Being old seems to be daunting, although all of us know that aging is inevitable. Your hair turns grey, fine lines bubble up, bones become rickety, and you become dependent on others. The trend of diseases among the elderly is on the rise because of poor track of the equitable distribution of health care, according to estimates of health problems of the elderly.

Marginalized people living in the rural areas are more pregnable of chronic diseases because of poor penetration of health services. The results of a study by health experts aimed to collect samples of medical problems of the elderly were quite surprising. Visual impairment was most common, with a prevalence of 83% in females, with 95% in males. Complaints about hearing impairment and urinary infection were also very common, targeting males more than females. Rural elders living alone were at higher risk than their urban counterparts; however, widows outnumbered widowers. Weight loss was prevalent in rural areas, while obesity plagued urban areas. Men were more susceptible to hypertension, cardiac arrest, and diabetes than females.

Health issues are rising for one reason and another. It is important to understand the risk factors to keep them at a distance. Aging is natural; you cannot avoid it, but you can improve your lifestyle to live better old days. More than half of the aged population is dependent on loans to finance their threatening medical bills.

You must focus on your lifestyle to live healthy after 60s. Here are some common elderly health issues:

Osteoporosis

As new cells generate and old cells die, the same ways new bones form and old bones break down. Bone density minerals are at their peak when you are your mid-20s, and it starts to decline gradually as you turn 30. Osteoporosis is when the body either makes too little new bone or loses too much old bone.

Your bones will be extremely weak and fragile, increasing the risk of fracture and pain. Wrist fractures and hip fractures are the common injuries that arise out of bone loss.

The most common causes of this medical condition are vitamin D deficiency, excess alcohol consumption, heavy smoking, caffeine intake, and family history. Consult a general practitioner to get the right treatment.

Dementia

Dementia is described as impaired cognitive health. It shows a variety of symptoms like declining memory, poor ability to think and communicate, lack of reasoning and judgment, and inability to focus. It affects your daily functioning. People start to suffer from dementia after 65.

Alzheimer’s disease is very common. Sometimes it becomes so worse that you forget who you are. The most common cause of this disease is an injury to your brain cells. More than half of the population suffering from memory loss is due to a fatal accident that results in damaged brain cells. It cannot be cured, but you can attenuate the symptoms.

Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is the main problem among the elderly, especially males. It is the condition described as the loss of bladder control resulting in urine leaks. There are mainly four types of incontinence: stress incontinence (the loss of urine when you cough, sneeze, laugh and exercise), urge incontinence (you have an intense urge to pee, especially during nights), overflow incontinence (urine dribbles because the bladder does not get empty) and functional incontinence (a physical and mental impairment prevents you from going to a toilet).

The most common causes of this condition include excess intake of alcohol and other fluids, large intake of vitamin C, constipation, urinary tract infection, enlarged prostate gland (mainly after 60s), high consumption of spices, sugar, and citrus fruits, pregnancy, menopause, childbirth, obesity, smoking, and family history. You can avoid this problem by maintaining a healthy weight, strengthening your pelvis, and avoiding the consumption of alcohol, smoking, and caffeine.

Hearing loss

Most adults after 60s suffer from this problem. Symptoms can be either moderate or severe, including difficulty understanding speech. According to a study, around one in three people between the ages of 65 and 75 suffer from hearing impairment.

From mild to moderate deafness can be treated by a hearing aid. However, severe deafness can hinder your life; for instance, you will not respond to instructions, and you will not hear doorbells and cellphone ringtones. It will affect your lifestyle, and your family will get into trouble. This can be embarrassing, annoying as well as damaging.

Your friends and family can better tell you if you are a victim of hearing impairment. If they doubt the functionality of your ears, you should immediately turn to their advice. Consult a good doctor, tell your condition and follow their instructions. You can also take out payday loans if you are running out of money.

Arthritis

It is inflammation of one or more of your joints, causing stiffness, excruciating pain, and lack of mobility. It has two types: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The former is a condition of breaking down the cartilage of the ends of the bone, and the latter is a condition of autoimmune disease leading to the inflammation of the lining of your joints. In addition to poor diet, family history, age, obesity, and joint injury may be the causes of arthritis. Proper medication can help you overcome it.

Several other medical conditions are out there that may target you. The best way to keep diseases at bay is to have a nutritious diet and exercise. Eat healthy and stay fit!

Description: The most common elderly health issues include arthritis, hearing loss, visual impairment, incontinence, dementia, and osteoporosis. Talk to your general practitioner for better treatment.