What Are the Five Most Common Diseases of the Elderly

What are the five most common diseases of the elderly?
The aging process, poor lifestyle choices and other health problems can lead to a variety of illnesses in seniors. But many are preventable.

One of the top causes of death among people aged 65 and older is heart disease. High blood pressure and cholesterol build up in the arteries that supply your heart with oxygen, damaging them and increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Another major killer of seniors is diabetes. The body produces too much glucose (sugar) in your blood, and the kidneys can’t keep up with it. When your blood sugar is too high, it can damage nerve cells and muscles.

Pneumonia is another major cause of hospitalization in the elderly. Often caused by a bacterial infection, pneumonia can be very serious, and it’s important to catch it early.

Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia in the United States and it affects more than 10 percent of Americans over 65 years old. This progressive neurologic disorder causes memory loss, trouble thinking and a difficulty in recognizing faces and remembering words.

Dementia Alarm Traumatic brain injury is a severe form of head trauma that can happen to boxers, football players and soldiers. TBI can cause a range of symptoms that can be difficult to diagnose, including depression, agitation and confusion.

senior fall alert Other conditions can also cause dementia-like symptoms, such as dehydration, low levels of copper and vitamins B-6 and B-12 in your diet or a medication side effect. In rare cases, dementia may result from a brain tumor.

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Pub: 07 Nov 2023 02:01 UTC
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