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Chronic diseases are very often an integral part of aging. According to the U.S. National Council on Aging (NCOA), 80 percent of retirees have one chronic illness and 68 percent more than one.
What health problems do people most often face after the age of 60?
High blood pressure (hypertension)
According to Harvard Medical School, today more than 70 percent of men over the age of 55 have high blood pressure. The American Heart Association says blood pressure should be 120/80 or below. Over time, high blood pressure can damage blood vessels, significantly increasing the risk of stroke, heart attack and dementia.
To reduce the risk, check your blood pressure regularly and follow your doctor’s advice on how to keep it in a healthy range. Eat heart-healthy foods, maintain an optimal weight and stay active.
High cholesterol
Almost half of the elderly have high cholesterol, and the accumulation of fat in the blood can cause clogging of the arteries, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Experts advise checking cholesterol every five years, but more often for older adults. Your total cholesterol level should be less than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg / dL), with LDL, bad cholesterol, less than 100 mg / dL and HDL, good cholesterol, at a level of 60 mg / dL or higher.
Eat foods low in saturated fat and trans fat, exercise most days of the week and keep your weight in the ideal range.
Arthritis
Nearly a third of the elderly suffer from joint pain and swelling caused by arthritis. According to the CDC, regular exercise can help, walking and swimming as well, as well as maintaining a healthy weight, because being overweight puts extra pressure on the joints.
Heart disease
About 29 percent of older people are treated for ischemic heart disease, in which plaque builds up on the walls of arteries, narrowing them and increasing the chances of a heart attack or stroke.
According to the American Heart Association, to prevent heart disease at any age, eat healthy foods, exercise for at least 150 minutes each week, and learn to recognize the warning signs of a heart attack or stroke.
Diabetes
About 27 percent of the elderly are being treated for diabetes. Earlier this year, the World Economic Forum described diabetes as a “silent epidemic,” noting that it killed three times as many people as coronavirus 2020.
Diabetes is a condition in which the body becomes unable to process blood sugar and transports it to the body’s cells for energy. Chronically elevated blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels, leading to heart disease, stroke and blindness.
Experts predict that one in 10 people of all ages will have diabetes by 2045. To avoid it, eat less extra sugar and less processed foods, and more fruits and vegetables. Exercise regularly. And keep your weight in a healthy range.
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