Caring For The Elderly: Senior Illnesses And What They Mean To You Â
Caring For The Elderly: Senior Illnesses And What They Mean To You Â
Article by Careplacementservices
As we get older, we all become more susceptible to illnesses, diseases and ailments that may render us incapacitated in some way, shape or form. In some cases we may not even recover from them. It is a sad fact, but we will all eventually shake hands with the very thing that is going to kill us. However, that is not to say that all senior illnesses are incurable. In fact, there are very few that are untreatable. If you happen to be a caregiver and look after a senior on a daily basis, then there are various diseases that you may actually come into contact with and learn how to cope with via that individual. It can be difficult watching someone you care about succumb to illness at any age, but with seniors it is inevitable. A little bit of background knowledge can help to prepare you for the worst, so here is a quick guide to senior illnesses:
CANCER – Over two thirds of all seniors are affected by cancer at some point in their lives. Some forms of cancer are more common than others. Lung and breast cancer are the most common forms as found in seniors, but skin cancer also puts in an appearance in the top senior afflictions list. Cancer can be treated with great effect these days but the older the sufferer is, the more the odds of a full recovery are cut. After all, how many eighty years olds are strong enough to come through a course of chemotherapy? Any form of cancer must be caught early if a patient is to stand any chance of recovery so bodily abnormalities must be checked out by a medical professional as soon as they are discovered.
DEMENTIA – A high number of seniors also suffer from dementia. There are many forms of dementia, but they all stem from decreasing brain activity owing to degradation and resultant damage to the connections between the brain and nerve endings in the body. The cause of dementia is not known and there can be little done to effectively treat it, although some drugs do hols off the symptoms for a while. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s Disease, which is generally more potent than other versions of the illness. It can be extremely frustrating for sufferers because they gradually become more confused, although they will initially know what is happening to them. It may take anywhere between a few months to many years for the full symptoms to actually emerge, but when they do it is extremely unlikely that the sufferer will know who you are.
PARKINSON’S DISEASE – Again, this is a disease that affects the nerve cells leading to the brain and like, dementia, nobody knows exactly what is behind it. Whereas dementia will affect an individual mentally, Parkinson’s primarily disables the body and then moves onto the mind. It may be apparent that a sufferer has the disease because of uncontrollable shaking, which is just as frustrating as the confusion associated with dementia. Again, there is no known cure and drugs only work for a limited time before symptoms can no longer be controlled.
DIABETES – More and more seniors are suffering with this disease as a result of their lifestyles and, primarily, their diets. As sugar and fat intake increases, the body rebels. However, diabetes is an age-old ailment that is caused by the body’s inability to produce enough insulin to keep their blood sugar levels under control. It is incurable but can be treated either by diet or medication in tablet or injection form. It will not cause the death of an individual is treated correctly. However, particular attention has to be paid to wounds that diabetics have because they have a tendency to degenerate more quickly than those in non-diabetics. Amputation of limbs is also quite common as a result of the illness. It is therefore imperative that a diagnosis is swift and observations thereafter occur daily.
Graham & Graham LLC, is a FREE Eldercare Consulting Service offering guidance and direction to those who are exploring the vast world of long term care options.
Free Consulting For Seniors and Their Families 1-888-217-1655Author: Michelle Graham, CSA, Certified Senior Advisor, Eldercare Consultant, CEO and Founder of Graham & Graham LLC
Free Guidance and Options for Families
About the Author
http://careplacementnetwork.com/
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What type of plants can you get for a senior person that has lung problems?
Question by : What type of plants can you get for a senior person that has lung problems?
Some plants can aggravate breathing problems
Best answer:
Answer by Lady Luck
Cactus.
And there’s some very nice ones.
Play it really safe, and go with silk.
Have you seen those bouquets made from candy?
Now, they’re cool.
Give your answer to this question below!
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Seasonal Flu Complications for Senior Citizens
Older adults and people with chronic diseases are at the greatest risk of problems associated with seasonal flu. And the ongoing H1N1 pandemic doubles the risk of getting sick this flu season. Learn how the flu typically leads to other complications in senior citizens including respiratory problems, pneumonia, and heart and lung problems.
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Categories: Videos Tags: complications, seasonal, citizens', senior
Caring For The Elderly: Senior Illnesses And What They Mean To You Â
Caring For The Elderly: Senior Illnesses And What They Mean To You Â
Article by Careplacementservices
As we get older, we all become more susceptible to illnesses, diseases and ailments that may render us incapacitated in some way, shape or form. In some cases we may not even recover from them. It is a sad fact, but we will all eventually shake hands with the very thing that is going to kill us. However, that is not to say that all senior illnesses are incurable. In fact, there are very few that are untreatable. If you happen to be a caregiver and look after a senior on a daily basis, then there are various diseases that you may actually come into contact with and learn how to cope with via that individual. It can be difficult watching someone you care about succumb to illness at any age, but with seniors it is inevitable. A little bit of background knowledge can help to prepare you for the worst, so here is a quick guide to senior illnesses:
CANCER – Over two thirds of all seniors are affected by cancer at some point in their lives. Some forms of cancer are more common than others. Lung and breast cancer are the most common forms as found in seniors, but skin cancer also puts in an appearance in the top senior afflictions list. Cancer can be treated with great effect these days but the older the sufferer is, the more the odds of a full recovery are cut. After all, how many eighty years olds are strong enough to come through a course of chemotherapy? Any form of cancer must be caught early if a patient is to stand any chance of recovery so bodily abnormalities must be checked out by a medical professional as soon as they are discovered.
DEMENTIA – A high number of seniors also suffer from dementia. There are many forms of dementia, but they all stem from decreasing brain activity owing to degradation and resultant damage to the connections between the brain and nerve endings in the body. The cause of dementia is not known and there can be little done to effectively treat it, although some drugs do hols off the symptoms for a while. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s Disease, which is generally more potent than other versions of the illness. It can be extremely frustrating for sufferers because they gradually become more confused, although they will initially know what is happening to them. It may take anywhere between a few months to many years for the full symptoms to actually emerge, but when they do it is extremely unlikely that the sufferer will know who you are.
PARKINSON’S DISEASE – Again, this is a disease that affects the nerve cells leading to the brain and like, dementia, nobody knows exactly what is behind it. Whereas dementia will affect an individual mentally, Parkinson’s primarily disables the body and then moves onto the mind. It may be apparent that a sufferer has the disease because of uncontrollable shaking, which is just as frustrating as the confusion associated with dementia. Again, there is no known cure and drugs only work for a limited time before symptoms can no longer be controlled.
DIABETES – More and more seniors are suffering with this disease as a result of their lifestyles and, primarily, their diets. As sugar and fat intake increases, the body rebels. However, diabetes is an age-old ailment that is caused by the body’s inability to produce enough insulin to keep their blood sugar levels under control. It is incurable but can be treated either by diet or medication in tablet or injection form. It will not cause the death of an individual is treated correctly. However, particular attention has to be paid to wounds that diabetics have because they have a tendency to degenerate more quickly than those in non-diabetics. Amputation of limbs is also quite common as a result of the illness. It is therefore imperative that a diagnosis is swift and observations thereafter occur daily.
Graham & Graham LLC, is a FREE Eldercare Consulting Service offering guidance and direction to those who are exploring the vast world of long term care options.
Free Consulting For Seniors and Their Families 1-888-217-1655Author: Michelle Graham, CSA, Certified Senior Advisor, Eldercare Consultant, CEO and Founder of Graham & Graham LLC
Free Guidance and Options for Families
About the Author
http://careplacementnetwork.com/
JVZoo Product Feed
Caring For The Elderly: Senior Illnesses And What They Mean To You Â
Caring For The Elderly: Senior Illnesses And What They Mean To You Â
Article by Careplacementservices
As we get older, we all become more susceptible to illnesses, diseases and ailments that may render us incapacitated in some way, shape or form. In some cases we may not even recover from them. It is a sad fact, but we will all eventually shake hands with the very thing that is going to kill us. However, that is not to say that all senior illnesses are incurable. In fact, there are very few that are untreatable. If you happen to be a caregiver and look after a senior on a daily basis, then there are various diseases that you may actually come into contact with and learn how to cope with via that individual. It can be difficult watching someone you care about succumb to illness at any age, but with seniors it is inevitable. A little bit of background knowledge can help to prepare you for the worst, so here is a quick guide to senior illnesses:
CANCER – Over two thirds of all seniors are affected by cancer at some point in their lives. Some forms of cancer are more common than others. Lung and breast cancer are the most common forms as found in seniors, but skin cancer also puts in an appearance in the top senior afflictions list. Cancer can be treated with great effect these days but the older the sufferer is, the more the odds of a full recovery are cut. After all, how many eighty years olds are strong enough to come through a course of chemotherapy? Any form of cancer must be caught early if a patient is to stand any chance of recovery so bodily abnormalities must be checked out by a medical professional as soon as they are discovered.
DEMENTIA – A high number of seniors also suffer from dementia. There are many forms of dementia, but they all stem from decreasing brain activity owing to degradation and resultant damage to the connections between the brain and nerve endings in the body. The cause of dementia is not known and there can be little done to effectively treat it, although some drugs do hols off the symptoms for a while. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s Disease, which is generally more potent than other versions of the illness. It can be extremely frustrating for sufferers because they gradually become more confused, although they will initially know what is happening to them. It may take anywhere between a few months to many years for the full symptoms to actually emerge, but when they do it is extremely unlikely that the sufferer will know who you are.
PARKINSON’S DISEASE – Again, this is a disease that affects the nerve cells leading to the brain and like, dementia, nobody knows exactly what is behind it. Whereas dementia will affect an individual mentally, Parkinson’s primarily disables the body and then moves onto the mind. It may be apparent that a sufferer has the disease because of uncontrollable shaking, which is just as frustrating as the confusion associated with dementia. Again, there is no known cure and drugs only work for a limited time before symptoms can no longer be controlled.
DIABETES – More and more seniors are suffering with this disease as a result of their lifestyles and, primarily, their diets. As sugar and fat intake increases, the body rebels. However, diabetes is an age-old ailment that is caused by the body’s inability to produce enough insulin to keep their blood sugar levels under control. It is incurable but can be treated either by diet or medication in tablet or injection form. It will not cause the death of an individual is treated correctly. However, particular attention has to be paid to wounds that diabetics have because they have a tendency to degenerate more quickly than those in non-diabetics. Amputation of limbs is also quite common as a result of the illness. It is therefore imperative that a diagnosis is swift and observations thereafter occur daily.
Graham & Graham LLC, is a FREE Eldercare Consulting Service offering guidance and direction to those who are exploring the vast world of long term care options.
Free Consulting For Seniors and Their Families 1-888-217-1655Author: Michelle Graham, CSA, Certified Senior Advisor, Eldercare Consultant, CEO and Founder of Graham & Graham LLC
Free Guidance and Options for Families
About the Author
http://careplacementnetwork.com/
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Usually Diagnosed In People 40 Years Old Or In The Senior Years Â
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Usually Diagnosed In People 40 Years Old Or In The Senior Years Â
Article by Connie Limon
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) develops slowly over many years sometimes before you notice symptoms such as “feeling short of breath.” Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of COPD. It can also be caused by breathing in lung irritants like pollutions, dust, or chemicals over a long period of time.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is usually diagnosed in people 40 years old or older, and is a major cause of death and illness throughout the world. In the U.S.A., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the 4th leading cause of death. There is no cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is not a contagious disease. Damage to airways and lungs cannot be reversed. There are only things you can do to feel better and slow the damage to your lungs.
In a healthy person airways of the lungs are clear and open and the air sacs are small, elastic, and springy. In people diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the airways and air sacs lose their shape and become floppy.
Causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease include:
*Cigarette smoking (most common cause)*Breathing fumes and other pollutants that irritate and damage the lungs and airways*Pipe, cigar and other types of tobacco smoking can cause COPD especially if the smoke is inhaled.*People with a family history of COPD are more likely to get the disease if they smoke*Secondhand smoke plays a role in causing COPD*Frequent, severe lung infections in childhood may increase the risk for acquiring COPD later in life
Symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease start years before the flow of air in and out of the lungs is reduced and include:
*Cough with sputum production (most common is a cough that does not go away and coughing up lots of sputum)*Shortness of breath especially with exercise*Wheezing or whistling sound when you breathe*Tightness in the chest
It is important to note that not everyone who has a cough and sputum goes on to develop chronic pulmonary obstructive disease.
A doctor looking for chronic pulmonary obstructive disease will examine you, listen to your lungs and ask you questions about your medical history. Physician questions will include what kind of lung irritants you may have been around for long periods of time and if you smoke.
A breathing test called “spirometry” may be used. It is painless and used to show how well your lungs work. Based upon this the spirometry test results, your doctor can determine if you have chronic pulmonary obstructive disease and just how severe it is. There are four levels of chronic pulmonary obstructive disease severity, they are:
*People at risk for COPD*People with mild COPD*People with moderate COPD*People with severe COPD
Goals of treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease include:
*To relieve symptoms with no or minimal side effects from the treatments*To slow progress of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease*To prevent complications from the disease*To improve overall health
The exact treatment plan for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be different for each person and is based on whether symptoms are mild, moderate or severe.
Treatments used for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease include:
*Medications such as bronchodilators that work by relaxing the muscles around the airways to open them up and make it easier to breathe. Bronchodilators are inhaled directly into the lungs via an inhaler*Pulmonary or lung rehabilitation*Oxygen treatment*Surgery*Treatments to manage complications or sudden onset of symptoms*Pneumococcal vaccine may be recommended to prevent pneumonia*Annual flu shot to avoid breathing complications from the flu
Surgery is usually done for patients with severe symptoms that do not improve from other types of treatments, and have a hard time breathing most of the time. The two types of surgery that are considered in cases of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are:
*A bullectomy to remove a large air sac that may compress a good lung*A lung transplant
Hospitalization may be needed if:
*You have a lot of difficulty catching your breath*You have a hard time talking*Your lips or fingernails turn blue or gray
Source: The American Lung Association
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information in this article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All health concerns should be addressed by a qualified health care professional.
This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.
© 2007 Connie Limon All rights reserved
About the Author
Connie Limon Visit http://smalldogs2.com/SeniorHealth for an extensive list of articles all about the health and care of seniors.
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Categories: Articles Tags: chronic, people, obstructive, pulmonary, f, senior, disease, usually, years, diagnosed
Stevens thoracic catheter senior design team takes 1st place at regional ISPE competition
Stevens thoracic catheter senior design team takes 1st place at regional ISPE competition
( Stevens Institute of Technology ) On April 21, Stevens students took first place at the regional International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers Student Poster Competition for their novel thoracic catheter design.
Read more on EurekAlert!
Deaths/causes | PUBLIC RECORDS | March 25 to May 10
Deaths/causes | PUBLIC RECORDS | March 25 to May 10
Read more on Evansville Courier & Press
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