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A SENSIBLE APPROACH TO MIDDLE AGE: OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS
During the middle years, one can reasonably expect a transition from relatively good health to a certain amount of medical trouble. Some of the more common ailments are mentioned below.
Diabetes mellitus
The form of diabetes that begins in middle life is often characterized only by high blood sugar and urine sugar. It is usually treated adequately by diet and medicines taken by mouth, and does not carry the risk of coma that the juvenile form of diabetes does.
Diabetics are, in general, in greater risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and blood-vessel problems. They should, therefore, be under constant medical supervision.
Cancer
Cancer is a dread disease of the late-middle and older years. Good preventive health practices, such as regular physical examinations, decrease its dangers because the earlier the disease is discovered, the better is the prospect of cure.
Glaucoma
Increased pressure in the eyeball (glaucoma) may eventually lead to blindness. Through regular eye examinations, glaucoma can be detected early, and treatment and cure effected.
Presbyopia
Almost all middle-aged persons become more long-sighted. This results from the lens of the eye becoming more fixed and less able to change its focusing characteristics. Corrective glasses are the only remedy.
Presbycusis
The ageing process in the ear leads to a variable degree of hearing loss, particularly for higher and lower tones.
Emphysema and bronchitis
These are diseases of middle-aged persons with histories of smoking, for the most part. Shortness of breath, due to destruction of lung tissue, and frequent colds and pneumonia characterize these ailments.
Coronary heart disease
The arteries supplying the heart with blood become narrowed because of arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) as we grow into middle age, and this may lead to angina pectoris (severe chest pain on exertion) and heart attack. The risk of heart attack may be lessened by low-fat diet, exercise, relaxation, and cutting out smoking.
Rheumatic heart disease
Rheumatic fever in childhood frequently does not show its destructive effects on the heart until adulthood. In rheumatic heart disease, the valves of the heart become misshapen and the heart is unable to function efficiently. Medicines and surgery are helpful for most of those who suffer from this ailment.
Hypertension
High blood pressure (hypertension) imposes an extra strain on the heart, in particular. It is frequently associated with diabetes. Hypertension, if not treated adequately, can severely damage the heart, brain (as in a stroke), kidneys, and blood vessels. Treatment of hypertension has been one of the great advances in modern medicine.
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure is a sign that the heart is working inefficiently. This may be due to coronary heart disease, valvular damage from rheumatic fever, or other disorders. Heart failure is characterized by fluid accumulation in the body—usually first exhibited in the ankles —and shortness of breath.
Ulcers
Peptic ulcers (those of the stomach and duodenum) cause abdominal pain and discomfort. Diagnosis is most frequently made by X-ray (gastro-intestinal series). Familial tendency and stressful situations are two important factors in the development of ulcers. They can usually be treated by diet and medicines, but in some cases surgery may be necessary.
Hernias
As the body tissues age, they become weaker. A particularly weak part of the body wall and one frequently subjected to stress is the groin area. The bulging of the underlying intestines through an opening in this wall is called a hernia. Treatment is usually by surgery.
Gall bladder disease
Stones and chronic inflammation irritate the gall bladder and prevent it from functioning properly. Since the bile that the gall bladder stores is needed for digestion, particularly of fatty foods, indigestion is a frequent symptom of gall bladder trouble. Emotional upsets as well as excess fatty foods may cause an acute inflammation of the gall bladder, characterized by abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting. Recurrent attacks are an indication for surgical removal of the diseased gall bladder as soon as possible.
Varicose veins
Distended, tortuous veins in the legs are a rather frequent problem of middle age, particularly in women. Varicose veins may be a site for blood clots. In the more extreme types, because blood is not adequately drained from the lower extremities, the overlying skin may get swollen and irritated and break down, forming an ulcer. People with varicose veins frequently complain of pain and fatigue of the legs. Treatment varies from support stockings to surgical removal of the veins.
Disease of blood vessels in the legs
Arteriosclerosis tends to narrow blood vessels in the brain, heart, and extremities. When the vessels conducting blood to the legs become narrowed sufficiently, such symptoms as inability to walk several blocks without severe calf pain become manifest. Sudden occlusion (blocking) of the vessels to the leg by a blood clot may occur. This is a surgical emergency that has to be treated by removing the clot.
Arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints. The causes of arthritis vary and the joints affected differ, also. Osteoarthritis is due to wear and tear of the joint tissues with age and use. It is usually not severe or disabling, and develops after 40. Rheumatoid arthritis is a more serious form, for it may produce deformities and serious disabilities.
Prostate gland
In many men over 50, the prostate gland becomes so enlarged that it interferes with the normal passage of urine. Symptoms of this enlargement are frequent urination, decreased stream, difficulty in beginning to urinate, and the need to urinate almost immediately following urination. If symptoms become severe enough, the gland has to be removed surgically, a major but relatively safe operation.
Menopause
The menopause occurs sometime in the forties or fifties. The menstrual flow may stop suddenly; taper off gradually; or stop temporarily, restart, and then taper off. Menopausal symptoms vary from none to discomforting hot flashes and flushes. Symptoms are treated successfully with oestrogens (female sex hormones). Bodily changes may take place after the menopause, such as redistribution of fat, sagging breasts, coarsening of the skin, and weakening of the bones. These changes also respond to oestrogen therapy.
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