vitamin D and calcium.
To prevent osteoporosis, we need to exercise regularly, eat foods rich in vitamin D, and give estrogen to women over 50 years.
4. The fourth most common problem in adults is dementia.
Dementia is not a specific disease but is a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interfere with everyday activities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. 60 to 70 % of adult diseases are caused by Alzheimer’s disease which we can divide into four parts.
- The first stage is mild problems where they remember things that happened earlier.
- The second stage is when the disease appears 1-3 years later from the onset and they forget what happened earlier.
- The third stage is seen between 2 and 8 years from the onset, which means that they cannot remember their surroundings and forget what happened to them a year ago.
- The fourth stage is the strongest where they even forget things that happened in their childhood. This can be treated properly by going to a psychiatrist. Something we can do ourselves but not to move away from the environment they are used to or know, and to make them spend time with people they know.
5. The fifth most common adult problem is depression.
Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think, and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.
Depression is more common in adults because it is associated with the number of diseases that occur with growth. For example, when they have uncertain falls and are cared for by people, some of the symptoms are:
- Refusal to eat.
- Not socializing.
- Weight loss.
- Oversleeping.
howevermuch this disease is one of the common older age-related health issues, it can be treated in collaboration with a psychiatrist.
Conclusion
As we age, our bodies undergo physical and emotional changes that can lead to various health issues. From vision and hearing problems to uncertain falls, osteoporosis, dementia, and depression, older adults are more vulnerable to these common older age-related health issues and conditions.
However, with the help of geriatric medicine, we can diagnose and treat these diseases more effectively. By providing adequate medical care and support, we can improve their quality of life and help them to live healthy, active, and independent lives.
It is essential to focus not only on the medical conditions but also on the social life of older adults to ensure they live a happy and fulfilling life. Let us take preventive measures, provide the necessary support, and address the health issues affecting older adults to help them age gracefully and enjoy life to the fullest.
This geriatric medicine is that adults should receive the same care as other age groups by seeking treatment at least once every six months or year. If you are within or outside Kampala looking for advice on any adult-related diseases, come to our branches to get the necessary advice or contact us at our address.