Today more and more people are living longer. Cleaner living conditions, vaccinations and better nutrition help prevent many diseases and modern medicines cure others.

But longer life has also brought difficulties. Older people tend to have more health problems than younger people. Although most of these problems are not caused by age itself, the changes age makes in a person’s body can make the problems more serious or difficult to treat.

This articles below is about the prevention and treatment of problems seen mostly in older persons.

Difficulties with Vision

After the age of 40, many people have problems seeing close objects clearly. They are becoming farsighted. Often glasses will help. Everyone over age 40 should watch for signs of glaucoma, which can cause blindness if left untreated. Any person with signs of glaucoma  should seek medical help. Cataracts and ‘flies before the eyes’ are also common problems of old age.

Weakness, Tiredness, and Eating Habits

Old people understandably have less energy and strength than when they were younger, but they will become even weaker if they do not eat well. Although older people often do not eat very much, they should eat some body building and protective foods every day.

Swelling of the Feet

This can be caused by many diseases, but in older people it is often caused by poor circulation or heart trouble. Whatever the cause, keeping the feet up is the best treatment. Walking helps too —but do not spend much time standing or sitting with the feet down. Keep the feet up whenever possible.

Chronic Sores of the Legs of Feet

These may result from poor circulation, often because of varicose veins. Sometimes diabetes is part of the cause. Sores that result from poor circulation heal very slowly. Keep the sore as clean as possible. Wash it with boiled water and mild soap and change the bandage often. When sitting or sleeping, keep the foot up.

Difficulty Urinating

Older men who have difficulty urinating or whose urine drips or dribbles are probably suffering from an enlarged prostate gland.

Chronic Cough

Older people who cough a lot should not smoke and should seek medical advice. If they had symptoms of tuberculosis when they were younger, or have ever coughed up blood, they may have tuberculosis.

If an older person develops a cough with wheezing or trouble breathing (asthma) or if his feet also swell, he may have heart trouble.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (painful joints)

Many older people have arthritis. To help arthritis:

  • Rest the joints that hurt.
  • Apply hot compresses.
  • Take a medicine for pain; aspirin is best. For severe arthritis, take 2 to 3 aspirin tablets up to 6 times a day with bicarbonate of soda, an antacid, milk, or a lot of water. (If the ears begin to ring, take less.)
  • It is important to do exercises that help maintain as much movement as possible in the painful joints.