Comprehensive Report on Common Health Conditions in the Elderly

This report examines several common health conditions affecting the elderly, including Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, coronary heart disease, and skin breakdown. It discusses the symptoms, causes, and management of each condition, providing insights into diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies. The report includes a case study of Mr. Green, who has been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, and offers advice on diet, exercise, and medication to manage the disease. It also covers care to prevent skin breakdown and pressure sores, emphasizing the importance of regular skin inspections and maintaining good nutrition. Furthermore, the report explores the causes, symptoms, and management of osteoporosis, highlighting the role of exercise and adequate calcium and vitamin D intake. Finally, it emphasizes the elements of a healthy lifestyle, including nutrition, exercise, stress management, and social connections, to prevent coronary heart disease and other age-related health issues. The report concludes that a healthy lifestyle, incorporating proper diet, exercise, and medication, is crucial for preventing and managing these conditions.

Common Conditions in
the Elderly

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Question 1...................................................................................................................................1
Question 2...................................................................................................................................2
Question 3...................................................................................................................................2
Question 4...................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
In elder age every individual have to face various problems, that may occur due to weak
intestine, digestive system and others. These problems are dementia, lung disease, cataracts,
kidney and bladder problems, osteoporosis, depression, cardiovascular disease, diabetes etc. In
this project report various disease are discussed first one is diabetes. A person named Mr green
who has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, in this report treatment and advice is discussed for
the patient. Advice for care to prevent skin from breaking down, explanation and advice for
pressure sore, cause symptom and management of osteoporosis, description of coronary heart
disease and its prevention and elements of healthy lifestyles are also discussed under this project
report.
MAIN BODY
Question 1
Type 2 Diabetes: It is a disease within the body that increases the blood sugar level
abnormally. This disease is also known as hyperglycemia. If a person is facing such type of
disease that the body of that person will not use insulin properly, this condition is called insulin
resistance.
As Mr. Green is suffering form type 2 diabetes. Being overweight can cause insulin
resistant, now a days it is affecting children, teens and adults because of childhood fatness.
It can be diagnosed with the help of following tests:
 Oral glucose tolerance test: For this test doctor suggest the patient to fast overnight and
than the blood glucose level is measured. After this a liquid with sugar is provided to the
person and than blood glucose level are tested for next two hours. If it results in
milligram per decilitre (mg/dL). If the result is 140mg/dL or lower, than the person is
normal, a result between 140 to 199 mg/dL shows that it is a sign of pre diabetes and
result of 200 or more mg/dL is a symptom of diabetes (Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes,
2018).
 Glycated haemoglobin test: This test indicates the average blood glucose level for past
two or three months by measuring percentage of blood sugar connected to haemoglobin
and oxygen-moving macromolecules in red blood cells. If this test results 5.7 or less, it
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means person is normal, if it results between 5.7 top 6.4 than it is the situation of pre
diabetes and if it results 6.5 or more then it results that the person is facing from diabetes.
Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes: There are various symptoms of this disease that are dry
mouth or increased thirst, sudden weight loss, eating frequently because feeling hungry,
passiveness and pain in foots, infections on daily basis etc.
Treatment for type 2 Diabetes: Doctors suggests that it can be treated with the help of
diet exercise and medication which is used to control blood sugar level in body. It is treated by
checking the blood glucose level regularly and with proper diet and exercise (Gisbert and
Chaparro, 2014).
It is suggested to Mr. green that he should follow proper diet plan provided by doctor,
check blood sugar level and do exercise on regular basis. He is also suggested to eat healthy food
and take medicines on daily basis.Gisbert, J. P. and Chaparro, M., 2014. Systematic review with
meta‐analysis: inflammatory bowel disease in the elderly.
Question 2
Care provided to prevent skin form breaking down: It is suggested to the nurse who is
handling the patient should use a soft sponge while washing skin, use moisturising cream every
day for patient, ignore the use of talc and bath every day.
Pressure sore: It is a area of damaged skin that can be caused by staying in the same
position for a long period. It affects the area of bones that are close to the skin for example
ankles, elbows, hips, back and heels. It is a type of skin injury which is a result of higher
pressure on the skin.
Treatment and prevention: It can be treated by removing pressure from skin,
controlling incontinence, removing the dead tissues, cleaning the wound, using antibiotics and
applying dressing to forbid infection. Pressure sore can be prevented by moving the patient in
every 15 minutes from wheel chair, inspection of skin on daily basis and maintain good
nutritions in body (Salive, 2013).
Question 3
Cause, symptoms and management of osteoporosis: It is a situation of thinning bones
which results in frequent and painful fractures. There are various risks of this disease that are
aging problem, decreased body weight etc.
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Causes: It constantly increases the aging difficulties after age on 30, it decreases the
level of estrogen in body that create issues for bone to reproduce, if a close family member is
having fractures in history than there is more chances of osteoporosis to a new born baby.
Symptoms: There are no specific symptoms of osteoporosis for persons until they face a
fracture. It mostly affects the area of hip, wrist and spinal vertebrae (Steinman and et. al., 2012).
Management: This disease can be managed by following directions of doctor.
Management includes in-taking of good general sustenance supplemented with satisfactory
calcium and vitamin D. It is required for the patient to achieve 25 hydroxy vitamin D level to
fight with the disease. It is also suggested by the doctor that patients of osteoporosis should
regular exercise to enhance muscle strength.
Question 4
Elements of healthy lifestyle: A healthy life can be achieved by eating food with
nutritions, exercising on regular basis, proper management of stress, taking sleep for at least 8
hours a day, increasing social network, enjoying life and no smoking.
Healthy lifestyle helps to prevent coronary heart disease: This heart disease narrows
the coronary artery that results in decreased supply of oxygen and blood to heart. It can be
prevented with the help of healthy life style because it can control cholesterol, blood pressure
and sugar level in body and reduce the possibility of heart disease.
Management of coronary heart disease: It can be managed by following healthy life
style in which it is suggested that patient should have healthy diet and follow a routine of
exercise. Another way to manage this disease is to take proper treatment which includes
medications like statins, low dose aspirin and beta blockers (Wang and et. al., 2014).
CONCLUSION
From the above project report it has been analysed that various types of diseases such as
diabetes, pressure soles, skin breakdown, osteoporosis and coronary hear disease can be
prevented and treated by following healthy lifestyle. It includes taking proper diet, exercise and
medication.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Gisbert, J. P. and Chaparro, M., 2014. Systematic review with meta‐analysis: inflammatory
bowel disease in the elderly. Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics. 39(5). pp.459-
477.
Salive, M. E., 2013. Multimorbidity in older adults. Epidemiologic reviews. 35(1). pp.75-83.
Steinman, M. A. and et. al., 2012. Patterns of multimorbidity in elderly veterans. Journal of the
American Geriatrics Society. 60(10). pp.1872-1880.
Wang, Y. and et. al., 2014. National trends in patient safety for four common conditions, 2005–
2011. New England Journal of Medicine. 370(4). pp.341-351.
Online
Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes. 2018. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/diagnosis-treatment/
drc-20351199>
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