Frailty In Older Adults Associated With Special Health Concerns

I have a few over - age - 50 patients who are on the “ frail” side. Though frailty is typically deriving of as a description that affects much older ( over - age 70 ) adults, generally women, it isn’ t always strictly associated with someone’ s age. If you, or someone you know, are frail, let me tell you about the individual health concerns that this parameter can pose.

Frailty Poses Special Health Concerns

In medical terms, frailty repeatedly means that you’ re of slighter build without a lot of muscle mass – most oftentimes from unexpected weight loss. This weight loss can be a production of several things, privation of adequate food, excessive smoking, alcohol drinking, chronic or acute health conditions, like COPD, intestinal disorders, cancer, indisposition treatments, even depression.

Being frail with less muscle mass, you likely alteration slower, have less endurance for physical motion and generally prostration more easily. You may even miss assistance with activities of daily living in relish, lavation, or just getting around. The extent of health care services, or propriety in a nursing home depends upon the degree of declining fitness and physical endurance a person develops, as they get older.

As a frail person, you are at higher risk for certain health conditions such as:

Infections – the immune system of frail adults is much weaker than healthy adults. Simple infections can become very contemplative in frail people.

Malnutrition – from not eating enough, and / or becoming deficient in crucial vitamins, minerals, and protein. Low vitamin D levels have recently been found in research out of Oregon State University to be associated with an increased risk of dissolution in frail persons. Many frail people do not get enough sun exposure and are deficient in vitamin D.

Low blood pressure – deficiency of food and fluids intake can fruit in low blood pressure, which puts frail people at much higher risk of end. Recent studies out of the University of Oregon manifestation higher than natural blood pressures in frail people may largely be more jaundiced to their overall health and survival.

Can Frailty Be Treated?

Aye, of course! It’ s never too slow to try and turn around nutritional deficiencies and muscle mass loss that has lead to a decrepit, frail property. If you have a chronic health attribute that has lead to your frailty, keeping good strength and nutritional position will likely be an enlargement topic for you. Working to maintain good nutrition and physical endurance, though, will help you feel better and request your particular health nut better. It will also keep you sensation stronger and help you stay more independent – especially as you get older.

Here are some things I cooperate to my frail patients:

Optimize nutrition.

Make use of vitamin / mineral fortified supplement shakes to champion any nutritional deficits you may have. Try to prepare high nutrition meals. One of the most common causes of frailty in adults is poor food preparation. Regularly, older adults living alone clinch for eating a can of incongruity instead of taking the time to prepare a higher calorie, balanced nutritious meal. If you need help preparing meals, perhaps a brother, family fragment, or even a neighbor can help you with this. There are also general public outreach programs that furtherance with meal preparation and / or shout of trumped-up meals.

Aerobic Exercise.

Though you may not feel strong enough to exercise, next to building your nutrition, it is one of the most important things you can do to necessity frailty. It not only helps your muscles get stronger, it helps your breathing capacity, blood flow throughout your body, and brightens your vein. Start by walking 10 minutes a day; get a acquaintance or family quantum to go with you if necessary. Project the length of your circuit every continuance to build up your endurance. If you have way to a society pool, motile in the shallow head, or paddling on a board, can also help build strength and endurance.

Resistance Exercise.

You don’ t have to go to a gym to do resistance exercise. Fill a few able milk jugs nearly with water at first. Standing or sitting, practice lifting them off the ground to shoulder height. Then extend them slowly over your head. As you get stronger, fill the jugs a little fuller. Vary with squatting to pick up the jugs, straightening to a standing position several times a day. When you get stronger, doing resistance exercise with gym machines can help build muscle and strength even faster.

Stop smoking, excessive alcohol drinking.

Heavy smokers and / or alcohol drinkers are frequently malnourished and / or frail. They also have lower lung capacities and impaired blood / oxygen flow throughout their body. Ask your doctor about the many programs available to help you cease smoking and / or drinking.

Frailty is a peculiarity I exalt my patients avoid at any age – especially as they get older. It can be one of the most important reasons for your loss of independence. If you have specific medical conditions that have lead to your frailty, work with your doctor to create a great plan to help your frail genius return to strength and health.

Stay well,

Mark Rosenberg, M. D.

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