The Common Ailments in Ageing Women

TNI Bureau: The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 75% of deaths in people over the age of 65 in industrialized countries are from heart disease, cancer and cerebrovascular disease.

However, in old age, women need special care because of many dangerous ailments. Few of the common ailments in ageing-women are mention below:

HEART DISEASES

Women between the ages of 40-60, the risk for cardiovascular disease in them increases. As women age, their estrogen levels, which have been monumental in protecting them against a host of diseases, progressively diminish.

As they reach menopausal age, their risk for heart diseases increases. Unfortunately, heart disease in women is often under-diagnosed as the symptoms are specific for women. Unlike the typical symptoms that afflict men, women also get more subtle warnings such as shoulder pain, shortness of breath and jaw pain.

CANCER

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women especially those who are growing age. Factors that add to heart disease include increasing age, genes, family history, race, early-onset of menstruation, excessive alcohol, poor diet and obesity.

Early transmission such as mammogram is critical in detecting lumps that may not be perceptible to the naked eye. Women should also educate themselves on the proper way to regularly self-check their own breasts for subtle signs.

HYPERTENSION

Hypertension occurs due to blood pressure, which is actually the pressure of blood against the walls of the arteries. It is one of the most common diseases in old women. Hypertension has been called the “silent killer” because it frequently fabricates no symptoms. Untreated hypertension increases slowly over the years.

Hypertension can cause certain organs, including the kidney, eyes, and heart, to depreciate over time. Malignant hypertension, an emergency condition resulting from untreated primary hypertension, can be poisonous. It is important, therefore, for anyone with risk factors to have their blood pressure checked regularly and to make appropriate lifestyle changes.

ARTHRITIS AND OSTEOARTHRITIS

Arthritis simply means ‘inflammation of the joints’. The word rheumatism is even more general, and is used to describe aches and pains in joints, bones and muscles. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis.

It is a chronic, irreversible and degenerative condition ranging from very mild to very severe. It is characterized by the breakdown of cartilage in joints, which causes affected bones to rub against each other leading to permanent damage.

Osteoporosis (Weak Bones)

Osteoporosis is a condition that means the bones are weak and aged women more likely to break a bone. A broken bone can cause disability, pain, or loss of independence. Osteoporosis usually occurs in old age. It can occur due to lack of physical activity, weight gain, hormonal changes, and metabolic bone. Osteoporosis is the cause after most anxiety fractures in mid to old age, and it is also a cause for deteriorating quality of life as you grow older.

Some health problem and common ailments that generally affect senior citizens especially ageing women are blood pressure, cardiac problems, diabetes, joint pains, kidney infections, cancer, tuberculosis etc. Once they occur, these diseases may take a long time to heal due to old age. It is important to get medical checkups regularly to prevent the onset of any of these health conditions.