Top 10 Senior Citizen Health Concerns

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Want to hear some good news? Average life expectancy is on the rise. Based upon statistics from the CDC, 41% of adults age 65 and older report that they are in good or excellent health. Many of those 65-year-olds living will celebrate birthdays beyond the age of 80.

So planning for a healthy future in your later years is as important as planning for your financial future. Often times seniors overall quality of life is affected by a variety of health conditions. By learning what the top concerns of seniors are you can make some changes to your lifestyle that can enable you to age as healthy as possible.

Health Concerns For Seniors

Multiple factors play a role in your risk for certain medical conditions including your family history, age and lifestyle. Yet there is a large number of health concerns that can be prevented or slowed by the application of smart healthy choice and regular visits to your physician for screening.

Here are the most common health problems in the elderly include:

1. Cognitive decline

Some memory loss is common as you age, but developing Alzheimer’s disease is not. Recognizing the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s, is very important because as early diagnosis and treatment can be key in slowing the progression of the disease.

2. Balance issues

The leading cause of injury among older adults is falls. So maintaining your balance and mobility is very important in fall prevention.

3. Oral health problems

Oral health is more than just losing teeth. Issues like gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, which is a bacterial infection that affects the gums and bones supporting the teeth, can be common in the elderly. Make sure to have proper oral care and see the dentist for a cleaning every six months to help ensure your teeth and gums are as healthy as possible.Oral health is more than just losing teeth. Issues like gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, which is a bacterial infection that affects the gums and bones supporting the teeth, can be common in the elderly. Make sure to have proper oral care and see the dentist for a cleaning every six months to help ensure your teeth and gums are as healthy as possible.

4. Heart disease

It is no secret that heart disease is the leading cause of death for adults over the age of 65. High blood pressure and high cholesterol need to be managed properly for prevention. Taking good care of your heart is essential to avoid developing heart disease in the elderly.

5. Osteoarthritis or osteoporosis

Almost all adults over age 80 have some form of osteoarthritis. Around 54 million adults over age 50 have low bone mass or osteoporosis as stated by The National Osteoporosis Foundation. Eating a healthy diet and regular exercise can help protect your bones and joints.

6. Respiratory diseases

As you get older conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can worsen. Nowadays though a variety of medications are available that allows you to breathe easier.

7. Diabetes

The sooner you know you are at risk or have diabetes, the sooner you can begin managing your blood sugar and making lifestyle changes that can better control it. It’s estimated that 25 percent of adults age 65 and older have type 2 diabetes.

8. Influenza or pneumonia

Seniors are more vulnerable to infections like the flu or pneumonia and due to weakened immune systems, may be less likely to successfully recover from them.

9. Vision or hearing loss

Age-related eye issues like macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma affect millions of older adults, and 43 percent of people who experience hearing loss are 65 or older. Maintaining regular screenings for your vision and hearing is vital as you age.

10. Cancer

10. As you age the risk for some types of cancer also increases. For example, sometimes women become more at risk for cervical or endometrial cancers, while men have a higher risk for prostate cancer. Preventing cancer altogether may not be possible, but screenings to detect certain cancers in the early stages can help effectively treat them.