Chronic Diseases In Seniors: How To Prevent And Manage

Chronic diseases and Tips to Manage

1. Diabetes

The risk of developing diabetes increases as you age. Though some cases of diabetes are genetic, there are several things you can do to prevent diabetes. They are

• Avoid or limit alcohol consumption

• Maintain a healthy weight & follow daily exercise routine

• Maintain a healthy & balanced diet

• Limited consumption of saturated fat

2. High Cholesterol

While your body needs cholesterol in order to create healthy cells, but when the cholesterol levels are high it leads to develop fatty deposits. These deposits can restrict blood flow in the arteries. In order to prevent high cholesterol, try some of these tips:

• Limited intake of sodium and saturated fats

• Include foods like whole grains, vegetables, and fruits in your diet

• Quit smoking and reduce alcohol consumption

• Exercise frequently. Regular physical activity can increase your good cholesterol.

• Maintain a healthy BMI.

3. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the gradual loss of kidney function which puts seniors at adverse risk of having kidney failure or heart disease. You can prevent and manage CKD with the following strategies:

• Visit your doctor for regular screening

• Manage existing health conditions (if any) like diabetes and hypertension, which are known risk factors of CKD

• uit or avoid smoking

• Take prescribed medications in order to reduce symptoms of CKD.

4. Arthritis

Arthritis is tenderness and swelling in one or more joints. These symptoms usually progress as you age, which means seniors are at a risk for severe arthritis pain. You can take certain precautions to delay and manage arthritis symptoms:

• Reduce inflammation using omega-3 fatty acids as this type of polyunsaturated fat helps decrease inflammation in the body.

• Try exercises that increases flexibility such as pilates and stretching can help reduce your stiffness and risk of injury.

• Address and treat infections right away as viruses and bacteria can actually infect joints, causing arthritis to develop.

• Avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits like smoking & alcohol consumption.

5. Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia

Alzheimer’s Disease is one type of dementia and though dementia is associated with old age, it is not part of the normal ageing process. Certain lifestyle changes can help delay the onset of dementia:

• Stay socially connected and reach out to your loved ones, or join a pen pal program to keep yourself engaged

• Make necessary lifestyle changes for any potential co-morbidities, including diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol.

• Get active and exercise regularly. This will not only prevent symptoms of dementia, but also help to manage other health conditions.

6. Hypertension

This is an extremely common chronic condition in seniors. Hypertension can have serious health implications as it causes heart to work overtime. You can use the following tactics to reduce your risk and/or prevent symptoms of hypertension:

• Exercise regularly

• Reduce alcohol and salt intake

• Reduce stress

7. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

This is a reference to several conditions that affect your ability to breathe, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It is one of the most common chronic diseases in older adults. You can prevent and manage COPD with the following strategies:

• void smoking, including second-hand smoking and exposure to toxic environments

• If suffering from COPD, then get pneumonia and flu vaccines as per doctor recommendation.

• Remain physically active

8. Ischemic Heart Disease

Also called coronary heart or coronary artery disease, this disease can ultimately lead to a heart attack, angina, or blood clots. You can help prevent ischemic heart disease with these lifestyle changes:

• Eat heart healthy food.

• Quit smoking

• Engage into activities that can help your heart, including meditation, socializing, and exercising.

9. Depression

While seniors suffer from high rates of depression and anxiety, depression is not a normal part of ageing experience. While you must consult a medical professional when experiencing depression symptoms, you can follow below tips to manage them :

• Exercise regularly

• Reduce stress by practicing mindfulness routine every day

• Spend time with your loved ones and talk about your feelings

• Visit your doctor to discuss a treatment plan

10. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump blood and oxygen to other organs. You can help prevent heart failure by reducing your chances of developing hypertension and coronary heart disease (as mentioned above)