Top 5 Prevalent Diseases and Conditions That Affect the Elderly Q&A

Five of the most prevalent chronic diseases affecting the elderly, along with relevant statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are as follows:

– Heart disease: an estimated 17 percent of adults aged 65 and older in the United States experience coronary heart disease.
– Diabetes: an estimated 27 percent of adults aged 65 or older in the United States experience diabetes, and an estimated 24 million older adults have prediabetes.
– COPD: an estimated 14 percent of adults aged 65 or older in the United States experience chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), which is a respiratory disease involving both emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
– Arthritis: an estimated 50 percent of adults aged 65 or older in the United States experience arthritis.
– Pneumonia: approximately one million adults aged 65 or older in the United States are hospitalized with pneumonia each year.

There are several reasons why older adults experience illnesses with more frequency than younger adults, including increased frailty, weakened immune systems, and an increased likelihood of having one or more medical conditions.

Over time, our bodies lose strength and vitality from general wear and tear, injuries, and the natural degeneration of our tissues. As such, we become more vulnerable to illness and infection as we age. Moreover, our bodies also experience immunosenescence, which is a natural part of aging where our immune systems gradually become weaker, further hampering our ability to fight off illnesses and infections.

As a geriatric medicine doctor, Dr. Nassar specializes in diagnosing, treating, and managing chronic illnesses that affect older adults. As such, he is expertly trained to understand such issues with increased consideration of your treatment goals and quality of life while spending more time with you at each appointment to help you thrive as much as possible. As such, some of the specific ways that Dr. Nassar can help an older adult with a chronic disease are as follows:

– Coordinate medical care and treatment with the patient’s other medical or healthcare providers
– Develop, establish, and manage the patient’s care and treatment plans
– Help the patient determine their healthcare priorities and medical goals
– Manage and review each medication the patient is taking
– Provide palliative and end-of-life care

Dr. Nassar can also provide geriatric assessments if you are unsure if you could benefit from geriatric care. A geriatric assessment is a thorough evaluation of your emotional, mental, physical, and psychological health and can assess such things as your living conditions, family involvement, financial situation, and social life. The primary aim of a geriatric assessment is to find ways to improve an older adult’s quality of life.

For more information about the prevalent diseases that affect older adults or an appointment with us at the clinic of Dr. Mohammed Nassar, MD, please contact us or schedule an appointment with us right here on our website! You can find us at 255 Terracina Blvd, Suite 105, in Redlands, California. We serve patients from Redlands CA, Loma Linda CA, Mentone CA, Highland CA, Moonlight Rim CA, Grand Terrace CA, El Casco CA, Greenspot CA, and surrounding areas.