Common Health Problems Associated With Ageing - Most Common Health Problems In Old Age

Getting older can bring senior health challenges. By being aware of these common chronic conditions, you can take steps to stave off disease as you age. People in America today can expect to live longer than ever before. Once you make it to 65, the data suggest that you can live another 19.3 years, on average, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For many, then, senior living includes carefully managing chronic conditions in order to stay healthy. Making healthy lifestyle choices, like quitting smoking and losing weight, can help you avoid senior health risks, though, you also need to be physically active and eat a healthy diet, explains Jean Way, M.D., Ph.D., Executive Director of the Reynolds Institute on Aging at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Including a geriatrician, a doctor who specializes in the health concerns of aging, on your senior health care team can help you learn how to live better with any chronic diseases. Then you too can be among the 41% of people over 65 who say their health is very good or excellent, according to the CDC. Here are some of the most common health concerns for people of old age. 1. Arthritis. Arthritis is probably the number one condition that people 65 or older contend with, says Geriatrician Marie Bernard, M.D., Deputy Director of the National Institute on Aging. The CDC estimates that it affects 49.7% of all adults over 65 and can lead to pain and lower quality of life for some seniors. Although arthritis can discourage you from being active, it's important to work with your doctor to develop a personalized activity plan that, along with other treatment, can help maintain senior health. 2. Heart disease. According to the CDC, heart disease remains the leading killer of adults over age 65, accounting for 489,722 deaths in 2014. As a chronic condition, heart disease affects 37% of men and 26% of women 65 and older, according to the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-related statistics. As people age, they're increasingly living with risk factors, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, that increase the chances of having a stroke or developing heart disease. Dr. Bernard's advice for addressing this senior health risk not only helps with heart disease but can improve senior health across the board. Exercise, eat well, get a good night's rest. Eating well means eating in a fashion that will allow you to keep a healthy weight with a well-balanced and healthy diet. 3. Cancer. Cancer is the second leading cause of death among people over age 65, with 413,885 deaths in 2014, according to the CDC. The CDC also reports that 28% of men and 21% of women over age 65 are living with cancer. If caught early through screenings, such as mammograms, colonoscopies, and skin checks, many types of cancer are treatable. And though you're not always able to prevent cancer, you can improve your quality of life as a senior living with cancer, including during treatment, by working with your medical team and maintaining their healthy senior living recommendations. 4. Respiratory diseases. Chronic lower respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are the third most common cause of death among people 65 and older, with 124,693 deaths in 2014, according to the CDC. Among people 65 and older, about 10% of men and 13% of women are living with asthma, and 10% of men and 11% of women are living with chronic bronchitis or emphysema, according to the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-related statistics. Although having a chronic respiratory disease increases senior health risks, making you more vulnerable to pneumonia and other infections, getting lung function tests and taking the correct medication, or using oxygen as instructed, will go a long way toward preserving senior health and your quality of life. 5. Diabetes. The CDC estimates that 25% of people ages 65 and older are living with diabetes, a significant senior health risk. According to CDC data, diabetes caused 54,161 deaths among adults over age 65 in 2014. Diabetes can be identified and addressed early with simple blood tests for blood sugar levels. The sooner you know that you have or are at risk for diabetes, the sooner you can start making changes to control the disease and improve your long-term senior health outlook. If you have found this video helpful, please like this video. It really means a lot to us. Please, let us know in the comments below. We would like to really hear your opinion. And if you think it might help one of your friends, don't be shy and share this video with them as well. That way, we all can help people we care about to live happier life. And if you didn't do so yet, make sure you smash that subscribe button and hit the bell icon to receive more informational videos that will improve your health and lifestyle. Thank you for watching and we will see you on our next video. Bye-bye!