What is the Most Common Disease in the Elderly

A number of chronic health conditions can increase an elderly person's risk of death. Personal Alarms This includes flu and pneumonia, heart disease and digestive diseases.

Dementia and other forms of memory loss can lead to changes in thinking and problem-solving that affect daily life. It can also cause agitation and personality changes.

Arthritis

The most common health problems for older people are chronic (long-term) conditions such as arthritis. It is normal to have pain and stiffness in the joints from time to time but if these symptoms are ongoing it is important to see your doctor.

In healthy joints the ends of the bones are covered with a slippery tissue called cartilage which provides a smooth gliding surface and is lubricated by a fluid that looks like oil. When the cartilage breaks down it can lead to swelling and pain. If the cartilage is damaged by an infection then septic arthritis develops.

Risk factors for getting arthritis include a family history of the disease, ageing, trauma to the joint, being overweight, smoking and certain medications (such as diuretics). Keeping a healthy weight, doing regular exercise and following proper workplace ergonomics can help. Using heat or cold packs and getting enough rest also helps reduce the effects of arthritis.

Cancer

Cancer occurs when old cells do not die normally and continue to grow out of control. These uncontrolled cells form a mass of tissue called a tumor. The cancer may affect the skin, the tissue that covers internal organs and glands (carcinomas), or the soft tissues of the body, such as fat, muscle, blood vessels, nerves, tendons, cartilage, and bone (sarcomas).

Elderly people are more likely to develop certain types of cancer. This is due to their aging bodies and the fact that some types of cancers are more common as people age.

Cancer death rates for men and women 85 years and older have declined since the mid-1990s, except for colorectal cancer, but death rates for pancreatic cancer and melanoma have increased for this group. This reflects less screening in this age group. Elderly people should perform self-exams on their lymph nodes and breasts to look for unusual growths that could be cancerous. They should also let their health care provider know if they experience unexplained fatigue that lasts for two weeks or more.

Respiratory Diseases

Respiratory diseases include infections of the nose, throat and lungs. They are spread through the air when a person coughs, sneezes or talks. Germs that can infect the lungs include bacteria, viruses and other pathogenic microbes. Physicians who specialize in the treatment of respiratory disease are called pulmonologists.

Lung circulation diseases affect how the lungs take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. They can cause a buildup of excess mucus that leads to coughing. They also cause wheezing and shortness of breath.

Many older adults suffer from chronic diseases that can cause serious health problems if left untreated. Seniors can protect their quality of life by eating healthy, exercising and seeing a doctor regularly for regular checkups. They can also learn how to manage their symptoms with medication and lifestyle changes. This includes limiting smoking, avoiding unhealthy foods and maintaining an appropriate weight. They can also lower their risk of cardiovascular and vascular disease by taking control of their health conditions.

Dementia

Dementia is a broad term that describes memory problems and loss of other mental abilities that affect your daily life. It happens when the parts of your brain that control learning, memory and decision making become damaged or diseased. Some dementias include symptoms such as personality changes and forgetfulness, while others cause trouble with moving or speaking.

The most common types of dementia are Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Other types include frontotemporal lobar degeneration, Lewy body dementia and a type called normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). NPH occurs when cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the spaces inside your brain. This can damage your brain and cause a buildup of fluid on your brain's surface, which leads to memory, movement and behavior problems.

You can't cure most forms of dementia. However, certain treatments can slow the progression of some dementias. For example, some doctors prescribe cholinesterase inhibitors to treat Alzheimer's and other dementias. They also may recommend regular blood pressure and cholesterol checks, vitamin B1 and B6 and B12 and copper tests, a MRI scan or a FDG-PET test to help diagnose the condition.