Archive for the ‘Chronic Conditions’ Category
If you’re a family member or a care giver, and your elderly patient is immobile or sedentary most of the time, you should first look out for one particular symptom: a red spot on a particular area. Once it gets light, dry, flaky, ashy, or warmer than other parts of the body, then treat it immediately. For more on this, check our last post.
There are four stages of a pressure sore:
Stage 1: damage is limited on the first top two layers of the skin. Skin is still ok, the redness doesn’t turn white when touched.
Stage 2: the first top two layers are now damaged. The sore has an abrasion or small crater.
Stage 3: the ulcer now appears as a deep crater and damage to adjacent skin is obvious
Stage 4: all soft tissues are destroyed.
Source
Diabetes is one of the chronic diseases that the elderly get. The risk of developing the Type 2 diabetes is high and eventually the body resists insulin altogether and cardiovascular disease sets in. Unless proper health care is applied the elderly will suffer.
Here are just some of the issues that effects proper health care:
Solutions include, getting assistance from the local government or church and volunteer community.
In order to see cartilage loss, subchondral sclerosis, cysts, or bone spur formations, an X-ray will be needed to detect these things. Another way of diagnosing osteoarthritis is through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), arthoscopy, or arthocentesis. The more cheaper way of diagnosing osteoarthritis is by carefully studying the appearance of the joints of the affected area.
As of the moment there is no cure in alleviating this ailment. The only thing that doctors focus on right now is on taking away the pain. Listed below are just some of the ways to do this:
As always check with your doctor first.
The elderly population is rising and so are the diseases or conditions connected to old age. One of these is arthritis. It is supposed to be one of the more chronic conditions among 49 percent of adults above the age of 65. It is reported that by 2020, arthritis will be up by 18.2 percent, affecting approximately 59 million people.
Osteoarthritis is one of the more common types of affliction affecting the elderly. It’s a condition where inflammation results in pain in the joints. It’s caused by abnormal wearing of the cartilage in between two joints.
More on how it’s diagnosed and treated in the next post.
It is a condition that affects the bones and joints in the body. Bone can rub against bone . when the cartilage that covers the ends of bones wears down. Usually when people with osteoarthritis feel pain and stiffness in the joints upon rising in the morning, Moving around would make them feel better after awhile. This condition can lead to disability when not treated.
Christopher Reeve died of complications from this elderly condition: Pressure sores. Pressure sores are caused by staying in one position too long. Usually these sores appear on ankles, back, elbows, hips, and heels. The risk is higher if the elderly is in a sedentary position most of the time.
Pressure sores, also known as bed sores, pressure ulcers, or Decubitus ulcers, can cause serious infections, wherein some of them are life-threatening.
However, this is preventable. The elderly or one from his or her support network (relatives, friends) can keep the skin clean and dry, change his or position, and use pillows to relieve the pressure.
Similar to pneumonia that is common at any age, this is more common with older people who have less resistance than they used to especially those who are bed-ridden or have other mobility problems. The excretory functions of the body decreases with age as the muscles lose their fine-tuned capabilities. Pneumonia can be caused either by a viral or bacterial infection that results in bodily fluid flooding the lungs (blood, mucus, pus…etc.). Many other forms of the disease may result in a variety of symptoms and treatment varies among them. Early detection is the key and if caught early, it can be easily treated. For immobile or bed-ridden people, there are certain exercises and routines that should be performed to prevent the disease or allow healing. Lying down most of the day, the lungs tend to get easily irritated and infected so monitor properly and report any abnormalities in the breathing patterns so proper steps can be taken.
Image Source:marshfieldclinic.org
Otosclerosis is described as an abnormal growth of the bone in the middle ear. It prevents certain parts within the ear from working properly. It can cause hearing loss. and for some people with this condition, the hearing loss can be severe. So, how does otoclerosis impede hearing? Otosclerosis can cause different types of hearing loss. It greatly depends on the certain part of the ear structure that is affected. But commonly, it affects the last bone in the chain called, the stapes. It is located in the entrance to the inner ear or the oval window. The affected bone fixates the stapes on the oval window which is essential for the passing of sound waves into the inner ear. Otosclerosis also causes conductive hearing loss. A type of hearing loss mainly caused by a problem in the outer ear. This condition also can cause another type of hearing loss called Sensorineural hearing loss. Mainly caused by damaged sensory cells and nerve fivbers in the ear.
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Alzheimer’s disease damages the part of the brain involved in memory, problem solving, judgment, and behavior. It is the most common type of dementia in older adults. Alzheimer’s usually starts with memory loss. And it gets worse over a few years. Medicines may for a short time improve some of the thinking and memory problems but they don’t guarantee the cure of the disease and further improvement of memory. Over time, Alzheimer’s robs people the ability to take care of their selves. They may become confused and frightened and may strike out at others. You may wonder how to tell whether memory loss normal or related to Alzheimer’s. Early on, it’s not always clear. But here are some few warning signs that you can look for:
• Trouble learning or remembering new information.
• Trouble with familiar tasks like cooking a meal or driving a car.
• Problems with language and finding the right words to say.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a condition where the person infected experience hardship in getting air in and out of the lungs. Emphysema is caused by the damage to tiny sacs in the lungs that keeps air from coming in and going out of the lungs. Chronic bronchitis means airways in the lungs become red and swollen. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is considered a senior disease.