The Common Age Related Illnesses

As people age, they start developing different age related illnesses. However, having knowledge of what to expect when you finally hit 60+ years will help you prepare beforehand. If you are going to live that long then, old age health complications are almost unavoidable. Below, we look at the common age related diseases that exist today. Obesity Obesity is one of the common age related illnesses that those above 60 years of age are likely to develop. About ¾ of all people over the age of 60 years are obese. In itself, obesity leads to other complications in the body such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and colon and breast cancer. Also, over 40% of people above the age of 60 have metabolic disorder which leads to development of other health conditions. Eating natural food, avoiding sweetened beverages and doing plenty of exercise is the surest way of reducing chances of contracting obesity. Arthritis Amongst the most common age related illnesses is arthritis. After years of walking around, carrying heavy loads and playing straining games, arthritis finally catches up with us. Combined with osteoporosis (low bone mass in the body), arthritis can wreak havoc in the body and cause disability. The only way of reducing the effects of arthritis is stopping smoking, eating food rich in calcium and reducing alcohol intake in adults. Also, for you to maintain a healthy bone mass in your body, you have to bask under sunlight daily. Cancer The risk of developing endometrial, prostate, lung and colon cancers increases with age. In fact, Cancer is a leading age related illnesses that causes a lot of deaths in old age persons. Also, cardiovascular disease falls in this category and is a leading cause of old age mortality. You can however reduce your chances of developing these conditions by doing proper exercise, eating food rich in fiber but with less fat. Additionally, it is important to limit salt intake as this can lead to high blood pressure. Vision and hearing issues Loss of vision and hearing is common with old people. Those who have spent most of their lives smoking are at the highest risk of developing these problems. However, if you lead a healthy lifestyle and take food rich in antioxidants, you are going to reduce chances of developing these complications. Tooth diseases Tooth health issues are not major age related illnesses as they only affect a minority. They however can become a serious concern if you have had an issue with your dental health. Luckily, minimal tooth maintenance daily such as brushing with fluoridated toothpaste will go a long way in ensuring healthy teeth in old age. Mental diseases Alzheimer’s disease is one of the biggest mental diseases that challenge old people. It leads to memory loss and a couple of other issues relating to the mind. Also, depression can be a real hustle when you reach old age. By living a healthy lifestyle, it is possible to avoid heath conditions associated with old age. That is, through eating healthy food daily, exercising and avoiding stress.