Medical problems in the elderly can involve any organ system in the body. Most conditions result from decreased function or degeneration of the involved organ.

1. Old age health problems and their
solutions
Medical problems in the elderly can involve any organ system in the body. Most conditions result from
decreased function or degeneration of the involved organ.
"If I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself." So said Eubie Blake, the
great ragtime composer and pianist who was still performing at the age of 99, the year before his death.
Let's face it: old age is what lies ahead. If you're 40 or 50 or even 60, you might not give much thought to
the health challenges of aging. But just as planning for future financial needs is important, so is planning
for optimum health.
The “golden years” aren’t what they used to be — they’re getting even better, thanks to advances in
medicine and nutrition. And because of this headway, the United States is experiencing an
unprecedented increase in its senior population. By 2030, 1 in every 5 Americans will be age 65 or older,
and the average life expectancy has passed 80 years for women and 75 years for men. But that doesn’t
mean those run-of-the-mill senior health threats (such as osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s) are going away.
On the contrary: It’s more important than ever to keep your bones, belly, and brain in tip-top shape.

2. Your first step? Know which common conditions — and symptoms — to watch out for, so you can take
steps to prevent or treat them.
People in America today can expect to live longer than ever before. Once you make it to 65, the data
suggest that you can live another 19.2 years, on average. For many, then, senior living includes carefully
managing chronic conditions to stay healthy. “You need to be physically active and eat a healthy diet"
and also make healthy lifestyle choices, like quitting smoking and losing weight, to avoid senior health
risks, explained Jeanne Wei, MD, director of the Institute on Aging at the University of Arkansas Medical
School in Little Rock. Also, including a geriatrician, a doctor who specializes in the health concerns of
aging, on your senior health care team can help older adults learn how to live better with any chronic
diseases. Then you too can be among the 76 percent of people over 65 who say their health is good or
excellent.