What are the prevention and precautions for geriatric diseases?

The core of prevention of geriatric diseases is just one sentence - early intervention and emphasis on daily life. There is no need to pursue expensive maintenance methods. If diet, exercise, regular screening and daily risk avoidance are done well, more than 70% of the risks of common geriatric diseases can be avoided.

Aunt Zhang, who I met at a community free clinic last week, is 63 years old. She dances square dance every day. She always feels that her body is tougher than her peers. She doesn’t even bother to line up for a free blood pressure test in the community. The last time she squatted down to pick vegetables, she fell when she stood up. When she was sent to the hospital, her systolic blood pressure soared to 172, which was also accompanied by a mild lacunar infarction. The doctor said that if the abnormal blood pressure was discovered three months earlier and she took basic antihypertensive drugs, she would not have suffered this crime.

Many people's impression of geriatric diseases is still based on chronic basic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In fact, the incidence of falls, cognitive decline, and sarcopenia has been increasing in recent years, and prevention priority is no lower than chronic diseases. When buying groceries and cooking, you don’t have to pursue a vegetarian diet. As you age, you lose muscle mass quickly. Eat an egg every day, drink a glass of milk, and eat some lean beef, fish, and shrimp every now and then. It’s better than eating porridge and side dishes every day. I met a 72-year-old man before. He listened to a health class and said that a vegetarian diet was healthy. After half a year of eating, he was shaking when walking. He was diagnosed with sarcopenia. Later, he adjusted his diet and slowly recovered. Don’t blindly follow the trend when it comes to exercise. Don’t think that climbing stairs and mountains is exercise. The wear and tear on the knee joints is much greater than you think. There used to be a 70-year-old Uncle Li who climbed five floors every day to practice his legs. Later, his meniscus was worn out and he had an operation. As a result, he couldn’t go out for half a year. In fact, choose slow walking, Tai Chi and other joint-friendly exercises. Thirty to forty minutes each time, a slight sweat is just right, and the effect is no worse than strenuous exercise.

After talking about eating and exercising, the biggest concern for many elderly people is whether to buy health supplements to replenish their body. In fact, there are always different opinions in the industry. On the one hand, nutrition doctors will suggest that if you get less sun exposure and have low bone density, appropriate calcium and vitamin D supplements can indeed reduce the risk of fractures. For those who are deficient in B vitamins, The elderly can also improve their mood by taking supplements, but on the other hand, there are many clinical cases that show that if the daily diet is balanced and supplemented with fish oil and various so-called "vascular scavenger" health products, it will increase the metabolic burden on the liver and kidneys.

Another point that many people tend to overlook is not to ignore minor problems. As you age, your body's pain sensitivity will decrease. You will often feel dizzy, chest tight, or coughing when eating. Everyone always thinks it is "normal as you get older." However, these are often early signs of cerebral infarction, myocardial infarction, and esophageal disease. Go to the hospital early for a screening and spend dozens of dollars. If you really delay the onset of the disease, you will still suffer.

In fact, the body of an elderly person is like an old car that has been driven for decades. Don’t always think about waiting for it to break down before dragging it out for major repairs. You should usually check your blood pressure and blood sugar every half month, have a basic physical examination every six months, make the floor at home less slippery, and install grab bars in the bathroom. These small and inconspicuous things are just daily maintenance for old cars. They don’t cost much, but they can save you a lot of trouble. I have been dealing with elderly friends for almost ten years, and I have seen too many hospitalizations that could have been avoided. To be honest, there is really no profound way to prevent geriatric diseases. Just don’t be too careless, don’t be too anxious, and follow the rhythm of your body, which is more reliable than any folk prescription.