IMPORTANCE OF THERAPY FOR THE AGEING POPULATION(OLD PEOPLE)

IMPORTANCE OF THERAPY TREATMENT FOR THE AGEING POPULATION (OLD PEOPLE)

          Ageing is a process in everyone life where a person becomes older having physical and structural changes in the process. It is an inevitable irreversible process of life. The elderly are persons aged 50 years and above, the elderly as they age have physical needs.
   The ageing process includes structural alterations and functional decline in the body systems with impairments and increased vulnerability to age-related diseases

        PHYSICAL AND FUNCTIONAL PROBLEMS ELDERLY (OLD PEOPLE) SUFFER

       Normal biological ageing causes a reduction in the body’s reserve capacity. These effects can be seen in all body systems through muscular, skeletal, neural circulatory respiratory aspects.The ageing process lowers the functional capacity of cells, organs and the entire body. The following are physical changes old people suffers.

1. BONES AND JOINTS PROBLEMS
             AS age increase, there is a gradual loss of bone mass in almost all humans, a total of 30% bone minerals can be lost by the age resulting in wear and tear in the bones and joints. 

          As they age, the cartilage, tendons and ligaments become stiffer and more rigid and a decreased flexibility and alteration in connective tissue. Their bodes starts to undergo degenerative changes of which osteoarthritis is one example.

2.    NEUROMUSCULAR SYSTEM CHANGES
 As they age, within their nervous system, there is a decrease in the number and size of neurons, nerve conduction velocity, maximal conduction frequency and increased connective tissue within the nerve. Hence, the information processing in the nervous system slows down with age.

Loss of brain cells, degeneration of cortical neurons and reduction in the number of cortical synapses are
examples of cerebral changes that occur with aging.

3.          CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS
 Cardiovascular performance deteriorates with age, high blood pressure is attributed to aging. prevalent disorders include high blood pressure, diabetes and raised cholesterol levels. 

4.     CEREBROVASCULAR DISORDERS

    Those older adults with high blood pressure or cholesterol levels are more prone to developing cerebrovascular accident CVA or stroke which is the second  largest cause of death and disabilities

    
                       PHYSICAL CHALLENGES OLD PEOPLE SUFFERS

1.  BACK PAIN (ACUTE AND CHRONIC)

Back pain may be attributed to degenerative changes related to the ageing process and lack of knowledge on back management by the elderly, lack of exercise. one biggest challenge the elderly face is  difficulties in performing important tasks.

2. MOBILITY (MOVEMENT PROBLEMS)
Multiple disabilities in the elderly results in impaired mobility, which means that access to services can often be a problem for them. They often find it difficult to navigate and get what they want around their surroundings. 

4.   MUSCLES PAINS 

Muscle aches pains and cramps are dominate in old people as a result of poor blood circulation due to poor exercise , inactivity, poor posture and movement and joint problems

5.   MUSCLE WEAKNESS 
 weakness is very common among the elderly. The muscle weakness could be due to inactivity and disuse of muscles, poor exercise and involvement in physical activities. Muscle weakness is also associated with aging, pain and neurological problems for older people. Muscle wasting occurs with age if they are not kept active.

6. JOINT PROBLEMS
Common joint problems are disorders of the musculoskeletal system that present in more than 50% of elderly above 65 years as arthritis. joint stiffness and joint pains etc

7. POOR EXERCISE
 Often times, the elderly find it difficult to involve in  activities due to musculo Skeletal problems

IMPORTANCE OF THERAPY TREATMENT FOR AGEING POPULATION (OLD PEOPLE)
The role of a therapist include the following

Pain management's and oedema control 
Therapeutic Massage to improve blood circulation and reduce muscle tightness and stiffness

Use of ice packs, heat packs and infrared lamp to improve blood circulation and reduce muscle tightness and stiffness and swelling

Muscle strengthening exercise

Use of electronic stimulators to strengthen core muscles

Modification of home environment to improve mobility

Recommending assistive and adaptive device such as wheelchairs, walkers, longhandle  reachers etc to aid mobility

WHAT TO DO WHEH YOU HAVE AN AGING RElATION

Visit the nearest hospital and book an appointment with a therapist : An occupational Therapist and a physiotherapists




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HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE:: THE MOST IMPORTANT CAUSE OF STROKE

WHAT IS STROKE(CEREBRO VASCULAR ACCIDENT)

A stroke happens when blood flow to a part of your brain is cut off. Without the oxygen in blood, brain cells start dying within minutes.

WHAT IS BLOOD PRESSURE

Blood pressure is the measure of how strongly your blood presses against the walls of your arteries when it is pumped around your body. High blood pressure (also known as hypertension) develops when this pressure is consistently too high.

Blood pressure is a measure of the pressure or force of blood against the walls of your blood vessels (known as arteries). Your blood pressure reading is based on two measures called systolic and diastolic. The systolic (top) number is the measure of the pressure force when your heart contracts and pushes out the blood. The diastolic (bottom) number is the measure of when your heart relaxes between beats.


WHAT IS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

High blood pressure also called hypertension is the biggest cause of strokes. 
High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for stroke and a major risk factor for heart disease and vascular diseases. 

High blood pressure is when the blood pressure in your arteries is elevated and your heart has to work harder than normal to pump blood through the blood vessels. It is important that you have your blood pressure checked regularly by your healthcare provider.

HOW DOES HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE CAUSES STROKE

High blood pressure puts a strain on all the blood vessels in your body, including the ones leading   your brain. This makes a blockage more likely to develop or a blood vessel in the brain to weaken and bleed, both of which could cause a stroke.

Hypertension gradually increases the pressure of blood flowing through your arteries. As a result, you might experience damaged and narrowed arteries. High blood pressure can damage the cells of your arteries' inner lining. When fats from your diet enter your bloodstream, they can collect in the daCATEGORIES
ries. Eventually, your artery walls become less elastic, limiting blood flow throughout your body.

A stroke occurs when part of your brain is deprived of oxygen and nutrients, causing brain cells to die. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke by damaging and weakening your brain's blood vessels, causing them to narrow, rupture or leak. High blood pressure can also cause blood clots to form in the arteries leading to your brain, blocking blood flow and potentially causing a stroke.

BLOOD PRESSURE CATEGORIES

Category: Systolic/Diastolic (top number/bottom number)
Low risk: 120 / 80
Medium risk: 121-139 / 80 - 89
High risk: 140+ / 90

Your blood pressure should be less than 130 / 80. Consult a healthcare provider if your blood pressure level is higher than 130 / 80 on more than one occasion.

Generally speaking, systolic blood pressure should be less than 150 for people over 80 years of age.

WHAT ARE OTHER CAUSES/RISK FACTORS OF STROKE

SMOKING..smoking or chewing it raises your odds of a stroke. Nicotine makes your blood pressure go up. Cigarette smoke causes a fatty buildup in your main neck artery. It also thicken our blood and makes it more likely to clot. Even second hand smoke can affect you.

HEART DISEASES. condition includes defective heart valves as well as atrial fibrillation , or irregular heartbeat, which causes a quarter of all strokes among the very elderly. You can also have clogged arteries from fatty deposits.

DIABETES .People who have it often have high blood pressure and are more likely to be overweight . Both raise the chance of a stroke. Diabetes damages your blood vessels, which makes a stroke more likely. If you have a stroke when your blood sugar levels are high, the injury to your brain is greater

WEIGHT AND LACK OF EXERCISE. Your chances of a stroke may go up if you're overweight. You can lower your odds by working out every day. Take a brisk 30-minute walk, or do muscle-strengthening exercises like pushups and working with weights.

MEDICATIONS. Some medicines can raise your chances of stroke. For instance, blood-thinning drugs, which doctors suggest to prevent blood clots, can sometimes make a stroke more likely through bleeding. 

AGE.Anyone could have a stroke, even babies in the womb. Generally, your chances go up as you get older. They double every decade after age 55.

FAMILY. Strokes can run in families. You and your relatives may share a tendency to get high blood pressure or diabetes. Some strokes can be brought on by a genetic disorder that blocks blood flow to the brain


WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THIS RISK FACTORS OF STROKE

Visit your doctor....do a regular checkups on your blood pressure , cultivate a  lifestyle of exercises






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WARNING SIGNS OF STROKE(CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT) CVA

WHAT IS STROKE(CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT)

Stroke means your brain is not getting the blood it needs due to blocked blood vessels or bleeding in the brain. Stroke may lead to brain injury, disability and death. If you act swiftly, you are less likely to have long-lasting serious complications

HOW DO STROKE HAPPEN

Strokes happen when a blood vessel that brings oxygen to the brain is either blocked (ischemic attack) or bursts open (hemorrhagic stroke). The blood vessels originally supplies blood oxygen and nutrients to the brain and body. Lack of oxygen kills the brain cells that this particular blood vessel serves, and the part of the body that these brain cells control stops working. 

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to an area of the brain is cut off. The symptoms depend upon the region of the brain that is affected by the loss of blood supply and can include changes in sensation or motor control.
Symptoms of a stroke depends on how much of the brain tissue is deprived of blood supply. For example, someone who had a mild stroke may experience temporary weakness of an arm or leg, but those with a more severe stroke may be permanently paralyzed on one side of their body or be unable to speak. If the blood supply is not quickly restored, either on its own or via medical treatment, the effects may be permanent.





EARLY WARNING SIGH OF STROKE

Sudden extreme headache/migraines
Dizziness
Trouble speaking (slurred speech)
Face drooping (one side of the face droops or becomes numb)
Uneven smile
Arm weakness or numbness
Confusion or trouble understanding others

                                                       Face drooping

                                   

                                 Numbness or tingling sensation on the arms and legs

                                       Serious headache/migraines

Weakness of the body

Numbness or weakness in face or leg
Trouble seeing with one or both eyes
Severe headache without any reason
Problem with walking or balance
Loss of sensation in any of tbalance
Memory loss 
Behavioural changes
Muscle stiffness


 PHYSICAL TEST TO IDENTIFY A  STROKE
S *Ask the individual to SMILE. Check if the smile is uneven...if it is uneven see a doctor
T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (i.e. Chicken Soup) observe if the person speech is slurred
R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS. If you observe a weekness and numbness of the arms and legs or one hand  drifting downward.


 Another ‘sign’ of a stroke is this: Ask the person to ‘stick’ out their tongue. If the tongue is ‘crooked’, if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke.


WHAT TO DO IF YOU OBSERVE A STROKE SIGN

ACT FAST...I MEAN VERY FAST
VISIT A DOCTOR. A NEUROLOGIST... YOUR DOCTOR WILL THEN REFER YOU TO A THERAPIST PREFERABLY A PHYSIOTHERAPISTS OR AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST



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