Surrounded by Chronic Disease
The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have,
-Vince Lombardi
According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA) 80% of people in the U.S. over the age of 65 have at least one chronic condition and 68% have two or more. Well, that's scary! We thought we should dedicate a couple of blogs to let everyone know what conditions are on the Top 10 list so then perhaps we can take steps to avoid or manage them. It turns out that the ten most common conditions are: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis, coronary heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, depression, Alzheimer’s/dementia, and chronic obstructive coronary disease. This blog will review the five most common conditions and the next five will be the subject of an additional mid-month blog.
High blood pressure or hypertension. Blood pressure measures the force of blood against the walls of your blood vessels. The reading of blood pressure has two numbers; the top number which measures the pressure when your heart beats and contracts (systolic pressure) and the bottom number which measures the pressure on the vessels between heart beats when your heart is “resting” (diastolic pressure). 120 over 80 is considered normal. High blood pressure can be very dangerous if not treated and puts you at higher risk for stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, and other severe issues.
Thankfully there are things you can do to prevent or manage hypertension, from medications to lifestyle changes. If prescribed medication, it is important to take it everyday (or as recommended by your doctor) even if you feel as if your blood pressure is lower. Losing and maintaining a healthy weight, reducing your stress, exercising at least several hours each week, (including both aerobic and stretching), eating right, (limiting processed foods, salty foods, and alcohol), and getting the proper amount of sleep, can make an important difference in your health and well-being.
(See: The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan is a healthy diet plan with a proven record of helping people lower their blood pressure)
High cholesterol is another common condition. Cholesterol is a fatty substance produced by your liver. Lipoproteins transport the cholesterol through your bloodstream and there are two major forms of lipoproteins -- LDL and HDL. LDL is known as the “bad cholesterol” since it can deposit cholesterol in the artery walls, whereas HDL, the “good cholesterol”, can help clear the bad cholesterol. Typically having high cholesterol does not produce any symptoms which is why it is important to visit your doctor and have regular blood tests. Ideally your total cholesterol should be less than 200mg/dL with the LDL less than 130 and the HDL greater then 55mg/dL.
As with high blood pressure, managing your weight, avoiding saturated fats, watching your alcohol consumption, and having a daily exercise routine can help you manage your cholesterol. If your lifestyle changes are not enough, there are a range of very effective medications, including statins, that can be recommended by your doctor.
Arthritis is inflammation or the degeneration of the joints that causes pain, stiffness, redness, and swelling. Arthritis is most commonly found in the feet, hands, hips, knees, and lower back. While there are many different kinds of arthritis, the most common include osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Normal wear and tear as we age or an injury to the joints can cause the breakdown of the cartilage that protects the joints. The reduction of cartilage is the primary cause of osteoarthritis while rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder where the body attacks the tissue and causes inflammation in the joints.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis include:
limited range of motion that sometimes goes away after movement
clicking or popping with bending
muscle weakness around the joint
instability or buckling of the joint
bony growths in the fingers
grating or scraping feeling in the knees
Other symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:
morning stiffness that can last 30 minutes or more
more than one affected joint
onset in smaller joints like feet and hands
same joints on both sides of the body are affected
fatigue
low-grade fever
inflammation of the eyes and mouth
inflammation of the heart muscle and blood vessels
low red blood cell count
Source: Healthline
While there is no cure for arthritis, anti-inflammatories and pain medications can help relieve symptoms and reduce the inflammatory response. Cortisone therapeutic injections are also commonly used to reduce pain and stiffness and physical therapy may also improve mobility and range of motion of the joints.
Coronary heart disease or Coronary artery disease is caused by the buildup of plaque in the arteries leading to the heart. This reduces the mount of oxygen-rich blood the heart needs to function properly. Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US. Some people will experience angina/chest pain due to the buildup of plaque in the arteries, however many people do not experience symptoms and do not realize they have heart disease until they experience a serious health issue such as a heart attack.
This disease is typically treated with some combination of lifestyle changes (heart healthy diet, no smoking, limited use of alcohol, increased physical activity…), medications, interventional/nonsurgical procedures such as a stent or angioplasty, or a coronary artery bypass graft which involves surgery to create a new pathway to deliver blood to the heart.
Diabetes refers to a group of diseases that involve how your body uses sugar (glucose) in your blood. Diabetes leads to an excess of sugar in your bloodstream called “high blood sugar”. Diabetes Type 1 is an autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks insulin producing cells in the pancreas and with little or no insulin, sugar builds up in the blood. Type 1 diabetes typically begins in childhood and symptoms include: frequent urination, extreme thirst, fatigue, increased appetite, weight loss, numbness in hands and feet, and slow healing cuts. People with Type 1 regularly check their blood sugar levels and self-administer the level of insulin they need.
With Type 2 or Prediabetes, your cells become resistant to insulin and your pancreas cannot make enough insulin to overcome this. About 90% of people with diabetes have Type 2 and it is common among people who weigh over 20% more than their target weight for their height. People with Type 2 may take medications for diabetes and/or other conditions which heighten the risk factors for diabetes.
Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can lead to a host of serious conditions including cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, kidney damage, and eye damage. As with other chronic health conditions, healthy food choices, proper sleep, and physical activity can help manage diabetes.