Health Concerns: Head to Toe

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Older Adults

Colorectal Cancer Risk Assessment

Cancer of the colon or rectum (colorectal cancer) usually develops slowly, over several years. Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in both men and women in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Still, the death rate from colorectal cancer has been dropping for the last 15 years because of better detection and treatment. Take this simple assessment to learn about your risks for colorectal cancer.

Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease
Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease are two types of nervous system disorders that can develop with advancing age.

Memory Loss
Some people confuse disorganization with a bad memory. You can become better organized and less forgetful by creating a system for handling different types of information easily and routinely.

Hearing Problems
Older adults are the largest group affected by hearing loss. The contributors to hearing loss range from excessive noise to drugs, toxins, and heredity.

Vision Problems
Vision problems common in older adults include presbyopia, cataracts, dry eyes, and glaucoma. Learn more about these vision problems and when to seek health care.

Heart Disease and Stroke
Reduce your risk for heart disease and stroke by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Lifestyle changes can also help you manage heart disease if you already have it.

Diabetes
Whether you're newly diagnosed or someone who's been living with the condition for a while, find out what you can do to keep your diabetes under control.

Breast Cancer
The risk for breast cancer increases for a woman older than 50. Early breast cancer usually does not cause pain and may cause no symptoms.

Arthritis
Arthritis is often mistakenly associated with old age, but it affects people of all ages. It is usually chronic, which means that it rarely changes, or it progresses slowly.

Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis affects more than 10 million Americans, with women four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men. Women may lose up to 20 percent of their bone mass in the five to seven years after menopause.

Joint Replacement
This type of surgery is becoming much more common, particularly among aging baby boomers, but it is usually considered only after other treatment options have failed.

Prostate Cancer
The prostate makes part of the fluid that carries sperm. Cancer can form inside this gland and exist there for years without causing symptoms.

Bladder Problems and Erectile Dysfunction
Older women may experience urinary incontinence, and older men may develop erectile dysfunction. Both conditions can be successfully treated.

Other Health Concerns
Other health issues for older adults: colorectal cancer, chronic pain, pneumonia, shingles, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Did You Know?

You can reduce your risk for falls by keeping your muscles and bones strong, says the National Athletic Trainers' Association. Here are some tips on how to do that:

Do strength-training and weight-bearing exercises.
Practice exercises that help your balance.
Work on your strength, flexibility and balance at least three days a week.
Stretch every day.
Try different forms of exercise so you won't get bored.

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