Seniors and Aging - Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is caused by the wearing down of cartilage in the joints of the body, causing varying degrees of pain, stiffness and swelling. A majority of Canadians will be affected by it by age 70. However, there are prevention and coping strategies that can help seniors with the disease remain active and enjoy a good quality of life.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

                      ·         Pain in or around a joint
                      ·         Stiffness or problems in moving a joint
                      ·         Swelling sometimes in a joint
 Many people do not have any symptoms in the early stages of the disease. It often can take a  long time for the disease to progress and the disease can remain stable for long periods of time.

Risk Factors for Osteoarthritis
                     
Your chances of developing osteoarthritis can depend on several factors.

Age. While age doesn't cause osteoarthritis, the disease affects a very large number of seniors. You can't avoid growing old, but you can improve the way your body ages by adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes physical activity.

Excess weight. Many studies have pointed to a link between obesity and osteoarthritis. Excess weight puts an extra strain on weight-bearing joints, especially the knees. A recent study estimated that in about 80% of knee replacement surgeries, excess weight was a factor. A 10 -15 lb. weight loss can reduce pain in the knees.

Injury and complications from other conditions. Osteoarthritis can develop because of previous joint injuries or joint inflammation, or diseases that affect the joints, such as diabetes.

Joints can also be injured when they are repeatedly put under high impact stress for long periods of time. Some types of exercise, sports or occupations may increase your likelihood of developing osteoarthritis. For example, hand osteoarthritis is often found among boxers and elbow osteoarthritis is more common among pneumatic drill operators.

Heredity. There is a genetic link in some specific forms of osteoarthritis. Some families may have a tendency for defective cartilage, while other families may have slight defects in the way the joints fit together.

Lack of physical activity. Exercise can strengthen supporting muscles and help maintain joint mobility. Often osteoarthritis sufferers avoid activity due to pain, stiffness, fatigue or fear of harming themselves. But inactivity can worsen osteoarthritis symptoms.

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Old age hearing loss

Old age is dreaded by everyone as it weakens the body and limits the physical capabilities.  Immunity and working capacity dwindles and so does the strength of other organs in the body. Weakening of eyesight or old age hearing loss is a common problem, especially during the seventies and eighties.

Loud noise or heavy music can be annoying to a normal person, but for an old person who has less listening capacity these sounds appear normal instead of deafening. Have you noticed any of your grandparents enjoying music on television or audio track in high volume? Well, when the hearing ability starts lessening old people do not immediately understand the problem. And if they are used to living alone, then they simply feel that the volume of TV is low and just go on increasing it.  This old age hearing loss is clinically termed as Presbycusis.

Early stage of Presbycusis

When you start increasing the sound of any audio or video program more than you always needed to hear clearly, it is a clear cut proof that your ability to hear is weakening. 

When regular noise of horns, whistle does not make you shriek as before it is a symptom that Presbycusis is stepping in.

Very regular sounds like running tap water or screeching of chair due to pushing do not have any irritating effect; your hearing ability is getting impaired.

Reasons of Presbycusis

By the time you reach old age, your organs have been used to their limits. But even then some organs still function well while some lose their sensitivity and ability to function to the hilt. Weakening of immunity, eye sight or hearing is a common thing.

Hearing ability depends upon the strength of cochlear hair cells. These cells due to overuse or any other reasons like injury near brain, jaw, cheek, teeth or directly to the ear can get damaged. If not treated properly, these cells become weak over the time and then lose their high frequency ability to catch even the smallest of sound. More the damage to the cells less will be the hearing capacity.

Although the damage to the cochlear hair cells starts from the middle age itself, its repercussions and effects are seen during old age when you cross sixties. Hearing loss is mostly seen in male adults as compared to female.

Most prominent cause of Presbycusis

Presbycusis is a natural phenomenon and can occur to any old person. But the cases have increased more in the past decade and noise pollution is the main culprit. Deafening noise of traffic, sirens, horns, machines and habit to hear loud ear storming music damage the capacity of the cochlear hair cells. Hence, this old age hearing loss is fast becoming middle age hearing loss as the symptoms are now being noticed in people even in their thirties and forties.

God has given everyone the most wonderful quality in the form of ability to hear. It’s time you understand its value and stop misusing it. If steps are taken in the youth, your hearing capability can be retained for years together.

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Mental Illnesses

  According to World Health Organization, 25% of the world population is suffering from  Mental illnesses    But only 40% of these cases are diagnosed and treated. One million annual suicides are the result of these undiagnosed or missed cases. Most common causes for these suicides are depression, dementia, anxiety and Schizophrenia.

  Senior Citizens are susceptible to a variety of mental illnesses. Depression is the most common of these. Symptoms of depression include- Lack of interest in activities you enjoyed doing. Sadness or unexplained crying spells, jumpiness or irritability, Loss of memory, inability to concentrate, confusion or disorientation, Thoughts of death or suicide, Change in appetite and sleep patterns. Persistent fatigue, lethargy, aches and other unexplainable physical problems, Dementias and Pseudo/dementias.  

  These health issues are characterized by confusion, memory loss and disorientation.  Diseases such as Parkinson's and Huntington's as well as high blood pressure and strokes may cause it. When organs such as the heart, lungs, thyroid, pituitary and other glands do not function well, mental processes are affected. 

  Vitamin B-12 has been extensively researched for its importance in preventing dementia. Studies supporting a beneficial role of vitamin D in reducing the risk of diseases linked to dementia such as vascular and metabolic diseases. Except for the three vitamins - D, K, and Biotin, the other vitamins can be found in fruits, vegetables and lean meats, and must be a part of your regular diet.

  Memory loss:  A new study found that elderly people who ate more calories a day had a higher risk of a type of memory loss called mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI is a stage of cognitive decline between normal age-related memory loss and Alzheimer’s dementia. People with MCI have problems with memory and thinking that are noticeable to others, but that don’t interfere with everyday life.

  Walking ward off mental decline:   Walking 'could ward off dementia and mental decline'. Elderly people who get about by walking are less likely to suffer mental decline or even dementia, a study says. Brain scans revealed that older people walking between six and nine miles a week appeared to have more brain tissue in key areas. The Pittsburgh University study of 299 people suggested they had less "brain shrinkage", which is linked to memory problems. The research was reported in the journal Neurology. Exercise improves blood flow to the brain and may help build new brain cells, recent studies show. Mild exercise such as walking can boost brain volume and improve memory in older adults, researchers have found.

  Protect Your Brain in Old Age: New research suggests to  protect your brain are: 

  * Boosting Your B-Vitamin Intake- Researchers at the British Science Festival this week reported findings that high doses of B vitamins and folic acid could reduce memory decline and brain shrinkage

  * Cutting Fat, Carbs - A diet low in saturated fat and refined sugars may reduce your risk of developing dementia, according to research published earlier this summer

  * Exercising - Aerobic exercise may reduce your chances of developing dementia , and slow the progression of the disease once it starts.

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