As we get older, we tend to be more prone to age-related diseases and disorders. A great deal of this has to do with a lack of general fitness, sedentary lifestyles, bad eating habits and lack of exercise. All of these lead to a set of progressively worse age-related diseases that can seriously hamper your lifestyle. Some of these diseases can also shorten your life span. So what are these age-related diseases and how can you ensure that you stay safe from them as you grow older? Read on to know more.
1. Diabetes Mellitus Type II
This disease is the bane of all lovers of the sedentary lifestyle. Bad eating habits, unhealthy hours, stresses, obesity, and a lack of exercise lead to type II diabetes mellitus. Have you been suffering excessive thirst lately? Do you feel that you need to pee more often? Have you been either losing or gaining weight recently? Get yourself checked for diabetes type II today.
2. Alzheimer’s Disease
Not all elderly people suffer dementia and related disorders. However, dementia is an age-related disorder and is incurable and degenerative. The really bad news is that very often, dementia can be terminal as well. If you feel that you are becoming absent minded, or feel disoriented most times and suffer severe mood swings, you might be suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
3. Degenerative Arthritis
Degenerative arthritis is a painful, debilitating disease. Over time, your bone cartilage break down, causing great friction between bone joints. It can also be that spurs or a new bone has developed in place of the cartilage. This can be very painful and you may be unable to even move a finger or a joint without experiencing much pain and discomfort.
4. Cardio-vascular Disease
The heart is the most hard working organ in the body. Telltale chest pains and feeling short of breath while walking or climbing stairs are clues you must not ignore. You might have a blockage in your heart valves, or you might be suffering high blood pressure. Get your heart checked today for good heart health.
5. Degenerative Eye Diseases
Everything wears thin as you get older. Your eyes, your most precious possession are no exception to this rule. Older people are vulnerable to various degenerative eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) and so on.
6. Parkinson’s Disease
This is another debilitating, de-humanizing disease to which the elderly are prone. Parkinson’s affects everything from body coordination to thought process to speech. People who suffer from Parkinson’s find it tough to be understood by others, which causes them to feel isolated and unappreciated. Depression usually results as a consequence of this isolation.
7. Osteoporosis
Ageing bones lose calcium content over a period. Unless calcium supplements are taken early on, osteoporosis can set in, making the bones brittle and easily breakable. Women of post-menopausal age are more prone to osteoporosis than men. To prevent osteoporosis, both men and women should take calcium supplements and drink plenty of calcium rich, fat-free milk. Mild exercise keeps the bones strong and keeps them from breaking easily.
8. High Blood Pressure
Blood pressure variation is a problem related to stressful life conditions, sedentary lifestyles, obesity and age. Elderly people are more prone to blood-pressure fluctuations, all the more so if they are not fit. High blood pressure can cause severe and at times fatal strokes in the elderly. To keep blood pressure normal, you should maintain a good diet and exercise regimen and practice calming techniques.
9. Oral Diseases
Saliva forms the main defense against oral diseases in the young. As we age, our saliva secretion decreases, leading to the dry mouth syndrome. Bacteria grow and fester in dry mouths, causing oral diseases such as gingivitis and periodontal disease. Owing to depleting calcium stores, teeth become brittle and break easily as well. Oral diseases and the resultant damage and loss of teeth are the main reasons why many elderly people need dentures.
10. Liver and Kidney Disease
How the body processes and disposes of waste matter depends on one’s lifestyle habits and diet. As you grow older, your liver and kidney functions start to go down, leading to progressive kidney and liver diseases.
Conclusion
Most of these degenerative diseases can be prevented by following a disciplined diet, drinking plenty of water and exercising regularly. As we grow older, our body wears out faster. The body needs to be kept in shape and toned to meet the challenges of ageing. It’s also good to practice yoga or calming techniques to keep blood pressure issues at bay. Most degenerative diseases can be prevented with the right diet and health supplements, especially a combination of Vitamin C, E, Beta Carotene and Zinc. Regular checkups and tests are necessary as you get older, to ensure that you are in peak condition.
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