Your family is your life and you would do anything to keep your family healthy and safe. Yet the older that your family members become, the more you have to pay attention to the warning signs of failing health. Your older family member can become susceptible to illness since their immune system weakens with age. By identifying these illnesses and conditions early, you can determine the best method of treatment for your family member.
Medical device blog 5 common elderly diseases affecting Americans every day. You need to make an appointment with your family doctor as soon as possible to make a diagnosis when these early warning symptoms and signs.
Symptoms: shortness of breath, weight gain, fatigue and weakness
Condition: Heart Failure
Heart failure affects 80 percent of the elderly, according to USA Health News. Elderly disorders of heart failure include hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity, and coronary artery disease. Someone afflicted with heart failure has a heart that pumps weakly. Congestive heart failure is a serious condition that occurs when fluid builds up in the other organs.
Symptoms: no visible sign of symptoms or pain until a bone breaks
Condition: Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease that affects the bones, making them fragile to the point of fracture. Typically, as you grow older, your body cannot regenerate bone mass as quickly to replace bone loss. Women are more susceptible to getting osteoporosis that have gone through menopause.
Symptoms: sudden numbness with vision loss, hearing loss, severe headache and trouble speaking
Condition: Stroke
A stroke occurs when a blockage or blood clot prevents oxygen from reaching the brain. Brain cells begin to die, causing serious impairments to body functions. These elderly conditions occur mostly in people over the age of 65. Seek emergency medical treatment immediately if you believe a family member is having a stroke.
Symptoms: Frequent urination, strange hunger and thirst accompanied with significant weight loss and fatigue
Condition: Diabetes
The American Diabetes Association states that diabetes are disorders where the body cannot make insulin that properly stores blood glucose to create energy. Complications can lead to different levels of diabetes and other health issues when a person has high blood glucose. Elderly illnesses caused by diabetes can lead to stroke.
Symptoms: no obvious warning signs
Condition: High Blood Pressure
Millions of Americans are affected by high blood pressure. It can cause many of the listed diseases above such as heart failure and stroke, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. High blood pressure occurs when the heart pumps the blood too forcibly against the artery walls. The older you become, more often your blood pressure will rise which can lead to other medical issues.
Talk with Your Doctor
If you are worried your family member(s) might be suffering from one of these common elderly diseases, discuss your options with a medical professional. You can determine what treatments are available, and decide if additional medical treatment in a care facility is necessary.
