Wellness 16 Jan. 2023

6 common health conditions that every 70-year-old should be aware of.

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We are at the pinnacle of medical science. These are some might call the golden years of medicine. New technologies have been invented that have made some difficult surgeries fairly simple, there are medicines for diseases for which people earlier could only dream of, and vaccines have been invented that help you ward off those ailments even before they could think of the word ‘Attack!’. This has increased people’s life expectancy and has substantially decreased mortality rates.

People are living longer and healthier and are leading fuller life. Now, keeping all these things in mind there are still certain health issues that crop up as we age. This is especially true for senior citizens and it is best we stay mindful of it and take necessary precautions beforehand.

So, if you or any family member of yours are at or nearing 70, here are 6 common health conditions that can strike you.

Risk of Heart Disease

According to research, about 82% of people who die because of heart disease are 65 years and older. This is especially true in the case of women.

The heart may have to exert more effort as you become older in order to pump blood throughout your body. While some alterations to the heart and circulatory system with aging are normal, some alterations can result in heart disease and complications including heart attacks and stroke. Shortness of breath, nausea, and dizziness are traditional indicators of a heart attack. It’s crucial to remember that women who are having a heart attack may experience stomach, jaw, arm, or back pain in addition to greater perspiration, shortness of breath, sudden crippling exhaustion, and other symptoms. Face drooping, speech difficulties, and arm paralysis are all signs of a stroke.

However, leading a healthy lifestyle—one that includes quitting smoking, engaging in regular exercise, and eating well—can reduce your risk of developing heart disease. Additionally, it’s crucial to contact your doctor frequently to have your blood pressure and cholesterol levels assessed because many heart-related problems don’t have any obvious symptoms.

Vision/Hearing Impairment

As you get older, it’s important to continue having regular hearing and vision exams. Millions of older folks suffer from age-related vision conditions such as macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma, and 43 percent of hearing loss sufferers are 65 or older.

For people above the age of 70, sensory deficits, such as vision and hearing, are particularly prevalent. The CDC estimates that one in four older persons has hearing loss and one in six has vision problems. Fortunately, both of these problems can be easily resolved with the help of devices like glasses or hearing aids. New technologies are improving hearing loss evaluation and hearing aid wearability.

Alzheimer’s

Have you seen the movie ‘The Notebook’? If yes, then you know what I am talking about. In the movie, there is a character named Allie (Rachel McAdams) who was suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease and her husband Noah (Ryan Gosling) used to read her their own story to remind her about their life. Well, that’s Alzheimer’s for you. Now it doesn’t suddenly make you forget your life but your brain gradually loses its power to remember things. For older persons, Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent cause of dementia.

According to estimates, more than 6 million Americans above the age of 65 are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s patients are known to face difficulty even in their everyday tasks such as driving a car, preparing food, and paying their bills. They might repeatedly ask the same questions, become disoriented quickly, misplace items or put them in strange places, and find even the most basic of tasks to be confusing. Some patients experience anxiety, rage, or violent behavior as the condition worsens.

Unfortunately, currently, there are no concrete treatments for the disease but let’s keep faith in our doctors to find a cure soon.

Cancer

Amongst the elderly, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death. According to the National Library of Medicine, Sixty percent of all cases of cancer, and 70% of cancer-related deaths occur in patients aged 65 years and over. The CDC reports that 20% of men and 21 % of women above the age of 65 are already suffering from cancer. Cancer if detected early through medical examinations like colonoscopies, mammograms, etc. can be treated although there is no guarantee. However, there is some ray of hope as some oncologists in the UK have come out with an experimental drug that has shown promising results. Let’s hope that the eventual trials are successful and the world can be free of such a deadly disease.

Diabetes

Despite the fact that diabetes can strike anyone at any age, the risk rises with age. In the US, this significant medical issue affects more than 25% of those over 60. Blood glucose levels are excessively high in people with diabetes, which can eventually cause issues like damage to the eyes, nerves, and kidneys as well as heart disease or stroke. Early indications of diabetes include blurry vision, strong feelings of hunger or thirst, exhaustion, and a need to urinate frequently. Reach out to a medical practitioner if you experience any of these signs. Regular check-ups are still a good idea even if none of these warning signs apply to you, as some diabetics experience none of these symptoms.

While these are the six main health issues that any elderly person may be predisposed to, there are numerous other issues such as arthritis, osteoporosis, pneumonia, obesity, thyroid, etc. that are also fairly common.

It is always best to stay vigilant by getting yourself regular medical checkups. This way any disease can be diagnosed at its early stages and can be treated at its nascent stage. To avoid such medical problems, we need to do our part as well by adopting a healthy lifestyle, staying physically active, eating healthy food, and quitting smoking and drinking.