What Are Geriatric
Diseases?
Geriatric diseases are ailments that are most common among older individuals. Sometimes, these diseases are intergenerational, but they may also include heart disease, vascular dementia, urinary incontinence, multiple sclerosis, and other disorders that are drastically more common among the elderly. Geriatric healthcare mostly concerns people over the age of 75.
Common Geriatric
Disorders
Some geriatric ailments are more common than others. The following are some of the most prevalent healthcare issues for adults over 75.
Chronic Kidney Disease
Kidney inflammation, diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney infections can result in chronic kidney disease. Unfortunately, chronic kidney disease can lead to severe kidney damage and failure. Unfortunately, symptoms of kidney failure are difficult to identify and often nonexistent.
Dr. Calvin Hirsch explained this is why older adults must seek medical assistance when they notice symptoms of kidney failure, such as swollen feet, shortness of breath, and bloody urine.
Arthritis
Arthritis is one of the most prevalent age-related health conditions. It includes rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, with the latter being more common. Osteoarthritis typically occurs later in life due to joint wear and tear Both types of arthritis lack a cure, but patients can manage pain and discomfort with corticosteroids and painkillers.
Common signs of arthritis include limited movement, inflammation around joints, tenderness, joint pain, and stiffness.
Varying Cancers
Unfortunately, many types of cancer become more common as people age, including lung, breast, and prostate cancer, among dozens of others. Some cancers are currently curable, while doctors and scientists are constantly working toward discovering cures for others. Dr. Calvin Hirsch stated that the sooner a doctor uncovers a patient's cancer, the sooner they can work to battle it.
Symptoms of various cancers vary, but common signs include blood in urine, blood while coughing, unexplained masses or lumps, and unexpected weight loss.
Parkinson's Disease,
Alzheimer's Disease, and Dementia
Dementia, Parkinson's Disease, and Alzheimer's Disease involve problems associated with loss of cognition and memory. They occur due to damaged brain cells or connections between cells.
Common symptoms of these disorders include difficulty expressing wants/needs verbally, memory loss, trouble reasoning or planning, increased paranoia, anxiety, depression, hallucinations, and many others. These conditions are not currently curable, but some side effects are treatable and manageable.
Dr. Calvin Hirsch and Geriatric
Healthcare
Dr.
Calvin Hirsch was named a Sacramento Top Doctor for four
consecutive years. He served as the only academic geriatrician in the
Department of Medicine for years. He continues to use his expertise to help
elderly individuals lead healthier and more satisfying lives.
more reading: Michael Hsu