Dangerous diseases the elderly should know

The elderly have weakened physiological functions of the body, especially the immune system, leading to the emergence of dangerous diseases. Below are diseases that the elderly should know to be able to prevent in time.

As we age, our body functions deteriorate, and our metabolic functions are disrupted. Blood lipid levels (cholesterol, triglycerides), liver function (SGOT, SGPT), and insulin activity become uncontrolled, leading to a series of dangerous diseases.

1. Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a disease in which the arteries become hardened and narrowed. It can occur in any part of the body and is the main cause of stroke (cerebral circulatory disorder), heart attack and poor circulation in the legs. Fats in the blood gradually accumulate in the inner layer of the artery walls and the fat makes the artery walls thicker, resulting in the arteries gradually narrowing and blood circulation is obstructed.

2. Diabetes

According to Dr. Nguyen Vinh Quang, Head of the National Diabetes Project, the rate of diabetes nationwide is 5.7% of the population. In the elderly, the cause of diabetes is due to impaired metabolic functions, especially carbohydrate metabolism disorders when the pancreatic insulin hormone is deficient or has reduced effects in the body, causing blood sugar levels to always be high. Diabetes is one of the main causes of many serious diseases.

3. Stroke

Cardiovascular diseases are common in the elderly, the most common of which are atherosclerosis, coronary artery insufficiency, high blood pressure, stroke, etc. These are diseases with a very high level of danger, always threatening the lives of the elderly. The main cause is due to the loss of control of blood lipids leading to a sudden increase in cholesterol molecules, causing blockage of blood vessels and loss of elasticity due to aging of blood vessels.

How to reduce the risk of disease for the elderly

According to pharmacist and former university lecturer Nguyen Danh Mau, the above diseases of the elderly all originate from metabolic syndrome. According to the World Health Organization, currently about 20% - 25% of adults worldwide have metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is caused by excess fat tissue in the body, especially abdominal fat tissue, releasing non-esterified fatty acids and bad LDL-c cholesterol into the blood. This factor increases insulin resistance, increases inflammation of the vascular endothelium, causing atherosclerotic plaques leading to metabolic syndrome including diabetes, high blood fat, high blood pressure, coronary atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, cerebral circulatory insufficiency, stroke, cerebral hemorrhage.

According to dantri.com