International Day for Older Persons

International Day for Older Persons is a day celebrated on the 1^st of October every year since 1991. This has been followed to raise awareness about the issues faced by the elderly like senescence and elder abuse. The former being biological aging or gradual degradation of functional characteristics of the body.

This day is also celebrated to appreciate the contributions of the senior citizens to our society wherein we ensure that they get their rights and special needs, thereby taking care of their well-being.

As we grow older our body slowly starts to weaken and therefore, we will be prone to more diseases, at such a stage adequate healthcare is required. Problems like Blood pressure, Diabetes, Back and Joint Pains are common and thus it becomes vital to keep a check by getting regularly tested.

Blood Pressure:

Blood Pressure can simply be defined as the pressure with which the blood pushes against the arteries. During a check-up the doctor would measure your BP with two reading, systolic and diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure is caused by the contraction of the heart and blood being pumped out, while diastolic pressure is when the heart relaxes and blood flows back inside. The reading would be systolic over diastolic pressure with a normal BP reading being 120/80.

With age, the BP of a patient is likely to increase with men having a higher chance than women before the age of 55. For the older adults, you have high blood pressure if the reading is above 130/80. If the systolic pressure reading is higher than 130, but diastolic is below 80 then it’s called isolated systolic hypertension which is due to age-related stiffening of the major arteries and can lead to serious health issues like stroke, heart diseases, kidney failure. On the flip side, you will experience light-headedness, weakness, and dizziness if you have low blood pressure (90/60). Older people with such problems (hypertension) are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Diabetes:

Diabetes is yet another common problem observed in older people, when their blood glucose or blood sugar is too high. Our bodies need insulin to convert glucose into energy, but when this hormone is deficit, it may cause health issues over time. Especially during this pandemic, senior citizens with type 1 or type 2 diabetes can be more at risk of serious problems due to COVID-19.

It is more common for older patients to get type 2 diabetes which can occur if you are overweight, inactive, or having a family history of diabetes. It can have adverse effects such as heart diseases, stroke, and nerve damage. Type 2 diabetes patients are more vulnerable and prone to getting cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

To ensure your elder’s health is taken care of you can help them get regularly tested for their glucose levels, choose a healthier diet, and make sure they take their prescribed medications.

Back and Joint Pain:

Similarly, it is common to develop joint pain after the age of 60 years which can be due to environmental conditions, family history, physical activity etc. The most common areas affected are the knees, lower back, neck, shoulder, toes. As we age, the symptoms of arthritis can occur which can happen due to wear and tear.

The two most common causes of back pain can be osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis. It is important to take regular tests and body check-ups to ensure effective treatment on the onset of early symptoms.

Although there are more than just these three problems that you have to deal with once you cross the age of 60, it is important to keep them in mind when it comes to ensuring proper health because if left untreated or ignored, they can cause severe problems in the future and hence it is best to consult our doctors online for their expert guidance from Apollo Diagnostics to ensure you get the right information about your concerns.