5 Diseases in the elderly that are most common in Indonesia

The more a person gets older, especially before the elderly, in general, the more illnesses one suffers. This is because age is a factor in various diseases.

Not surprisingly, many elderly suffer from serious illnesses, not even one disease but two or more diseases at once. What are the common diseases in the elderly?

Why does the risk of disease increase as we get older?

You need to know, in 2014 the morbidity rate in the elderly was 25.05%. This means that out of every 100 elderly people there are 25 of them who experience illness. This figure seems to be decreasing from year to year. This is good, but it doesn't mean that older people shouldn't be aware of disease.

The older you are, the greater your risk of developing disease. This is because disease and age are related. As you get older, your body functions decrease due to the aging process.

Aging also results in decreased immune system, so that the elderly are more susceptible to contracting infectious and non-communicable diseases.

Diseases in the elderly are common, according to Basic Health Research

Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) is a national scale health research which is conducted every five to six years. This research describes a number of health conditions in various circles in Indonesia, including the elderly.

The following are diseases that mostly attack the elderly in Indonesia, according to Riskesdas 2013:

1. Hypertension

Hypertension or high blood pressure is the number one disease most afflicted by the elderly, according to Riskesdas 2013. The older you are, the blood pressure tends to increase.

This is a natural process that occurs in your body as you age. However, high blood pressure is still dangerous for the elderly because it can lead to heart disease and stroke.

Blood pressure that is classified as high is when it reaches 140/90 mmHg or more. If you have reached this figure, the elderly should be given medication and care for hypertension so that it does not worsen.

Reducing salt intake, exercising, controlling weight, staying away from stress, and not smoking are some of the ways to control hypertension.

2. Arthritis (inflammation of the joints)

This is the number two disease that attacks the elderly in Indonesia. Arthritis is inflammation of one or more of your joints.

This disease is characterized by pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints. Thus, it can cause your space to be limited. The older you are, the symptoms of this disease can get worse.

For that, you need to do regular exercise and maintain your weight so that arthritis does not worsen. If you feel sick, it's best to rest and don't force many activities.

3. Stroke

Stroke is a very dangerous condition and needs quick help to minimize brain damage. Stroke occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is not fulfilled, so the brain tissue does not get enough oxygen and nutrients to carry out its function.

The elderly are a group that often experiences strokes. Some of the symptoms of a stroke are numbness of the face, arms, or legs on one side of the body.

In addition, strokes are also symptomatic of decreased vision in one or both eyes, difficulty speaking or understanding other people's words, sudden headaches without knowing the cause, and loss of balance when walking.

4. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the elderly

You may rarely hear it, but this disease ranks fourth disease that occurs in the elderly. COPD is a term that refers to a group of lung diseases that block air flow, making it difficult for sufferers to breathe.

Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two most common conditions that cause COPD.

If you are a smoker or have ever smoked, you should be careful. Smoking is a risk factor for COPD. For that, from now on, stop smoking and / or stay away from cigarette smoke.

5. Diabetes, a disease in the elderly fifth

Diabetes is the fifth most common disease in the elderly. As you get older you change a lot, including changes in how your body uses blood sugar.

As a result, many elderly people suffer from diabetes because their bodies cannot use blood sugar efficiently.

Diabetes is a disease that has been dubbed the "mother of all diseases", so care is needed if you have diabetes. Controlling food intake and regular exercise are two important ways to control your blood sugar levels.