5 Age Related Diseases That Can Be Avoided

Maintaining your health becomes more important as you age. While genetics and environment impact health, lifestyle factors have the greatest impact. Changing your lifestyle habits can help you avoid many health emergencies and conditions. Here are five age-related diseases that you could avoid.

Heart Disease

Heart Disease is the number-one cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of death in older adults. Heart disease is a broad term that describes several conditions that affect the heart muscle. People diagnosed with heart disease may suffer from coronary artery disease, heart failure, or carditis.

Heart Disease is ninety percent preventable. Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, not smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption help prevent heart disease.

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Aging populations are more prone to neurodegenerative diseases. Aging causes a natural decline in nervous systems functions. Older populations naturally have slower reaction times and loss of fine motor skills, but more chronic diseases frequently occur in aging populations. Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease are all common diseases found in aging populations.

Much research has been conducted on these diseases, but they are still not fully understood. It is known that activities that exercise the brain are great for preventing severe neurodegenerative disease. Reading, chess, matching games, and trivia games are great brain activities to try. If you are caring for a loved one who has already developed a neurodegenerative disease it is best to keep them comfortable and safe. Research senior living near me to find a facility that specializes in neurodegenerative care. This will ensure that your loved one is surrounded by medical professionals who will monitor their condition.

Cancer

Cancer affects all demographics, but aging populations are most prone to cancer. This is because the immune system begins to weaken as we age. T cells in the body do not function as well in older populations compared to younger populations. This decline in the function of T cells makes the body more likely to develop cancer. While many factors cause cancer, those with a low risk of developing cancer can continue to keep their risk low by choosing certain lifestyle choices. Avoiding tobacco products, certain chemicals, foods, and other carcinogens reduces the chances of developing cancer.

Degenerative Joint Disease

Degenerative joint disease falls under the category of arthritis. Arthritis causes inflammation of the joints, stiffness, and pain. Although this disease occurs at any age, it is prevalent amongst older populations. Eighty percent of people 65 and older have degenerative joint disease.

Many factors are believed to cause Degenerative Joint Disease. Prevention of the disease includes maintaining a healthy body weight and not causing excessive stress, or unnecessary wear and tear to joints.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a life-long disease with no cure. Over twenty-five percent of adults have the condition. Diabetes is an auto-immune disease. Depending on the type of diabetes, the body is either unable to produce enough insulin or recognize the insulin that the body is making. There is no cure for diabetes, but the disease is preventable by consuming a diet low in processed sugars, drinking recommended amounts of water, and exercising regularly.

Aging is an unstoppable natural process. With proper care, you can age gracefully and be healthy. Start taking the steps necessary to improve and maintain your health. These decisions will make a huge difference as you age.