My father, a 72-year-old man, had always been fairly fit, but in recent months he has suddenly started to lose weight and has lost a lot of weight. I'm scared and don't know what's going on, can you help me with that?
At first, we thought that our father might be on a diet or unconsciously increased in activity. However, when we noticed that his appetite had also decreased, and he often felt tired and fatigued, we realized that it might be more than just a simple diet or exercise issue. My father used to be always energetic and liked to play chess and walk with other elderly people in the community center, but now he often sits on the sofa and looks listless.
We started to pay attention to his eating habits and try to make sure he was getting enough nutrients, but even so, his weight continued to drop. My mother was so worried that she began to wonder if there was something wrong with my father's digestive system, or if he was suffering from some kind of wasting disease. My father is a person who does not accept old age, saying that it is good for him to be old and thinner, and he has been reluctant to go to the hospital for examination.
As we age, the metabolism of older people gradually slows down, and it is common to see weight gain rather than loss. Conventional wisdom holds that "chubby" is a sign of health, while "skinny" is a sign of disease. Under this understanding, many people regard "it is difficult to buy old and thin" as their belief and motto.
However, in the field of contemporary medicine, this view is not entirely accurate, as medical developments and research continue to bring new insights and discoveries, sometimes challenging conventional notions. When an older person suddenly experiences unexplained weight loss, it may be that the body is sending us a serious health alert, suggesting that there may be a risk of an underlying serious disease.
First, let's understand the possible causes of weight loss in older adults. As we age, the body's muscles gradually decrease, and the metabolic rate gradually decreases, a process that is an important part of natural physiological changes that inevitably affect the body's function and health. However, if older people lose weight quickly in a short period of time, then a high level of vigilance is required. In general, weight loss may be closely related to significant changes in dietary habits, significant impairments in digestion and absorption, the presence of chronic diseases, and even the occurrence of some serious diseases. Here, I will highlight four diseases to be aware of.
The first type of disease refers to malignancy, which is a serious disease in which cells grow abnormally and spread to surrounding tissues. Cancer may have no obvious symptoms in its early stages, but as the condition progresses, the patient will experience unexplained weight loss, which may be a sign of disease progression. This is due to the fact that the tumor is depleting the body's nutritional resources, which may significantly affect the patient's appetite, resulting in a significant reduction in the amount of food consumed, which in turn leads to unexplained weight loss. If an elderly person observes a sudden weight loss, especially if it is accompanied by symptoms such as fatigue and loss of appetite, they should immediately seek medical attention for appropriate examination. This is due to the fact that the tumor is depleting the body's nutritional resources, which may significantly affect the patient's appetite, resulting in a significant reduction in the amount of food consumed, which in turn leads to unexplained weight loss.
Many people may not know that diabetes can not only lead to weight gain, but also uncontrolled high blood sugar can lead to weight loss. This is because the body is unable to use blood sugar fully and efficiently, and gradually, it begins to break down fat and muscle in the body to meet energy needs, which eventually leads to gradual weight loss. Therefore, if the elderly have sudden weight loss, if they are accompanied by symptoms such as thirst and frequent urination, the possibility of diabetes should be considered.
This is because the body is unable to use blood sugar fully and efficiently, and gradually, it begins to break down fat and muscle in the body to meet energy needs, which eventually leads to gradual weight loss. The excessive secretion of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland will significantly stimulate the body's metabolism to accelerate, greatly improving the effective utilization of energy, resulting in gradual weight loss.
In addition, hyperthyroidism may be accompanied by symptoms such as frequent heartbeat, tremors in the hands, and mood swings. Including chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, enteritis, various intestinal infections and even Crohn's disease, etc., while causing gastrointestinal disorders, it will also affect the digestion and absorption of food, resulting in weight loss. If the elderly have persistent digestive symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation, they should consider whether there is a possibility of digestive disorders.
It is worth mentioning that in addition to the above diseases, the sudden weight loss of the elderly may also be related to psychological factors such as depression. As they grow older, face changes in their living environment, the death of relatives and friends, etc., the elderly are prone to feeling lonely and depressed, which affects their appetite and general health.
Overall, the sudden weight loss of the elderly should be a cause for concern, which may be a warning from the body. In the face of this phenomenon, family members and individuals should not take it lightly, but should seek medical attention as soon as possible, find out the cause through a comprehensive physical examination, and prescribe the right medicine. While maintaining health, it should also be noted that a reasonable diet, moderate exercise and active social interaction are all important factors in delaying aging and maintaining the health of the elderly. #春日生活打卡季#
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