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3 Common Diseases in the Elderly and Their Treatment

It is common knowledge that diseases can be more prevalent in elderly people than in younger people. The reason for this has to do with how the human body changes as we age.

Moreover, the growing number of elderly people is putting immense pressure on healthcare infrastructure. As per the WHO, there were 1 billion people aged 60 years and older in the world in 2019. By 2030, there will be 1.4 billion people on earth, and by 2050, there will be 2.1 billion. This growth is happening at an unprecedented rate and will pick up speed in the upcoming decades, especially in developing nations.

With a growing elderly population comes an increased risk of many different health conditions. Some of these issues can be managed in the home with lifestyle changes, but others require medical attention and hospitalization.

This brings the need for the transportation of such patients. The healthcare system has been struggling to deal with this increasing number of people who are suffering from various health conditions. With elderly transportation services, elderly people who require immediate medical attention can be transported in a timely manner, without delay. This will ensure that they get the right treatment at the right time, thus saving their lives.

Here are a few common diseases that affect the elderly:

Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease is the most common cause of death in the United States. It is also more prevalent in elderly people. In fact, about 8 out of 10 deaths from coronary artery disease (CAD) occurred in persons above 65 in 2020.

Coronary heart disease occurs when plaque builds up inside your arteries. Plaque is a combination of cholesterol and other substances that can build up on the walls of your blood vessels over time. The buildup makes it harder for blood to flow through your arteries and go where it needs to go, to your heart and brain.

If you have coronary heart disease, you’re likely to feel chest pain or discomfort when you exercise or do other activities that increase your heart rate and blood pressure. You may also feel pain in other parts of your body, including your shoulders and jaw.

The treatment for coronary artery disease includes lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, diet modifications, exercise, and weight loss. Medications are also used to treat coronary artery disease, and they include aspirin, beta-blockers, and statins.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a common health condition in elderly people. By 2040, 78 million (26%) Americans who are 18 years of age or older are anticipated to have arthritis. It may be caused by age and wear and tear on the joints, or it may be caused by a medical condition. When arthritis is caused by age and wear and tear on the joints, it is called osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is more common in older people because they have had longer experience joint pain. The more time that you have been walking around on your feet, the more likely it is that you will develop osteoarthritis.

There are many different types of treatments for arthritis depending on what type of arthritis you have and how severe it is. Some of these treatment options include:

  • Medication: Many medications are available for treating arthritis symptoms, including anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin or ibuprofen, pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), and steroids like cortisone shots or pills.
  • Physical therapy: Physical therapy can help ease pain from arthritis by stretching muscles around affected joints, strengthening muscles responsible for movement, improving posture, increasing endurance, improving balance, improving coordination, reducing swelling around joints, and improving range of motion.

Chronic Lung Disease

Chronic lung disease is a common health condition in elderly people. One of the common chronic lung diseases is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is defined as a group of lung diseases that cause airflow limitation that persists for more than 12 weeks. This may lead to a restriction of oxygen reaching the body’s cells.

The condition is caused by long-term exposure to pollutants and other harmful gases, such as nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. These gases can irritate the lungs and make them inflamed. They can also reduce the amount of oxygen being absorbed into your bloodstream, leading to symptoms such as breathlessness and fatigue.

In 2020, 5.0% of individuals in the U.S. had ever had a COPD, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis diagnosis, which are all some form of lung disease.

Chronic lung diseases can be treated with medication, such as inhaled steroids or bronchodilators, which help open up your airways so you can breathe more easily. If this treatment doesn’t work, then surgery may be recommended to remove part of your lung tissue so that it becomes less inflamed and irritated.

Wrapping Up

As you can see, the elderly are more susceptible to certain health conditions than their younger counterparts. This is because of changes in the way our bodies work as we age, like an increase in blood pressure and a decrease in bone density.

The key to staying healthy as we age is being aware of these changes and taking appropriate steps to address them. If you have noticed a change in your health, it’s important that you visit your doctor so they can help you find ways to manage it.