Preventive medicine practices are of great importance for healthy aging. Balanced nutrition, personalized physical activity, protection from accidents, vaccinations, regular health checks and early diagnosis and treatment of diseases under the supervision of a doctor, and follow-up of chronic diseases are indispensable for a healthy life.
Achieving a healthy age physically, spiritually and socially. It is important to be in good shape. Today, policies and programs related to healthy aging focus on improving quality of life and general health. Signs and symptoms of the disease in older ages may be different compared to younger people. For example, just because you do not have a fever does not mean that there is no infection. Sometimes, even a slight deterioration in general condition, feeling unwell, and decreased nutrition and appetite may be signs of an infection. Again, the symptoms of many diseases may differ from the signs and symptoms of adult and young patients. For this reason, it is important to follow up with an experienced physician.
It is not right to attribute weakness, fatigue, decrease in appetite, palpitations, forgetfulness and many other symptoms to age and accept them as normal. All these symptoms should be considered as signs of disease and should be examined.
Eating disorders (malnutrition) in elderly patients
Nutrition disorders are an important health problem all over the world. Malnutrition can be in the form of overnutrition or undernutrition causing protein-energy malnutrition. Especially in the elderly group, malnutrition is an important health problem both in the elderly living in the community and in those staying in nursing homes, nursing homes and hospitals. Elderly people with malnutrition constitute a risk group in terms of susceptibility to infection, disease and death.
Two out of every 3 elderly people skip one meal a day. In addition, factors such as prolonged gastric emptying and changes in the sense of taste, which occur normally with aging, cause malnutrition. In this age group, chronic diseases, dental and chewing problems, using too many medications, diseases such as dementia and depression, and socioeconomic factors are also conditions that predispose to malnutrition. Malnutrition can sometimes be the first sign and symptom of serious diseases, and if it is diagnosed at an early stage, the underlying disease may cause serious damage. It can be treated without treatment.
Even though the person thinks he is eating normally, the food he eats daily may not meet the protein and energy he needs. For this reason, everyone in this age group should be screened for nutritional disorders under the supervision of a physician and dietitian. Malnutrition is a condition that needs to be treated, especially in the geriatric age group. Early dietary adjustments and necessary interventions should be made in people with malnutrition or risk; Appropriate precautions should be taken before the irreversible process begins.
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