Article #2 — To A Long And Healthy Life
Meeting The Health Challenges of Seniors
As the saying goes, “Growing old is not for sissies.” There’s no getting around the fact that our bodies change as we grow older. The aging process for senior adults can bring with it a number of potential medical problems. And with more of us living longer than ever before, Americans must confront these challenges for longer periods of time. Experts generally agree that the most common health problems for seniors can be grouped into six major categories.
1) Cardiovascular Disease
The greatest factor for increased cardiovascular disease is age. People older than 65 are much more likely to have a heart attack, stroke or coronary heart disease. Indeed, heart disease and stroke account for 40 percent of all deaths ages 65 to 74 and 60 percent of all deaths after the age of 85.
2) Osteoporosis
The risk of osteoporosis, a disease characterized by bone loss, increases with age. Women are particularly vulnerable to the disease, which can lead to bone fractures.
3) Dementia
Dementia is the word physicians use for the loss or impairment of mental powers. Dementia is not a normal part of growing older. Many people who live to an old age do not experience significant memory problems or other symptoms of dementia. The symptoms of dementia can be caused by many different diseases. For example, vascular dementia occurs when there is a series of tiny, sometimes imperceptible strokes in the brain that affect its capacity for memory and intellectual function.
4) Depression
One of the most overlooked medical conditions in senior adults is depression. The causes can be many and complex: the loss of purpose in work or career, being isolated from family and friends, or feeling less independent because of debilitating medical conditions. People with serious illnesses can also become depressed, overwhelmed by a sense of hopelessness.
5) Sleep Disorders
Did you know undiagnosed and/or untreated sleep apnea is a hidden cause of high blood pressure? Or that sometimes the symptoms of sleep apnea are misdiagnosed as depression? Sleep apnea disrupts sleep to varying degrees for an estimated one in four people over age 60. In this disorder, breathing stops for brief periods of time over and over again during sleep. There are many effective treatments for this disorder, but when left untreated, it puts people at greater risk for heart attack and stroke.
6) Cancer
Cancer affects all ages, but its likelihood increases as we grow older. Indeed, 67 percent of cancer deaths occur in people older than 65.
Now For Some Good News!
So how do you meet these health challenges as you grow older? The good news is that you have the power to live a longer and healthier life, and that it’s never too late to start. There are two basic strategies you can use to improve both your health and your longevity.
Practice Early Detection – Modern medicine provides a number of ways to detect diseases in their early stages, when the opportunity for successful treatment is much higher. It starts with an annual physical check-up with your primary care physician. During the physical, your physician will check your blood pressure and cholesterol level as well as your mental state, memory and alertness. A routine test can be ordered to check for bone-thinning osteoporosis. There are a number of screenings available to detect cancer. For breast cancer, women should have an annual physical exam and a mammogram (x-ray of the breasts). Cervical cancer can be checked with a PAP test, and PSA testing can check for prostate cancer. For colorectal cancer, talk to your physician about having a colonoscopy.
Live A Healthy Lifestyle – Scientists have determined that a combination of lack of exercise and a poor diet is the second leading cause of death, exceeded only by smoking. Eating a balanced diet, keeping your mind and your body active, and having regular physical check-ups all contribute to a long and healthy life. And who doesn’t want that!
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