Aging and Its Diseases – Part 1
June 24th, 2010
My younger brother just turned 60 and I am 62 years old. Friends and acquaintances alike, however, think I look younger than he. I guess, that would explain the difference between “aging” and growing old. Regardless, advancing in years will always take its toll, physically. Some later while others earlier. But statistics tell that people above 50 share one thing in common, disease -wise. We all will ultimately fall prey to either, some or all of diseases common to the elderly.
Common diseases for the Golden 50s and above:
1. Cancer:
It is a disease where the body’s cells become abnormal and divide without control, invading nearby tissues. They may spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body.
Cancer is quite common among elderly people, with two thirds of them being afflicted by it at some points of their lives. Although there are several types of cancers, i.e., lung and breast cancers, some are common among the elderly than the others.
Colon cancer, for example is one. It is responsible for 655,000 deaths per year, world-wide, the fifth most common form of cancer in the U.S. and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the Western world. (Wikipedia)
2. Diabetes:
Simply put, this is a condition in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or because the body cells don’t respond to the insulin that is produced.
Approximately 18.3% of Americans, 60 yrs old and older, have diabetes (American Diabetes Association), with 50% of all diabetes cases among the 55 years and older.
Being in that age bracket, I will shun the other types, Type 1 and Gestational, for my type, Type 2.
Seniors, like me, are at great risk of Type 2 diabetes because of the decline in our insulin-production capacity and our increase in glucose intolerance, resulting to serious complications such as non-inflammatory damage to the retina of the eyes, hypertension and kidney problems.
Obesity and a sedentary life-style are major factors in developing Type 2 diabetes as well as ethnicity, i.e., African American, American Indian, Asian American and Latino.
Type 2 diabetes is the most prevalent of the three types, accounting for 90 to 95% of all diabetes cases in America.
