FIVE MOST COMMON CONCERNS FOR
SENIORS A ccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people in America today can expect to live longer than ever before, and once they reach 65, they can live another 19.3 years on average. However, senior living means, knowing about your health conditions, through screening and managing chronic conditions. Making healthy lifestyle choices, such as stopping smoking, getting to a healthy weight, being physically active, and eating a healthy diet can help avoid senior health risks. Here are the most common health concerns for seniors and the screening you can expect to detect them. 1) Arthritis is the most common condition that people over 65 struggle with, and it affects 49.7 percent of all adults over 65. If you are experiencing arthritis symptoms, your doctor may analyze different body fluids to determine the type of arthritis you have. Commonly analyzed fluids include blood, urine, and joint fluid. To obtain a sample of joint fluid, doctors will cleanse the area and numb it before inserting a needle into the joint space to withdraw fluid for analysis. 2) Heart disease remains the leading cause of death among seniors over 65, and 37 percent of men and 26 percent of women over 65 have it. Cardiovascular risk assessment involves evaluating a patient’s total cardiovascular risk rather than just assessing risk factors, such as high
cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity, in isolation. The most well-known tool for global cardiovascular risk assessment is the Framingham Risk Score (FRS). This assessment should be done every five years starting at the age of 18. For individuals at risk but who have no symptoms, the assessment is followed by advice on making certain lifestyle changes, such as cutting back on cigarettes, eating healthy foods, and exercising regularly. Medications may also be given to treat high blood pressure, high lipids, and diabetes as appropriate. Individuals at low risk should continue to lead a healthy lifestyle. More frequent assessment is recommended for those who are diabetic, chronic smokers, or obese. 3) Cancer is the second leading cause of death, and 28 percent of men and 21 percent of women over 65 are living with it. There are multiple types of cancer to screen for such as Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer.
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