10 common chronic diseases in the elderly

Chronic diseases are very diverse such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, viral hepatitis, autoimmune diseases… The disease can occur at any age, gender and is the leading cause of death and disability. currently, therefore continuous monitoring, management and treatment is needed. Statistics in the US show that of people aged 65 and older, 75% have at least one chronic disease and 50% have at least two diseases.

NCOA Lists 10 types of chronic diseases in people over 65 years old surveyed by Medicare, USA.

Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Nearly 60% of elderly people in Medicare are being treated for high blood pressure – a condition in which the blood exerts greater pressure on blood vessel walls than normal (above 120/80 mmHg). Prolonged situation will lead to a number of complications such as stroke, myocardial infarction, kidney failure…

Steps to prevent high blood pressure: maintain weight; avoid stress; limit salt and alcohol; Exercise daily, combining moderate to vigorous intensity aerobics, flexibility and stretching, and muscle strengthening. In addition, doctors often advise elderly people to check their blood pressure regularly to promptly handle bad situations.

Cholesterol cao

More than 50% of older adults are struggling with high cholesterol – a condition that occurs when the body has too much bad fat (or lipid), causing clogged arteries, leading to heart disease. The cause may be genetics, diet, and unscientific exercise. Eating a lot of animal fats such as red meat, milk, and fried foods can increase bad cholesterol levels. Over time, fat levels will affect the body.

Steps to prevent or control high cholesterol: abstain from smoking and drinking alcohol; exercise every day; weight control; Minimize saturated fat and trans fat in your diet.

Obesity

About 40% of people aged 65 and older are living with obesity – a condition of excessive fat accumulation in one area of ​​the body or the whole body. This chronic disease can lead to more than 200 dangerous complications such as knee arthritis, hypertension, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, stroke, depression, and diabetes. road…

Prioritizing vegetable fats, adding light meals, avoiding stress, and getting enough sleep are ways to help people with “appetite” reduce the risk of obesity.

Arthritis

About 35% of seniors face arthritis – a condition of swelling, heat, redness, and pain in one or more joints of the body, common in women. Experts recommend that people exercise at least 5 times a week, 30 minutes each time to improve function and reduce pain. Try to incorporate aerobic movements, strengthening and stretching.

In addition, the US National Institutes of Health recommends drinking enough water; Supplement vitamin D, avoid injury; walk, stand, sit, and exercise in the correct posture; Pay attention to the time you wear high heels; Eat healthy, prioritize cauliflower, cabbage, fatty fish, garlic, cherries, turmeric, foods rich in vitamin C to help reduce inflammation and slow down the progression of arthritis.

Myocardial ischemia

Nearly 29% of people over 65 years old in Medicare face myocardial ischemia (or myocardial ischemia, coronary heart disease) – which occurs when blood flow to the heart is reduced, the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen. for blood circulation contractions. If treatment is delayed, the patient faces a series of dangerous complications such as arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, heart failure…

Steps to prevent myocardial ischemia include: avoiding saturated fats, trans fats, limiting sugar and salt intake; Get enough sleep 7-8 hours every night; control stress levels; Do regular cardiovascular exercises; abstain from smoking…

Diabetes

27% of older people are being treated for diabetes – a disorder of carbohydrate (glucid), protein (protid) and lipid metabolism, characterized by increased blood glucose due to a relative or absolute decrease in insulin secretion.

If blood sugar levels are always high, the risk of cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, eye damage, kidney damage and many other diseases will increase. Diabetes includes three types: type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.

Patients should eat healthily; Monitor your carbohydrate and calorie intake; Exercise for 30 minutes, five times a week to control both blood sugar and weight.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

25% over 65 years old are receiving chronic kidney treatment at Medicare, USA. CKD is a progressive, long-term decline in kidney function. Symptoms come on quite slowly. Patients often have anorexia, nausea, stomatitis, taste disorders, nocturia, drowsiness, fatigue, itching, mental decline, muscle twitching and cramps, fluid retention, malnutrition…

The most common causes of chronic kidney disease are diabetes, hypertension and glomerulonephritis. Most patients have comorbidities, increasing the risk of dangerous complications, such as heart failure, kidney failure and death.

It is estimated that more than 10 million Vietnamese people have chronic kidney disease, the death rate from this disease ranks 8th among the 10 leading causes of death in our country.

Heart failure

About 5% of older adults are being treated for heart failure – a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. The disease comes from many causes such as: high blood pressure; diabetes; coronary artery disease; heart valve disease; cardiomyopathy; arrhythmia; genetics; due to toxins (cancer drugs, alcohol…)

People with heart failure should monitor their weight daily; monitor health status; drink enough water; take medicine regularly; exercise regularly; reduce salt intake; quit smoking and alcohol; Maintain contact with your doctor and follow-up appointments on schedule.

Depression

16% of older people seek to escape depression – a treatable disease but not a part of the aging process. Depression causes feelings of sadness, pessimism, hopelessness, fatigue, difficulty making decisions, changes in appetite, loss of interest in activities…

Steps to escape this situation include: learning how to control stress levels; contact family and friends during difficult times; practice meditation and exercise; add nutritious foods, which promote the release of endorphins and “feel-good” chemicals; Limit alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, and fast food; talk to a psychiatrist.

Alzheimer’s and dementia

Nearly 12% of people over 65 receive treatment for Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia on Medicare. Patients often have difficulty in familiar tasks, language disorders or a variety of social activities. They lose orientation in space and time, often forget where to put things, reduce the ability to identify and judge problems, change status and behavior…

In Vietnam, the number of Alzheimer’s patients tends to increase due to the pressure and stress of modern life, which affects brain health and causes early memory loss. This condition not only directly impacts the patient’s quality of life, but also creates a burden for the family, community and society as a whole.

The following series of habits can slow down or prevent the onset of dementia: regular exercise (good for the heart and brain); sleep deeply 7 hours every night; Eat scientifically.

In addition, older people can also refer to Brand’s chicken broth – a drink extracted from stewed chicken meat of the Japanese Suntory Group – containing completely natural ingredients, easy to absorb. The product is rich in Carnosine – an essential nutrient, scientifically proven to have the ability to enhance brain health including: improving memory, reducing stress, fatigue, increasing concentration when studying and working. You can drink it directly (warm it up for easy drinking) or use it with soup, soup…