How Can Seniors Combat Health Problems They May Face?
There are many health problems that seniors may face as they age. However, there are many ways that they can combat these problems. One way is by staying active. Staying active helps keep the body strong and healthy.
It also helps keep the mind sharp. Another way to stay healthy is by eating a balanced diet. A balanced diet of vitamins and minerals ensures seniors get what they need to keep fit.
Another problem senior citizens may face is resistance from their families concerning health issues. Sometimes, older people don’t want to see doctors for regular checkups or feel sick. This can be solved by discussing it with their family before taking action.
If the elderly are still resistant, family members can try to schedule doctor’s appointments for them and go with them to the meeting to make sure that they receive the care they need.
One final way seniors can combat health problems is by staying positive. Staying positive helps keep the mind and body healthy and allows older people to feel at ease. This will help them take better care of themselves and stay happy for as long as possible.
So, keeping seniors active, eating a balanced diet, having respectful interactions with family members about health problems, and staying positive are ways to combat health problems. These are all simple things older people can do to stay healthy and happy. By following these tips, seniors can live long, healthy lives.
Seniors are a Population known to Have a Variety of Health Problems:
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Further detail about this population and the problems they have
First, seniors are well known for having heart disease. Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States. About 610,000 people die from it each year. This is 36 percent of all deaths that occur each year.
In addition, high blood pressure is the most significant risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. Seniors also have diabetes mellitus as a substantial health problem.
It’s estimated that between 25 and 30 percent of those over 65 have been diagnosed with Type II Diabetes Mellitus (American Association of Retired Persons). Another common senior health problem is arthritis. Arthritis causes pain and inflammation in joints throughout the body. It’s estimated that about fifty percent of seniors have this problem (What is Arthritis?).
Other common health problems among seniors are glaucoma and macular degeneration. Glaucoma is an eye disease that increases pressure in the eyeball, damages the optic nerve, and often leads to blindness (National Eye Institute). Macular degeneration is damage to the retina that results in loss of central vision. Vision becomes blurry or foggy (NIH Senior Health).
Finally, another major senior health problem is Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s Disease destroys neurons in brain areas controlling thought, memory, and language, leading to confusion, disorientation, mood swings, visual agnosia (inability to recognize objects), amnesia (inability to form and retain memories), and eventually death (Alzheimer’s Association).
Seniors’ most common health problems are heart disease, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. Seniors also have Alzheimer’s Disease as a significant health problem. However, there are many other health problems that the elderly experience, such as cancer and stroke.
Stating what Would Affect Their Risk of Developing Those Problems:
Many things can affect whether an individual will develop senior health problems. For example, genetics can play a huge role in determining whether a person will suffer from one of these disorders or not.
In addition, age has a lot to do with it as well. The older someone gets, the more likely they will experience health problems. Another factor contributing to whether seniors will have health problems is lifestyle choices. Things such as diet, exercise, and smoking habits all play a role in an individual’s risk for developing various health conditions.
Therefore, many things can contribute to an individual’s risk of developing senior health problems. However, some factors are out of our control. Genetics and age are two examples of these uncontrollable factors.
However, there are many things that we can do to help reduce our risk of developing these disorders. Eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and quitting smoking are all excellent ways to help keep us healthy as we age.
How Seniors Can Stay Healthy and Happy:
Seniors follow a diet with low cholesterol, minerals, and fiber. They should drink six to eight glasses of water a day.
In addition, seniors have shorter muscle fibers, which means they need to exercise longer before seeing results in strength or endurance. Many people over the age of 65 also have arthritis or another form of long-term pain, which can make exercising difficult.
Because of this, senior citizens must be cautious when performing exercises because doing them incorrectly could cause injury (CDC Senior Exercise Guide). However, researchers have some controversy about whether or not seniors must exercise at all.