What Are the Common Diseases in the Elderly?

There are many common diseases among the elderly, mainly including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (such as hypertension and coronary heart disease), type 2 diabetes, orthopedic diseases (such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis), etc. In case of physical discomfort, medical attention should be sought promptly.

The incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases is very high in the elderly. Mild cases may be hypertension, while severe cases may involve coronary heart disease, cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, and heart failure. As age increases, the elasticity of blood vessels decreases, leading to higher blood pressure and increased pulse pressure difference in the elderly. High blood pressure can compress the blood vessel wall and cause damage to it. After damage to the vascular intima, it is easy to lead to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, which is the mechanism of coronary heart disease formation. Age is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease, and the elderly population accounts for a large proportion of patients with coronary heart disease, which also verifies the relationship between age and coronary heart disease.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is gradually increasing, and it is also a disease that is easily contracted by the elderly. People who understand endocrinology should know that most of the hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes are middle-aged and elderly people. This may be due to the decline of pancreatic islet function and the disruption of endocrine regulatory mechanisms in the elderly, leading to abnormal blood sugar control and hyperglycemia.

The elderly are prone to osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, etc., especially in the knee joint. Due to the loss of bone mass and wear and tear of joints in the elderly, joint degeneration and fractures are prone to occur.