The most common time for people to visit their GP is during retirement, as people become more susceptible to illness as they age.
King Charles, who reached state pension age nine years ago at the age of 75, is currently undergoing treatment for a mysterious form of cancer that doctors discovered during treatment for an enlarged prostate.
Dr Geoff Foster, a general practitioner in The Sun newspaper, said: “There are patterns to when people go to the doctor – during pregnancy, for infant check-ups, for vaccinations or for infant illnesses, but the most common are That was after I retired.
“Medical advances have allowed us to live longer lives, but in later life many people experience the development of complex medical problems that can have a significant impact on their quality of life.
“That's because our DNA isn't perfect, and our bodies take a beating over the years from lifestyle choices, the environment we live in, and general wear and tear.
“We often only notice problems when we lose our work routine.
“But this doesn’t have to be a depressing issue.
“We now understand how and why we age much more rapidly than before. And we can make changes and take general steps to maintain better health over time. It's never too late to seek medical attention.”
Today, Dr. Jeff explains how you can prevent the problem by making lifestyle tweaks. future. . .
Heart disease
The average age of first heart attack is 65.5 years for men and 72 years for women.
Symptoms include a crushing pain in the center of the chest, shortness of breath, palpitations, feeling like you're about to pass out, and sometimes vomiting.
However, not all people, especially women, exhibit all symptoms.
Cardiovascular disease occurs when damage to the lining of an artery causes it to narrow, cutting off the blood supply and causing a heart attack.
Plan ahead: Blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes contribute to narrowing of the arteries.
Starting in your 30s, you should get tested by your doctor and address risk factors early. Smoking and obesity also cause heart disease.
stroke
The average age of onset is 71.4 years for men and 76.9 years for women. There are two types of it: ischemic (blood supply is cut off) and hemorrhagic (blood vessels rupture).
Typically, use the acronym FAST when detecting any of the following:
Facial Weakness: Can the person laugh? Are your mouth and eyes drooping?
Arm weakness: Can you raise both arms?
Language issues: Can the other person speak clearly and understand what you are saying?
If you notice any of these signs, please call 999.
Plan ahead: Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and maintain a healthy weight. Have your blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes checked by your doctor.
cancer
This is a broad term applied to any of a number of diseases characterized by the development of abnormal cells that divide and proliferate in an uncontrolled manner.
These cells destroy normal tissue and function.
Over the past few decades, our understanding of the condition and its treatments has advanced so much that we are finally at a point where more people survive a diagnosis of cancer than die. Reached.
Plan ahead: Some cancers, such as testicular cancer, are just bad luck.
Most of them are strongly influenced by our lifestyle. For example, you can use sunscreen to reduce your risk of skin cancer or be more sexually active to reduce your risk of prostate cancer.
Quitting smoking significantly reduces your risk of lung, bowel, prostate, and ovarian cancer. Reducing alcohol and obesity can reduce your risk of breast cancer. Take part in NHS testing for breast, bowel and cervical cancer.
parkinson's disease
This is a progressive neurological condition characterized by slow movements, muscle stiffness, and tremors.
Severity varies from person to person. Approximately 5 out of 1,000 people in their 60s are affected, and about 40 out of 1,000 people in their 80s are affected.
The exact cause is unknown. The association with genetic factors is very small.
Plan ahead: Stay physically active. There is very good evidence that people who are more physically active, fit and healthy are less affected by Parkinson's disease.
dementia
One of the things that many elderly people fear is the onset of dementia.
This is a group term that covers several disorders of the brain that result in loss of memory and cognition and the functions of daily life.
The most common of these is Alzheimer's disease. Approximately 6 percent of people over the age of 75 are affected, and the number increases to more than 10 percent over the age of 80.
Plan ahead: Over time, reduced blood flow to the brain worsens dementia, so risk factors include smoking, cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
Get your cholesterol and blood pressure checked by your doctor.
Moving your body and treating your brain like a muscle can also help. To preserve those precious neurons, turn to cognitively stimulating hobbies like music and art.
blindness
Cataract is a disease in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, causing blurred vision.
About 1 in 23 people over the age of 65 has the disease, but in mild cases, most people don't realize it. However, for some people, vision loss may be severe enough to require surgery.
Glaucoma damages the optic nerve at the back of the eye, affecting vision.
Normally, the fluid in the eye drains regularly and the pressure in the eye remains stable.
In glaucoma, the exit mechanism is damaged, causing increased pressure, nerve damage, and vision loss.
Treatment is often simple, but once vision is lost, it is nearly impossible to regain it.
Plan ahead: UV rays can increase your risk, so in addition to a healthy lifestyle, always wear high-quality sunglasses.
Get your vision tested every year, whether you need it or not.
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