{"id":7071,"date":"2015-12-10T07:33:31","date_gmt":"2015-12-10T13:33:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senioradvisor.com\/blog\/?p=7071"},"modified":"2017-09-19T13:16:58","modified_gmt":"2017-09-19T18:16:58","slug":"the-5-most-common-illnesses-for-seniors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/d30braiqprupoq.cloudfront.net\/blog\/2015\/12\/the-5-most-common-illnesses-for-seniors\/","title":{"rendered":"The 5 Most Common Illnesses for Seniors"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 5 Most Common Illnesses for Seniors\"The<\/h1>\n

Getting sick is always a drag, but many illnesses that are merely unpleasant for the young and healthy can have much more serious consequences for seniors. The first step to preventing a potentially dangerous illness is knowledge. If seniors and their caregivers make a point to know what illnesses they\u2019re at risk of, how to prevent them, and what symptoms to look for when they do occur \u2013 they can help seniors live longer, healthier lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

To avoid the worst, practice prevention as much as possible for these, but also be on the lookout for any symptoms and head to the doctor quickly to get treated.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Flu<\/h2>\n

The flu is an awful, painful experience for anybody who catches it, but for seniors it can be deadly. 90% of flu-related deaths<\/em> are of people over 65, and they make up half of all hospitalizations<\/em> from the illness. <\/span><\/p>\n

The best form of prevention for the flu is something you probably already know about: <\/span>the flu vaccine<\/a><\/strong>. It can decrease a senior\u2019s risk considerably and make them that much more likely to make it through the winter. Even with the vaccine though, be on the <\/span>lookout for symptoms<\/a><\/strong> so you can head to the doctor the moment the flu shows up. <\/span><\/p>\n

2. Depression<\/h2>\n

Many people who work in geriatrics know how serious depression and loneliness can be for seniors, but it\u2019s an illness many seniors and their loved ones don\u2019t think to diagnose. \u00a0Approximately 20% of people over 65<\/em> <\/span>struggle with<\/span> depression<\/strong><\/span><\/a> and the illness often goes untreated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Depression leads to a number of unhealthy habits, and seniors who don\u2019t take the step to seek out treatment are at risk of neglecting their health or even committing suicide. You can decrease all those risks and help ensure your loved one\u2019s remaining life is more enjoyable in the time they have left if you pay attention to the <\/span>warning signs<\/span> and urge them to get help. <\/span><\/p>\n

3. Pneumonia<\/h2>\n

Like the flu, pneumonia\u2019s another illness that\u2019s bad for everyone, but it’s more likely to be fatal for seniors. \u00a0As the cause of over 50,000 deaths per year<\/em> in the United States, everybody should take pneumonia very seriously.<\/span><\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

Seniors are especially at risk of contracting pneumonia and as such, are the group at the top of the CDC\u2019s list for <\/span>vaccine recommendations<\/a><\/strong>. If you experience any of the <\/span>symptoms common to the disease<\/a><\/strong>, as with the other illnesses on this list, get help immediately.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. UTI<\/h2>\n

Urinary tract infections are another health problem common in any adult, but with more severe consequences for the elderly. Due to a weakening of the bladder with age, seniors are more prone to UTIs. Beyond the discomfort common to the infection, UTIs also put seniors at greater risk of developing kidney disease and sepsis.<\/span><\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

Additionally, UTIs can cause symptoms that look very <\/span>similar to dementia<\/a>, which makes them a challenge to identify and know when to treat. Make sure your loved one drinks plenty of water and keep an eye out for the symptoms that may point to a UTI. If you\u2019re not sure whether your loved one is suffering from <\/span>dementia<\/a> or a UTI, bring up both options with your doctor to see what they say.<\/span><\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

5. Heat stroke<\/h2>\n

A nice day in the sun can turn into an emergency room visit for a senior if <\/span>proper precautions aren\u2019t taken<\/span><\/a>. When summers get really hot, seniors are at risk of heat stroke<\/a><\/strong>. It can cause disability or even death if you don\u2019t recognize it quickly and get the victim proper treatment. <\/span><\/p>\n

When the hottest days of summer start to hit, make sure your loved one drinks plenty of water, wears light enough clothes, and makes use of the A\/C or fan when the heat merits it. And know <\/span>the<\/span> warning signs to look for<\/a><\/strong> and the first steps to take<\/span> while you\u2019re waiting for help from emergency personnel if heat stroke does occur. <\/span><\/p>\n

Some seniors don\u2019t want to feel like they\u2019re a burden to their family members and caregivers. Urge them to speak up when they\u2019re feeling any pain or discomfort that might be a sign of a more serious illness, and try to read between the lines to pick up on symptoms they\u2019re not actually saying. Facing the discomfort of admitting a problem now<\/em> can prevent much more serious discomfort and problems later.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 5 Most Common Illnesses for Seniors Getting sick is always a drag, but many illnesses that are merely unpleasant for the young and healthy can have much more serious consequences for seniors. The first step to preventing a potentially dangerous illness is knowledge. If seniors and their caregivers make a point to know what illnesses they\u2019re at risk of, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2199,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[200,29,35],"tags":[45],"class_list":{"0":"post-7071","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-families-caregivers","7":"category-caregiving","8":"category-senior-health-fitness","9":"tag-senior-health"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe 5 Most Common Illnesses for Seniors<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Many common illnesses that are merely unpleasant for the young can have much more serious consequences for seniors. 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