Causes of Death in Older Adults
- Details
- Hits: 116153
Causes of Death in Older Adults, Textbook p. 528 and Eure, M. http://seniorhealth.about.com/od/deathanddying/tp/cause-death.htm
Eure identifies ten leading causes of death among older adults, whom she places at age sixty-five and above. Heart disease is identified as the number one cause of death among adults. It is caused by diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, improper diet and lack of exercise. This, however, does not eliminate the genetic association to heart disease. The good thing is that most of these causes can be prevented and managed hence reducing the deaths arising from them (Eure, 2014).
Cancer is identified as the second leading cause of death among older adults. It is higher among older adults, though the cause for this is not clear (Eure, 2014). This could be attributed to the aging process that makes cells to grow abnormally as well as the lifestyle of the affected people. Stroke follows as the other leading cause of death. It is caused by a blockage in the arteries that supply blood to the brain or bleeding (Eure, 2014). People with high blood pressure and diabetes are at a higher risk of stroke (Eure, 2014).
Lung diseases especially the one that interferes with the ability of the lungs to exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen such as chronic obstructive lung disease is another leading cause of death among older adults. Other leading causes include pneumonia, diabetes, accidents, nephritis and Alzheimer. Some of these leading causes can be prevented through adopting proper lifestyle like adopting proper eating habits and exercise. There are those that are incurable and have therefore to be managed