6 Common Health Conditions Brought About by Age
The older we get, the more we look back on “the good old days” and remember them fondly, right? Remember when you could actually buy things with a nickel? Or how about how you could leave your door unlocked and knew every detail of your neighbor’s life?
Of course looking back, health and medicine were a lot different too.
It used to be that getting older meant dealing with aches, pains, and illness. Although that’s remained consistent, our ways of dealing with these problems have grown and adapted to the times.
Medicine has advanced so that we can improve the qualities of our life–and not just its length. As a result, the following are six health conditions that are commonly brought about by age. Knowing what to expect can help you diagnose and treat the condition before it becomes unmanageable.
1. Glaucoma
The older we get, the higher the likelihood that we’ll encounter eye-related health conditions. As fluid builds behind your eye, the pressure on your optic nerve increases and can damage its connection to your brain, resulting in glaucoma.
Millions of Americans suffer from this syndrome, but it can be difficult to diagnose. At first, there are no symptoms. Eventually, however, patients will notice a lack of peripheral vision as well as decreased vision capability on the whole.
Thankfully, keeping a semi-regular schedule with an optometrist can help spot this before it becomes a hindrance to your life.
2. Macular Degeneration
Along with glaucoma, macular degeneration can cause blindness. Although eyesight naturally degrades over time, it’s important to note the distinction between general eyesight loss and macular degeneration.
The macular is the part of the eye responsible for fine detail, so it will become difficult to see faces or other detailed parts of your life. Again, keeping a schedule with an optometrist can help prevent this degeneration from affecting you.
3. Alzheimer’s Disease
This disease keeps its sufferers from being able to remember events, people, and objects. Unfortunately, this means that Alzheimer’s often leaves its sufferers unable to perform even the most basic of tasks.
Although irreversible, it’s important that you talk to a doctor if you suspect early symptoms. It’s better to catch the signs early.
4. Hearing Loss
If you’re 65 or over chances are that either you, a friend, or a family member suffer from hearing loss. It’s estimated that around 43% of Americans suffer from a decreased capacity for hearing.
The most common form of this is presbycusis–or the inability to hear higher-pitched sounds. Usually higher-frequency sounds are the first to go, but sometimes this type of hearing loss can make hearing women and children more difficult too.
If you suspect you have hearing loss, be sure to talk to your doctor; you might be a candidate for a hearing aid.
5. Arthritis
This common ailment affects nearly one in six Americans and is caused by the wearing out of the fluid and cartilage in a joint. The inflammation occurs when the joints continue to rub together, causing bones to scrape and pain to occur.
If you’re suffering from joint pain make sure to speak to your doctor as modern medicine has made the symptoms treatable.
6. Low Testosterone
The older men get, the lower their testosterone count. Unfortunately, having low testosterone levels can lead to a whole host of other problems–including lower energy, reduced sex drive, and cognitive difficulty.
Thankfully for all of us older men, there’s a way to replenish hormone levels.
The benefits of hormone replacement therapy are numerous but include increased energy levels, decreased irritability and depression, improved cognitive function and verbal memory, as well as an increase in your sex drive.
As to how you can receive treatment, there are Denver low T clinics available to help you start improving your life.
By keeping on top of your health and general well-being, you can ensure a longer and higher quality of life. Be sure to look out for common ailments, and speak to your doctor if you notice any symptoms of these or other conditions.
Medicine has come a long way in the last few decades, so make sure to take full advantage of your opportunities!