Uncle Wang of the community walks in the park every day, and although his pace is not as brisk as when he was younger, he always has a smile on his face.
I usually like to chat with my neighbors, talking about interesting stories about flowers and plants and grandchildren.
Recently, Uncle Wang found that his memory was not as good as before, and sometimes he would forget what he had just put down.
Occasional knee pain.
Uncle Wang's children were very worried, so they took him to see many doctors, and the family's medicines became more and more abundant.
However, Uncle Wang didn't like to take those medicines, thinking that these were normal physiological changes in the elderly and did not need to be overtreated.
Uncle Wang believes that moderate exercise and an optimistic attitude are more beneficial to health.
So is Uncle Wang's idea correct? Should we really re-examine these so-called "diseases" of the elderly?
1. The 7 "diseases" are just old
As we age, the human body undergoes various physiological changes that are sometimes misinterpreted as diseases.
In fact, some "diseases" are just normal manifestations of old age, not real diseases.
1. Memory loss
When we enter old age, we will find that many things will be inexplicably unable to remember, and we will forget the things we just said at any time, and we will worry about whether we will get sick.
This doesn't really mean you're suffering from amnesia, it's a natural aging of the brain.
The brain, which is the control center of our body, quietly decreases in the number of neurons as we age.
These neurons are the "messengers" responsible for transmitting information, and their reduction will undoubtedly affect the brain's ability to process information and memory.
We can slow this process down through exercise and training, and just like the rest of the body, the brain needs movement and exercise to stay active.
For example, reading, writing, solving puzzles, learning new skills, etc., can stimulate the brain's thinking vitality and improve memory ability.
So in the face of memory loss, we don't need to panic too much.
2. Prostatic hyperplasia
Prostatic hyperplasia is a common phenomenon of the male reproductive system, and the prostate tissue gradually enlarges with age.
This phenomenon is particularly prevalent in older men and in most cases does not cause significant discomfort or symptoms.
Despite the enlargement of the prostate, it does not cause dysfunction.
In most cases, an enlarged prostate does not severely compress the urethra and therefore does not affect urination.
In addition, the progression of prostatic hyperplasia is relatively slow, and its progression rate is usually much lower than that of diseases that can have serious health effects.
Even if prostatic hyperplasia is present, it is unlikely to cause acute health problems or complications. But this does not mean that prostatic hyperplasia is completely harmless.
In some cases, an enlarged prostate may cause symptoms such as difficulty urinating, frequent urination, and urgency.
We should also pay attention to these symptoms.
3. Blurred vision
Blurred vision is a significant sign of natural ageing of the eye, and as we age, our eyes gradually lose their original elasticity and ability to adjust.
Just like the aging lens can no longer focus accurately, it eventually leads to blurred vision, which is also called "presbyopia" by everyone every day.
It is important to note that eye diseases that occur in older people are not solely caused by aging.
Cataracts, for example, are a common eye disease that is often associated with age, but can also be triggered by other factors such as genetics, eye injuries or certain medical conditions.
Therefore, we cannot simply blame aging for all eye diseases.
For older adults, maintaining good lifestyle habits and getting regular eye exams are key to maintaining healthy vision.
4. Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis, as the name suggests, is when bones become fragile and prone to fractures.
This is mainly due to the gradual loss of calcium from the bones as we age, resulting in a decrease in bone density.
Many times, people only realize that they have osteoporosis when a fracture occurs.
This makes the diagnosis of osteoporosis relatively difficult and makes many people ignore the problem.
5. Nodules
Nodules refer to abnormal lumps or lumps that appear within the tissues of an organism, and the formation of nodules can be caused by a variety of causes, including inflammation, infection, etc.
In some cases, nodules can be an outward manifestation of an underlying disease, such as tuberculosis, rheumatism or cancer.
Not all nodules indicate the presence of a serious disease, and many are harmless and may be caused by benign lesions.
Therefore, when a nodule is found, doctors usually perform a series of tests and evaluations to determine its nature and origin.
This includes physical examinations, imaging tests (e.g., ultrasound, CT, etc.), and laboratory tests (e.g., blood tests, tissue biopsies, etc.).
Through these tests, doctors can understand the size, shape, location, and relationship of the nodule to surrounding tissues to make a preliminary judgment about its nature.
6. Insomnia
When we are young, we can easily fall asleep and sleep until dawn.
But as we get older, we start to find ourselves tossing and turning in bed, having trouble sleeping.
This could be due to our body clock gradually getting out of sync with our daily routine, or it could be because our body is starting to face more stress and challenges.
Whatever the cause, in the face of insomnia, we need to accept this natural law with a peaceful mind and find effective ways to improve the quality of sleep, such as listening to hypnotic music.
7. Arterial plaque
Arterial plaque, also known as atherosclerosis, is a pathological process that gradually accumulates within the artery wall.
This phenomenon is a natural process of aging of the body's blood vessels, similar to wrinkles on the skin, which gradually appear with age.
According to statistics, up to 40% of people over the age of 40 are affected by this condition, and by the age of 60, the proportion is close to 100%.
The formation of arteriosclerosis does not happen overnight, but is the result of a combination of factors.
Among them, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and smoking are the main risk factors.
These factors can lead to damage to vascular endothelial cells, which in turn triggers the deposition of lipids in the blood vessel walls, eventually forming plaques.
These plaques can grow in size, narrowing the lumen of the arteries and affecting blood flow, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
However, arterial plaque itself is not the same as disease, only when the plaque enlarges to a certain extent, causing the blood vessel to narrow or rupture, causing blood clots.
When a blood vessel is blocked or ruptured and bleeding, it will lead to corresponding diseases, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, etc.
2. Why does overtreatment hurt the body?
From a medical point of view, overtreatment can cause harm to the body, and any drug or treatment has its indications and side effects.
When treatment exceeds the necessary range, not only may it not bring the desired effect, but it may cause a series of adverse effects.
For example, overuse of antibiotics may lead to dysbiosis, over-radiation therapy may damage normal cells, and over-surgery may lead to decreased physical performance.
These over-treatment behaviors not only fail to achieve the purpose of treatment, but also bring new damage to the body.
At the same time, it also brings a psychological burden, the disease itself is a psychological stressor, and overtreatment often makes patients feel more helpless and hopeless.
When the treatment process becomes long and complex, patients may develop emotional problems such as anxiety and depression, which not only affect the patient's mental health, but may also further affect the effectiveness of the treatment.
Medicine loses its essential meaning when the purpose of treatment is no longer to alleviate suffering and restore health, but to pursue economic gain or meet certain societal expectations.
Such overtreatment may not only harm the patient's body, but also damage the professional dignity of the doctor.
3. How can we prevent it?
When people get old, they always feel that various diseases will come to their door, because the physical functions of the elderly are gradually declining.
Immunity and the ability to fight cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are reduced, so disease prevention is very important for the elderly.
First of all, we should start by adjusting our lifestyle, developing good work and rest habits, and maintaining a regular biological clock.
Go to bed early and wake up early every day to ensure sufficient sleep time, so that the body can be fully rested and repaired.
Avoid staying up late and bad lifestyle habits, which can disrupt the body's natural rhythms, leading to weakened immunity and physical health problems.
By adjusting the lifestyle, the body's resistance can be improved and various diseases can be prevented.
A reasonable diet is also the key to disease prevention, and the elderly should pay attention to nutritional balance.
Eat foods rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, such as fish, meat, eggs, milk, legumes, fresh vegetables and fruits.
Reduce your intake of foods that are high in fat, calories, salt, and sugar to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
In addition to adjusting their lifestyle, the elderly should also pay attention to physical exercise, moderate exercise can enhance the body's resistance and delay the aging process.
Elderly people can choose light exercises such as walking, tai chi, yoga, etc., or they can choose an exercise method that suits them according to their personal preferences and physical condition.
Older people should also maintain a good attitude and face life positively.
An optimistic mindset helps to relieve stress and strengthen the body's immunity.
Participate in social activities, communicate with family and friends, share the moments of life, and enjoy the beauty of old age.
epilogue
In the face of these natural changes in aging, we must maintain a peaceful mind, arrange our lives reasonably, and pay attention to a healthy lifestyle.
Don't listen to the wind or rain, trust the science, exercise properly, eat a balanced diet and have a good mindset are all keys to maintaining good health.
Only by ensuring our own health can we enjoy a safe old age, let us enjoy every beautiful moment of this society together, and cherish the time with our families.
At the same time, I also wish those who have read the article good health and a long life.
Thank you for reading, and we'll see you next time.