Seniors' Health Health Article

Definition

Seniors' health refers to the physical and mental conditions of senior citizens, those who are in their 60s and older.

Purpose

For a senior, the aging process and a person's lifestyle will affect health. People who maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat nutritionally, and don't smoke reduce the risk for many health conditions. This wellness allows people to live longer and to remain independent for more years. Smoking, obesity (excess weight), and lack of exercise shorten life and increase the risk for many health conditions.

Diet and exercise

Proper diet and regular exercise form the foundation of senior health. A nutritional diet and physical activity can help prevent diseases such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. A healthy diet can also help to manage diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

As people age, there is more of a need to exercise on a regular basis. According to the American Heart Association, the inactive person loses from 3–5% of muscle fiber each decade after age 30. That loss would total 30% of lost muscle fiber at age 60. Exercise helps to boost muscle strength. It could help to improve balance and coordination, and therefore help to prevent falls.

Organizations including the heart association advise that regular physical activity helps to prevent bone loss (osteoporosis) and the risk of conditions such as heart disease, Type II diabetes, colon cancer, stress, and depression. In addition, exercise can help a extend the lives of people with conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Osteoporosis

The longterm effects of hormone replacement therapy are not known. While one study concluded that HRT decreased the risk for breast cancer, another maintained the therapy increased the risk, and several other studies proved inconclusive.

Osteoarthritis

Treatments for osteoarthritis range from preventative measures such as walking to joint replacement surgery. Treatment costs vary from no cost for soaking a joint in cold water, the price of over-the-counter remedies, to fees for surgery.

Preventive and maintenance remedies include low-impact exercise such as swimming and walking, along with maintaining proper posture. Nutritional aids include foods rich in vitamin C such as citrus fruits and broccoli. Also recommended is daily consumption of 400 international units of Vitamin E. A person should cut back on fats, sugar, salt, cholesterol, and alcohol.

HOME REMEDIES AND PHYSICAL THERAPY. The Arthritis Foundation recommends several remedies for easing pain. To treat inflammation, a person should use a cold treatment for 20 minutes. Methods include soaking the affected area in cold water or applying an ice pack. To soothe aches and stimulate circulation, a person applies heat to the affected area for 20 minutes. This should be done three times during the day.

Over-the-counter (OTC) remedies such as aspirin and ibuprofen and salves containing capsaicin can be helpful. Furthermore, a doctor may recommend anti-inflammatory medications.

SURGICAL TREATMENT. If osteoarthritis is suspected, a doctor's diagnosis will include an assessment of whether joint pain is part of a patient's medical history. The doctor may take an x ray to determine the presence of cartilage loss and how much degeneration occurred.

Acupuncture may be helpful in treating mild osteoarthritis. Generally, a person should have one to two treatments a week for several weeks. Afterward, one treatment is recommended. An assessment of results should be made after 10 treatments.

In cases of severe osteoarthritis, joint replacement surgery or joint immobilization may be required. Joints are replaced with metal, plastic, or ceramic material.