Geriatrics

Health and wellness in geriatrics

Geriatrics is that branch of medicine which dedicates itself to the care of older people. It is a specialized field wherein a set of specialized physicians seek to provide health care to the elderly. Aging is a natural process which involves the gradual reduction of the body's organs and their functions. Even as children are growing up, their bodies are aging. At a later time in life, the aging process intensifies especially between 60 to 75 years. The social and biological characteristics of every age group differ as does each individual's body make-up. The social and biological characteristics of these three groups differ so much from each other that this categorization appears meaningful. It is not to be overlooked however, that some humans look old well before they are even fifty.

What is the weakest force in the universe and has the most profound effect on the human body? Gravity.
As we age, the relentless pull of gravity causes our body to sag in a southerly direction.
We develop wrinkles, flabby forearms, portly midriffs, varicosities, and edema
Feet and ankles, stooped shoulders, turkey necks, and compressed spines, to
Name a few multifarious insults to our body shape.

To compensate for this "G-force" we must continually work against it
Through body movement. Regular exercise is essential to maintain optimal
Health. Apiarian Roy den Brown noted, "It has been scientifically
Documented that exercising regularly increases longevity and enhanced
quality of life."1 The proverbial expression "either use it or lose it" applies
to the body's need for daily exercise as well as to maintain musculoskeletal
strength, immunity, and psychobiological balance. The best nutrition in the
world cannot sustain us if our circulation is stagnant and we do not receive
oxygen-rich blood to our body's three trillion cells.

Age-related Conditions
Urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence is not just a female problem. It is common in both women and men of all age groups. Generally age is not the only cause. It can occur for many reasons such as constipation, certain medicines, urinary tract infections, vaginal infection or irritation. Incontinence can last for different length of time due to the following causes: An overactive or weak bladder muscles. An enlarged prostate that can cause a blockageDiseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, or arthritis that damage nerves which control the bladder. The body stores urine in the bladder. During urination, muscles in the bladder contract or tighten. This forces urine out of the bladder and into a tube called the urethra that carries urine out of the body. At the same time, muscles surrounding the urethra relax and let the urine pass through. Spinal nerves control how these muscles move. Incontinence occurs if the bladder muscles contract or the muscles surrounding the urethra relax without warning.
Eye Problems in the Aged
Vision problems
There are many older people even those into their 80s who have no problem at all with their eyes. But, natural physical changes often cause some problems such as cataracts and glaucoma with age. The older you get you need brighter light for everyday tasks such as reading, cooking, mending. Driving a car can become a difficult task at night.
Some of the common problems are:
PresbyopiaThis usually occurs after the age of 40/45 years due to a change in the eye muscles and lens caused by loss of elasticity making reading more difficult. You can read only if you hold the material at arm's length. The problem is with focusing, which is easily rectified by having reading glasses with a convex lens. Every few years you will require slightly stronger lens to allow for the decreasing ability to focus
FloatersA common complaint is of seeing tiny spots or specks that float across the eye, especially in bright light. They are normal and usually harmless but may be a warning of impending eye problems. If they become more noticeable or cause flashes of light, see your doctor.

Excessive tears
Excessive tears are usually a sign of increased sensitivity of the eyes towind, light or temperature changes. This complaint is very common in acold wind. It can be minimized by wearing glasses, especially sunglasses. It could indicate blocked tear ducts (lachrymal ducts) or an eye infection.
Dry eyes
This is caused by a reduced production of tears by the tear glands. It cancause problems such as blurred vision, itching or burning. It iseasily corrected by using artificial tears.
Common eye diseases.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is caused by too much fluid pressure in the eye, this can lead to blindness The rarer acute form (which causes sudden pain and visual problems) and the common chronic form (which slowly develops without early symptoms). All elderly patients should have eye tests on a regular basis, maybe every 2 years, but it is more important to have any unusual eye symptoms checked, if detected, it can be treated and blindness prevented.
Cataractnormally the lens within the eye is clear and allows light to pass through it. A cataract is when the clear lens becomes cloudy or opaque and cuts down the light entering the back of the eye. Apart from deterioration of vision, there are no other symptoms. Though this can occur at any age, it is more common in diabetics and those taking cortisone tablets. It is also hereditary. A modern lens implant (an artificial lens) can give excellent results.
Retinal disorders
Disorders of the retina (the photosensitive area of the eye) can lead to varying degrees of blindness. Diabetes and other diseases can cause retinal problems. Sometimes the retina can become detached and seriously affect the eyesight. Retinal detachment can be treated successfully if detected early.
Tips for improved sight
· Light bulbs are better than fluorescent lights.
· Regular blood pressure and diabetes check ups.
· Eye examination every 2 years

Alzheimer's disease
Dementia is a general term for brain disorders that seriously affects a person's ability to carry out daily activities. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia among older people. It involves the parts of the brain that controls thought, memory, and language. Causes of Alzheimer's disease are still unknown, and there is no cure.This disease usually begins after age 60, and risk goes up with age.Scientists have also found other brain changes in people with Alzheimer's disease. There is loss of nerve cells in areas of the brain that are vital to memory and other mental abilities and lower levels of chemicals in the brain that carry complex messages back and forth between nerve cells.Alzheimer's disease may disrupt normal thinking and memory by blocking these messages between nerve cells.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Alzheimer's is a progressive disease; the symptoms grow worse over time. Yet, it is also a variable disease. Symptoms progress at different rates and in different patterns. The appearance and progression of symptoms will vary from one person to the next.Some of the common symptoms are:

Anxiety, paranoia, suspiciousness, agitation
Changes in personality and judgment confusion and memory loss
Difficulty with activities of daily living, such as feeding and bathing
Difficulty recognizing family and friends
Disorientation
Getting lost in familiar surroundings
Hallucinations and delusions
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Loss of bladder and bowel control
Loss of speech
Problems with routine tasks
Repetitive speaking or action
Sleep disturbances
Total dependence on caregiver
Wandering, pacing.

Loss of hearing
The gradual loss of hearing that occurs as you age is a common condition. Over time, the wear and tear from noise contributes to hearing loss by damaging the cochlea, a part of your inner ear. Doctors believe that heredity and chronic exposure to loud noises are the main factors that contribute to hearing loss. At times earwax blockage can prevent your ears from conducting sounds as well as they should.Damage to the inner ear can't be reversed though you and your doctor or hearing specialist (audiologist) can take steps to improve what you hear.
Signs and symptoms of hearing loss may include:

· Muffled quality of speech and other sound
· Difficulty understanding words, in a noisy crow
· Asking others to speak more slowly, clearly and loudly
· Needing to turn up the volume of the television or radio
· Withdrawal from conversations
· Avoidance of some social settings
Treatment If your hearing loss is due to damage to your inner ear, a hearing aid may be helpful. Getting used to a hearing aid takes time. The sound you hear is different because it's amplified. You may need to try more than one device to find one that works well for you. Hearing aids come in a variety of sizes, shapes and styles. Some hearing aids rest behind your ear with a small tube delivering the amplified sound to the ear canal. Other styles fit in the outer ear or within the ear canal. If you can't hear as well as you used to because of earwax blockage, your doctor can remove the wax and improve your hearing. This is a very simple painless procedure.If you have severe hearing loss, a cochlear implant may be an option. Unlike a hearing aid, a cochlear implant takes the place of the damaged or nonworking parts of the inner ear.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis, or porous bone, is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased susceptibility to fractures of the hip, spine, and wrist. Men as well as women suffer from osteoporosis, a disease that can be prevented and treated. Throughout our lifetime, old bone is removed and new bone is added to the skeleton. During childhood and teenage years, new bone is added faster than old bone is removed. As a result, bones become larger, heavier, and denser. Bone formation continues at a faster pace until peak bone mass (maximum bone density and strength) is reached around age 30. After age 30, wear and tear of bones begins to exceed bone formation. Bone loss is most rapid in the first few years after menopause but persists into the postmenopausal years. Osteoporosis is more likely to develop if you did not reach optimal bone mass during your bone building years.