Contents:
- Medical Video: Adalia Rose: The Girl Who Ages Too Fast | BORN DIFFERENT
- Why is the risk of disease increasing when we get older?
- Disease in the elderly that often occurs, according to Basic Health Research
- 1. Hypertension
- 2. Arthritis (arthritis)
- 3. Stroke
- 4. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- 5. Diabetes mellitus
Medical Video: Adalia Rose: The Girl Who Ages Too Fast | BORN DIFFERENT
The more a person ages, the more disease they suffer. This is because age is a factor in various diseases. Not surprisingly, many elderly people suffer from serious illnesses, not even one disease but can have two or more diseases at once. What are the diseases in the elderly that often occur?
Why is the risk of disease increasing when we get older?
You need to know, in 2014 the morbidity rate in the elderly was 25.05%. That is, out of every 100 elderly people there are 25 people who experience pain. This number seems to be decreasing from year to year. This is good, but it does not mean that the elderly do not have to be careful about diseases.
The fact is, the older you are, the greater your risk of getting the disease. This is because disease and age are interconnected. As you get older, your body functions decrease due to the aging process. Aging also results in decreased endurance, so the elderly are more susceptible to infectious and non-communicable diseases.
Disease in the elderly that often occurs, according to Basic Health Research
Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) is a national scale health research that is conducted every five to six years. This research describes a number of health conditions in various circles in Indonesia, including the elderly.
The following are the most common diseases affecting the elderly in Indonesia, according to Riskesdas 2013:
1. Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is the number one disease that most affects the elderly, according to Riskesdas 2013. The older you are, blood pressure tends to increase. This is a natural process that occurs in your body as you age. However, high blood pressure remains dangerous for the elderly because this can cause heart disease to stroke.
High blood pressure is if it reaches 140/90 mmHg or more. If you have reached this number, the elderly should be given treatment and treatment for hypertension so that it does not worsen. Reducing salt intake, exercising, controlling weight, staying away from stress, and not smoking are some ways to control hypertension.
2. Arthritis (arthritis)
This is the number two disease that attacks many elderly people in Indonesia. Arthritis is inflammation of one or more of your joints. This disease is characterized by pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints. So that, it can cause your space to be limited. The older you are, the symptoms of this disease can get worse.
For that, you need to do regular exercise and maintain your weight so that arthritis does not worsen. If you feel sick, you should take a break and don't force yourself to do a lot of activities.
3. Stroke
Stroke is a very dangerous condition and needs quick help to minimize brain damage. Stroke occurs when the blood supply to parts of the brain is not met, so that brain tissue does not get enough oxygen and nutrients to do its function.
Elderly is a group that often experiences strokes. Some of the symptoms of a stroke are numbness in the face, arms, or legs on one side of the body, decreased vision in one or both eyes, difficulty speaking or understanding other people's words, sudden headaches without knowing the cause, and loss of balance when walk.
4. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
You may rarely hear it, but this disease ranks fourth in a disease that is common in the elderly. COPD is a term that refers to a group of lung diseases that block the flow of air, making it difficult for sufferers to breathe. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two most common conditions that cause COPD.
If you are a smoker or have ever smoked, you must be careful. Smoking is a risk factor for COPD. For that reason, from now on stop smoking and / or stay away from cigarette smoke.
5. Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes is ranked fifth in the disease in the elderly that occurs most. Older age makes the body change a lot, including changes in the way the body uses blood sugar. As a result, many elderly people suffer from diabetes because their bodies cannot use blood sugar efficiently.
Diabetes is a disease dubbed the "mother of all diseases", so care needs to be taken if you have diabetes. Controlling food intake and regular exercise are two important ways to control your blood sugar levels.
