It’s a well-known fact that as we age, we’re more likely to develop certain diseases and illnesses. For example, we reach our peak bone mass around age 30, increasing our risk for osteoporosis, and the risk of heart disease increases after age 45 for men and 50 for women. By the time we reach senior citizen age (65) the risk for many more conditions increase, and even more so by age 75.
Overall, many of the same conditions affect senior citizens, but there are some conditions that are more prevalent in some places than others. Here are the five most common age-related illnesses affecting senior citizens in Illinois.
#1: Pulmonary Conditions
Pulmonary conditions are diseases that affect the lungs. These include things like asthma, bronchitis, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), pneumonia, and pulmonary edema. Of all these pulmonary conditions, COPD and pneumonia are two of the biggest concerns for senior citizens. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can result from the common cold or flu— especially in seniors.
On the other hand, COPD is an umbrella term for a group of lung diseases (chronic bronchitis and emphysema) that makes it extremely hard to breathe. Unfortunately, many people with COPD have a combination of both bronchitis and emphysema meaning that they have both a long-term cough and damaged lungs.
#2: Heart Disease and Stroke
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., while stroke is the third. Every day, more than 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke, and in 2017, more than 6,000 people died from a stroke. Both are also a major cause of disability for residents of Illinois, particularly for seniors. Examples of heart-related conditions include:
- Arrhythmia
- Congenital heart disease
- Coronary artery disease (CAD)
- Heart failure
- Heart valve disease
While heart disease damages the heart, stroke damages the brain. When oxygen and blood flow are restricted to the brain, this results in a stroke. Symptoms include trouble speaking and/or understanding, numbness in the face and/or extremities, and even paralysis.
#3: Diabetes
Diabetes is another major health concern for seniors in Illinois, as well as many adults all over the country. There are two types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. The first is a genetic condition that typically shows up in childhood, while the latter develops later in life as a result of poor health. With type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce insulin, whereas with type 2 diabetes, the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
Those with type 2 diabetes are at least twice as likely to have a stroke or develop heart disease. They are also more likely to suffer complications such as eye problems (including vision loss), nerve damage in the feet, kidney disease, and gum disease.
#4: Cancer
Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells grow uncontrollably and damage nearby body tissues. Nearly one third of all cancer is preventable, with some of the most common cancers affecting those in Illinois (and the entire U.S.) being those “preventable cancers”. The most common cancer in women is breast cancer and it’s prostate cancer in men, while the most common cancers in both genders include:
- Lung cancer
- Colon cancer
- Skin cancer
While consistent and early screening can help increase your chances of surviving cancer, certain cancers like lung and skin cancer can be prevented because lifestyle habits are their main risk factors. For example, smoking tobacco increases your risk of lung cancer, while unprotected and prolonged exposure to UVA and UVB rays increases your risk of skin cancer.
#5: Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia, meaning that it’s a disease that affects memory, judgment, and thinking in general. The risk of developing this type of dementia greatly increases with age, especially after age 75— although early-onset Alzheimer’s can develop as early as age 30.
Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia are one of the main reasons senior citizens are placed in nursing homes. This debilitating disease affects one’s ability to perform daily tasks, meaning they will need constant care. Unfortunately, many Illinois nursing home residents are victims of elder abuse and neglect in these nursing homes— as well as many nursing home residents all over the U.S.
Just because these are considered to be age-related diseases doesn’t mean that you’re going to develop them as you get older. In fact, practicing healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating a nutritionally balanced diet and exercising regularly can help significantly reduce your risk of developing these diseases— possibly even Alzheimer’s.
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