Geriatric care is a term that describes specialized health and wellness services offered to older adults. As people advance in age, they face health challenges that may not have existed before. For example, some may develop neurological problems, and eyesight may start to decline in others. Engaging in daily activities often becomes taxing, and bad health days become more common. Thanks to Geriatric Chamblee, the elderly can receive holistic treatment of different health problems. Here are common health issues common among older adults.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is the loss of bone tissue that occurs with age, resulting in brittle bones that can easily fracture with a minor fall. Deterioration can affect any bone in the body. Still, it is common in the hip and wrist regions. The likelihood of older people developing osteoporosis depends on how much bone bass they attained in their younger years. Most patients with this health problem tend to develop a stooped posture and loss of height over time. Although there is no cure for osteoporosis, medical treatment helps slow or stop bone loss and offers pain relief. A geriatrician can diagnose osteoporosis and help with insights to help manage the disease.
Urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence is a condition where one can’t reliably control their bladder and involuntarily leak urine. It is a common problem that often causes embarrassment and isolation. While the disease can happen to anyone, it is common among older people since their bladder and urethra muscles become weak as they age. However, incontinence may not always be a person’s ability to control elimination; it can also be due to a physical impairment that prevents you from making it to the toilet in time. For example, mobility problems in older people or pain from conditions like arthritis can keep them from accessing the washroom in time.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis which occurs due to wear and tear of the protective cartilage in the joints. The disease can attack any damage to joints in the body, but the commonly affected areas include the knees, hands, hips, and spine. Although the damage to the joints cannot be reversed, treatment can help improve pain and joint function. A geriatric can order a physical exam to check the affected joint for swelling, tenderness, redness, and range of motion. Other tests such as x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, blood tests, and joint fluid analysis can help confirm the diagnosis.
Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder whereby breathing stops and starts, affecting sleep quality and often causing snoring. It usually occurs when the muscles at the back of your throat relax, narrowing or closing your airway as you breathe. When you fail to get enough air, oxygen levels in the body decrease, and carbon dioxide levels increase. The brain senses your inability to breathe and arouses you to open the airways from your sleep. The awakening happens so fast that you can’t remember, and this pattern can repeat itself up to 30 times or more each hour.
If you want to know how you can benefit from geriatric care, consult your provider at Lenox Medical Clinic.
For more tips on keeping your elderly loved ones healthy and young at heart, check out the tips in the infographic below!
Infographic provided by TargetLeads, your Medicare lead mailers
