Common diseases in the elderly

The article was professionally consulted by Doctor Tran Quoc Tuan - Head of the ICU - ICU - Emergency Resuscitation Department - Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital

In the elderly, many body functions are impaired and health is weaker. Therefore, the elderly are susceptible to diseases and chronic diseases often recur. Some diseases that the elderly often encounter such as cardiovascular disease, degenerative disease, parkinsonism,...

1. Central nervous system disease

In the elderly, there are many changes in the central nervous system such as a decrease in brain weight, a change in the density of white and gray matter, a sharp decrease in the total number of neurons, and an increase in the number of senile plaques. Therefore, the elderly are often sluggish, less lucid, and have memory impairment.
Some common diseases in the central nervous system are dementia, parkinsonism, alzheimer's,... However, dementia is a disease of the cognitive system because some people are old enough to remain lucid. . To maintain mental clarity, the elderly are encouraged to participate in cognitive activities such as playing games or a short course,...

Sa sút trí tuệ, lãng trí, quên — Người cao tuổi hay mắc các bệnh sa sút trí tuệ

2. Cardiovascular disease

Elderly people's hearts are usually larger and take up a larger volume in the ribcage. At this time, the system of sinus nodes, generating electrical impulses to regulate heart rate, is also affected by anatomical changes. The heart valves become calcified and harden, which prevents their ability to close properly and causes valvular disease.
Common cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, coronary insufficiency, heart valve diseases such as mitral regurgitation, tricuspid valve disease,...
In addition, these diseases are common. in obese people, alcoholics,...
To prevent aging and have a healthy heart, the elderly need regular exercise and regular check-ups for early diagnosis of disease changes. physical.

3. Respiratory system disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is one of the most common diseases in the elderly, especially those who have a history of smoking pipe, tobacco, ... or people living in a state of oxygen deficiency such as kitchen smoke. , air pollution, cramped houses, lack of light,...
In addition, there are some common respiratory diseases such as: chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, pneumonia, bronchiectasis,. ..

Người già sống trong môi trường thiếu dưỡng khí dễ mắc các bệnh hô hấp

4. Digestive system disease

Elderly people often have difficulty chewing and swallowing food due to gingivitis, tooth loss and periodontal diseases. Elderly people have to chew longer and eat slowly due to reduced esophageal motility and slow food transit through the digestive tract. Decreased intestinal motility and decreased gastric secretion lead to decreased absorption of nutrients.
Therefore, constipation is the most common problem in the elderly. Constipation is often chronic and has a significant impact on the health of the elderly. If constipation is left untreated for a long time, it can lead to hemorrhoids, which can even be life-threatening. Drinking enough water, maintaining a nutritious diet and exercising will improve constipation and bring fast results.
Chronic colitis, peptic ulcer disease, or gastroesophageal reflux disease are also among the common diseases in the elderly, often causing discomfort, loss of appetite and poor sleep.

5. Urinary system disease

The kidney is the organ responsible for concentrating urine and eliminating metabolic products. In the elderly, muscle tone and bladder volume decrease, so the elderly often suffer from urinary incontinence, urinary incontinence, ... especially at night, causing a lot of trouble.

Sa sút trí tuệ ở người cao tuổi: Những điều cần biết — Chứng són tiểu của người già gây ra nhiều mặc cảm phiền toái

6. Diseases of the genitourinary system

The elderly are often not interested in the changes in the genitourinary system - reproduction, due to the perception that the elderly have little or no sexual desire. Furthermore, since this is a delicate matter, assessments of physiological changes are often erroneous. Therefore, many diseases of the genitourinary system that the elderly often encounter such as: gynecological cancer, physiological weakness, ovarian atrophy,... In addition, some other diseases such as prostate fibroids, Prostate cancer is a common disease in men.

7. Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis of the back, knee, bone and joint pain are common diseases in the elderly. For men, gout is the most common, causing pain, boredom and anxiety, especially when the weather changes.
Osteoarthritis in the elderly often greatly affects life function, reduces activity, leads to a decrease in bone and muscle mass and an increased risk of fracture. Therefore, the elderly are encouraged to participate in exercise to help slow down the aging process such as: dance, exercise, etc.
In short, the elderly have different organ systems. certain changes and these often lead to a risk of disease progression. Therefore, the elderly need to be periodically examined to detect physiological changes in time for timely intervention to avoid serious consequences.

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