4 Health Conditions To Be Aware Of As We Age

Aging is a natural part of life that, hopefully, we are lucky enough to experience. There are so many wonderful things that come with getting older, we get to meet more people, experience more of the world and learn about ourselves in a deeper way. Additionally, studies show us that people worldwide are living longer and that most people can expect to live beyond their 60's. 

However, with aging also comes health conditions that can take us by surprise if we are not careful and don't look for the early warning signs. Knowing the health conditions that may affect you later in life can be a good way to recognize the symptoms and potentially prevent the condition from becoming more serious. We, unfortunately, cannot prevent all health conditions that come with age but having an awareness of the possibilities can be very helpful in protecting and preparing ourselves for any eventualities.

Cancer

Cancer is, unfortunately, a widespread disease that affects millions of people worldwide. While cancer has no age bracket, as we get older, our bodies get less effective in battling off diseases and there is a higher chance of a serious diagnosis. Over the last decade or so, research into cancer treatments has improved dramatically, and scientific breakthroughs have meant that the survival rates for cancer are increasing. 

As always though, one of the most effective ways to increase your cancer survival rate is to catch it in an early stage, before the cancerous cells have had a chance to spread. Recognizing the early signs of cancer is crucial at any age, but especially as we get older. The most common cancer symptoms to look out for are unexplained weight loss, finding hard lumps, and blood in the stool or urine.

If you recognize any of these signs, you must tell your doctor and you will likely be sent for a CT scan. The scan is non-intrusive and is an effective diagnostic tool that can analyze tumors to see if they are cancerous. How long the CT scan takes depends on the scan's reason, but this breakdown provided by Ezra is an excellent summary of everything you need to know about CT scans.

Diabetes

Diabetes can develop in a person at any stage of life, but the chances of a diabetes diagnosis does increase with age. Diabetes is a condition where the body does not have enough insulin. This is either caused by the pancreas not producing enough insulin, or it can be that your body is resisting the insulin that is being produced. These two causes of diabetes are split into different types, called 'Type 1' and 'Type 2'. Type 1 occurs when your body resists the insulin that your pancreas produces and attacks the insulin-producing cells. Type 2 diabetes, however, is when your body does not make enough insulin, or the insulin it does make is ineffective. 

Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes among elderly people, and while it can occur naturally during the aging process, there are changes you can make to your lifestyle that could help prevent a diabetes diagnosis. Type 2 diabetes is largely caused by a poor diet and a lack of frequent exercising. Therefore, if you want to prevent Type 2 diabetes, try your best to eat a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables and create an exercise routine for yourself. This doesn't mean you need to give up the foods you love, but instead find a way to incorporate treats into your diet in a healthy, balanced way.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a very common condition that affects nearly almost 58.5 million people within the United States. It is a chronic condition that mainly affects the older community and can cause serious joint pain, leading to increased inflammation and restriction of movement. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, of which the former is more frequently seen within older people. This reason for this is because osteoarthritis is essentially caused by wear and tear. As we get older, our bodies become more susceptible to the wear and tear of life, and our joints are not able to keep up as they once could. Although there is no current cure for arthritis, there are different methods you can use to ease the pressure on your joints and reduce the pain. It may not work for everyone, but one simple method you can try to reduce your arthritis pain is to eat a balanced diet and have an exercise routine. Of course, it is not a cure-all, but maintaining a healthy weight can be a way to relieve your joints of excess pressure which could be contributing to your pain. If you are wanting to try some more alternative pain relief methods, you could consider doing a search for swedish massage in Philadelphia, PA if this is where you live, or amend the search for another location more relevant. Massage therapy can do wonders for releasing tension in your muscles, which can then reduce the strain on your joints and help you to relax, which might alleviate some of the pain you're experiencing.

Hearing And Sight Loss

Loss of vision is unfortunate and affects many people as they age. Although people of all ages wear glasses, as we age you may find that your glasses quickly become ineffective, and you need a stronger prescription. Glaucoma is a common condition that causes vision impairment by damaging the optic nerve. It damages the nerve by increasing fluid within the eye, causing intense pressure which then can lead to the optic nerve being damaged. Although this damage is irreversible, regular check-ups with an eye doctor can be effective in recognizing the signs early and preventing any permanent damage from occurring. 

Like loss of vision, hearing loss is a condition that is a very common issue in senior health. Typically, hearing loss starts off as losing the ability to hear high pitched noises and sounds that usually have a high frequency, like the consonant 'S'. It may be very subtle at first so you may not even notice it, however you should ensure you take regular visits to your doctor so they can assess you can see if you need a hearing aid.