Keep seniors healthier by understanding chronic health conditions
80% of seniors have at least one chronic health condition and 68% have two or more.
Despite these statistics, older adults can maximize health and quality of life by managing symptoms from existing health conditions and reducing the risk of developing other conditions.
The National Council on Aging has put together a list of the top 10 most common chronic diseases in older adults on Medicare along with tips to prevent or manage them.
To help your older adult stay as healthy as possible, we share NCOA’s helpful infographic and highlight key information as well as prevention and management tips for each of the 10 chronic conditions.
1. High blood pressure (hypertension) affects 58% of seniors
High blood pressure (also known as HBP or hypertension) is a serious condition that affects 58% of seniors on Medicare.
It’s often called the “silent killer” because it has no symptoms.
But it damages blood vessels and increases the risk of serious (and sometimes fatal) conditions like stroke and heart attack.
Prevent or reduce high blood pressure by:
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Reducing stress
- Limiting salt and alcohol
- Exercising regularly (daily, if possible)
- Check blood pressure regularly to monitor progress or detect pre-hypertension
2. High cholesterol affects 47% of seniors
Nearly half of all seniors on Medicare were treated for high cholesterol. When the body has too many bad fats, arteries get clogged and cause heart disease.
Prevent or manage high cholesterol by:
- Quitting smoking
- Reducing the amount of alcohol consumed
- Staying active and/or exercising regularly
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Eating less saturated and trans fats
3. Arthritis affects 31% of seniors
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. It’s a joint disease where the joint cartilage is breaking down over time.
That causes swelling and inflammation which leads to pain and stiffness.
Some people dismiss arthritis as occasional aches or stiffness, but chronic arthritis pain can be so severe that seniors are forced to make unwanted lifestyle changes.
Delay arthritis onset or manage symptoms by:
- Exercising regularly, ideally 5 times/week for 30 minutes each time – this improves function and decreases pain
- Maintaining a healthy weight – losing just one pound can remove 4 pounds of pressure from knees
- Being careful to avoid joint injuries
- Not smoking
4. Coronary heart disease affects 29% of seniors
Coronary heart disease (also called ischemic heart disease) is caused when plaque builds up in the arteries leading to the heart.
That decreases the amount of blood going to the heart and can cause additional complications like blood clots, angina, or heart attack.
Prevent or manage coronary heart disease by:
- Limiting saturated and trans fats, sugar, and salt
- Sleeping 7-8 hours each night
- Reducing stress
- Exercising regularly
- Not smoking
- Talk to the doctor about managing major risk factors, like high cholesterol and high blood pressure
5. Diabetes affects 27% of seniors
When someone has diabetes, the level of glucose in their blood (blood sugar) is too high. This can happen when the body doesn’t make enough insulin.
When there isn’t enough insulin, glucose doesn’t get moved into the cells of the body. Instead, it builds up in the blood and causes high blood sugar.
Over time, high blood sugar seriously damages the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, gums, teeth, nerves, and blood vessels.
This leads to health conditions like heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, nerve problems, gum infections, and amputation.
People with diabetes are also more likely to have heart disease or a stroke, and at an earlier age.
Prevent or manage diabetes by:
- Eating a healthy diet and talking to the doctor about alcohol consumption
- Exercising regularly – 30 minutes, 5 times/week to keep blood sugar levels in check and control weight
- Losing 5-7% of body weight if diagnosed with pre-diabetes
6. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 18% of seniors
Chronic kidney disease causes a slow decline in kidney function over time. That causes an increased risk of heart disease or kidney failure.
Prevent CKD or reduce symptoms by:
- Reducing the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure or managing symptoms – essential because these are the 2 biggest risk factors for kidney damage
- Staying current on screenings for early detection and treatment
