Disease that Seniors are Likely to Suffer
There are millions of hospitalizations of seniors every year, in reality, they usually account for one-third of all hospitalizations in the United States. While some of these may be minor injuries, many of them may have severe chronic or life-threatening illnesses. Most of the seniors tend to move to assisted living in OKC to get good care.
Unfortunately, many of these problems that lead to hospitalization can cause seniors to struggle with independent living and undertake daily duties.
If you have a loved one who is older, it may be a good idea to know more about the prevalent issues that lead to hospitalizations. Most senior hospitalizations are related to circulatory, respiratoryor nervous system disorders.
Circulatory illnesses are conditions that influence the heart, they may include diseased blood vessels, structural issues, and blood clots. Circulatory disorders account for about 28% of all hospital stays for individuals aged 65 and older.
Congestive Heart Failure — Congestive heart failure is one of the most prevalent circumstances mainly responsible for hospitalizing elderly. This problem usually happens when the heart does not pump blood as it should.
Respiratory Disorders - Respiratory disorders are severe and can even be life-threatening as they are conditions that influence the lungs. Respiratory disorders are the second most prevalent category of circumstances that lead to hospitalization in the elderly, making up almost 15 hospitalizations. Some of the respiratory circumstances that influence seniors include:
Pneumonia — Pneumonia is a severe infection that inflames the lungs' air cavities. The problem causes the lungs to be filled with fluid or pus and can lead to fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. Bacteria are the main cause of pneumonia, but it can also occur from viruses and fungi. Pneumonia is one of the most popular reasons of hospitalization with a high mortality rate as it can lead to other problems with organs for seniors.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) — Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is an inflammatory pulmonary disease that obstructs the flow of air into the lungs. It can lead to several symptoms including breathing difficulty, coughing, wheezing, and more. It can be triggered by various items, most notably cigarette smoke. Bronchitis is one type of COPD, it is an inflammation of the tubes, the airways used to carry air to the lungs. It can lead to mucus with a simple cough.
Musculoskeletal disorders
As the name indicates, musculoskeletal disorders are conditions in the body that influence muscles or bones directly. Musculoskeletal circumstances make up more than 10% of senior citizens' hospitalizations. Some prevalent musculoskeletal issues include:
Fractures — Fractures and bone breaks are extremely prevalent among elderly adults, particularly in the hip. In reality, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, over 300,000 individuals are hospitalized each year for hip fractures. These injuries are usually caused by falls. Unfortunately, many individuals are unable to live on their own again after these hazardous drops. Falls are one of the most prevalent types of injury in the elderly population and, unfortunately, seniors falling once are twice as probable to experience another drop.
Osteoarthritis — Osteoarthritis is a prevalent type of arthritis that most often impacts the hands, hips, and legs. Osteoarthritis is a disorder in which the cartilage in a joint begins to break down and the underlying bone begins to alter. These modifications generally happen over a lengthy period and can trigger pain, stiffness, and swelling. It may trigger decreased function and disability for some, and some may no longer be able to undertake daily duties.
Nervous System Disorders
The nervous system system is extremely essential for body function and, sadly, nervous system disorders make up about 8% of all hospitalizations among elderly adults.
Dementia — As you age, several modifications will occur in the brain and nervous system, but dementia is a serious memory loss that is not an ordinary component of aging. Alzheimer's illness is one of the most prevalent types of dementia. Dementia is a blanket term to refer to a group of structures linked to thinking, memory, and cognitive functioning. There is currently no cure for any form of dementia, only medication and treatment that can help reduce the impact of the symptoms.
Most of these illnesses can make it hard for seniors to live alone, whether they are circulatory, respiratory, musculoskeletal, or nervous system disorders. Many of these can render it physically difficult for your loved one to live alone. If this is the case, it may be best to enlist the assistance of a caregiver or an assisted living facility. Come to Heritage Assisted Living in OKC and get the most love and care from the professionals.