As you get older, you are likely to be prone to a much larger range of conditions than you were in your youth, and you might find that you need to take greater care and look after yourself more to prevent yourself from developing these. Here are some of the most common ailments that affect older people and what you can do to avoid them.
1. Dementia
One of the most frightening conditions for a lot of older people is dementia. Although you can get dementia when you are younger, you are at an increased risk of developing dementia over the age of 65. Dementia can cause you to experience memory loss and problems with cognitive functioning, as well as confusion, and when you develop dementia, you might feel worried about forgetting important information and about losing your independence. To reduce the likelihood of developing dementia, you should keep your mind and body as stimulated as possible. One of the ways in which you can do this is by moving into a care home. Care homes can ensure that you are less lonely. They will also ensure you will be surrounded by activities that can keep your mind active and functioning at full capacity. Care homes will also be able to offer you specialist care if you do develop dementia. You should look around for a care home in Banstead that offers dementia care and that can meet your needs.
2. Arthritis
Another common ailment that troubles people over the age of 60 is arthritis. Arthritis can make your joints swell and become stiff and red. You might experience a lot of pain and a loss of mobility. Although a large percentage of people suffer from arthritis as they age due to wear and tear of the body, you are more likely to experience arthritis if you have had a physical job that involves a lot of manual labor or if you perform a lot of repetitive motions. You can get arthritis in many places in the body, including your knees, hands, back, and fingers. To prevent arthritis, you should maintain a healthy weight, exercise, and avoid a sedentary lifestyle, and ensure that you look after any sports injuries that you develop that could lead to permanent discomfort.
3. Diabetes
The number of people living with diabetes is increasing in the United States and beyond. When you have diabetes, your body does not make enough insulin or blood sugar levels are too high. You might have to take insulin or control your condition by diet to prevent symptoms such as increased thirst, blurry vision, and fatigue or weakness. You might also find that diabetes may lead to other problems, such as a loss of sight and gangrene from damaged blood vessels and nerves. Although you can develop type 1 diabetes at any point in your life, and this may be started by a trigger as small as an infection, to prevent type 2 diabetes, you should try to consume a balanced diet, avoid alcohol, and exercise well.
