The human body, just like other unique creations of nature, is highly predictable in that the older it gets, the more vulnerable it becomes to certain ailments or diseases....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
This age-induced vulnerability to health challenges is probably due to the natural “wear and tear” phenomenon which sees certain parts of the body experience a drop in their optimal levels of performance due to use over time.
Specifically, the more you age, the more are your chances of being susceptible to certain health issues.
According to Brunilda Nazario of WebMD, more than nine in 10 older adults have some types of chronic disease, and almost eight in 10 have more than one of these chronic health issues.
This implies that sooner or later, everyone would have to contend with some of these age-induced chronic diseases.
Fortunately, there are certain things you can do, including modifications to your lifestyle and diet that can help put some of these conditions in check.
Without much ado, let us consider a few of the health problems that may start showing up once you are in your fifties and above.
The health challenges, their major causes and foods to avoid consuming in excess to prevent them, are examined below:
1. Bladder Problems
The bladder is one of the most important organs of the urinary system as this hollow organ, located in the lower abdomen, helps to store urine.
Just like other parts of the body that can be plagued by one issue or the other, the bladder is not an exception.
Problems affecting the bladder can come in various guises including being unable to urinate when you want or urinating too frequently.
Causes
Any number of factors can cause the bladder to malfunction and cause you to lose bladder control.
However, unsurprisingly, age is one of the known causes of problems with bladder control.
Other known causes include nerve problems, muscle weakness, thickening tissue, or an enlarged prostate.
Foods To Avoid
If you are experiencing problems with controlling your bladder, it is often recommended that you watch your intake of certain foods generally referred to as bladder stimulants or irritants.
Examples of such foods include carbonated beverages, caffeinated beverages, chocolate, spicy foods, alcoholic drinks, raw onions, and honey.
2. High Blood Pressure
The older you become, the more flexible your blood vessels become which, in turn, puts more pressure on the system responsible for carrying blood through your body.
Thus, according to the Mayo Clinic, the more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure.
According to WebMD, it is believed that this partly explains why 2/3 of adults who are over the age of 60 have high blood pressure.
Causes
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are two types of high blood pressure and these are primary (essential) hypertension and secondary hypertension.
Primary hypertension often has no identifiable cause and tends to develop gradually over many years.
Secondary hypertension, on the other hand, often appears suddenly and is often caused by an underlying medical condition.
A few of its known causes include obstructive sleep apnea, kidney disease, adrenal gland tumours, thyroid problems, certain defects you’re born with in the blood vessels, and certain medications, such as birth control pills, over-the-counter pain relievers and some prescription drugs.
Its known risk factors include age, family history, obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, stress, and too much sodium in the diet.
Foods To Avoid
Certain foods and drinks can undoubtedly increase your blood pressure.
While it may be impossible to avoid such foods completely, it is recommended that you watch your intake of them.
A few of such foods include bread, pizza, sandwiches, cured or salted meats, frozen pizza, sugary foods and drinks, red meat, processed foods, and alcohol.
3. Diabetes
Diabetes is said to occur when your body is unable to take up blood sugar or glucose into its cell to produce energy, with this leading to a buildup of extra sugars in the bloodstream.
More specifically, if you have this condition, it is either your pancreas doesn’t make any insulin or enough insulin or your pancreas makes insulin but your body’s cells don’t respond to it and can’t use it as it normally should.
According to Brunilda Nazario of WebMD, a person’s chances of developing this disease increase as the individual gets older, and when it is poorly controlled, diabetes can lead to other serious health conditions including heart disease, kidney disease, blindness, and other problems.
Causes
There is no known cause of type 1 diabetes, with genes believed to play certain roles in its development in some people.
However, type 2 diabetes could result from a combination of genetics and lifestyle factors.
For example, being obese or overweight can lead to it, and it can also run in the family. Other risk factors include being 50 years and above and being physically inactive.
Foods To Avoid
According to Nizam Khan of Healthline, increased intake of certain foods and drinks can raise your blood sugar and insulin level, thus promoting inflammation that can increase your risk of developing diabetes.
Some of the foods capable of doing this include sugar-sweetened beverages, white bread, rice and pasta, sweetened breakfast cereals, packaged snack food, fruit juice and dried fruits.
4. Heart Disease
The buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries has been attributed as the major cause of heart disease. The formation of plaque is believed to start from childhood and progressively gets worse as you age.
Heart disease is of many types with the most common ones being coronary artery disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, heart failure, arrhythmia, and congenital heart defects.
Causes
According to Adam Felman of Medicalnewstoday, heart disease often develops due to factors such as damage to all or part of the heart, a problem with the blood vessels leading to or from the heart, low supply of oxygen and nutrients to the heart, and a problem with the rhythm of the heart.
Risk factors include high blood pressure, a high intake of alcohol, overweight and obesity, diabetes, age, low activity levels, and family history.
Foods To Avoid
According to WebMD, certain foods can significantly increase your risk of developing heart disease as you age.
Examples of such foods include red meat, bacon, sugary foods, salty foods, soda, baked goods such as cookies and cakes, pizza, processed meat, white rice, bread and pasta, alcohol, butter, flavoured, full-fat yoghurt, French fries, fried chicken, ice cream, and potato chips.
5. Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is said to occur when the protective tissue that serves as a cushion against wear and tears at the end of the bones wears down over time.
While it can damage any joint, osteoarthritis often affects the joints in your hands, knees, hips and spine, and your likelihood of developing the condition significantly increases as you get older.
Causes
Your risk of developing osteoarthritis is significantly increased by certain factors which include older age, being a woman, being overweight or obese, joint injuries, repeated stress on the joint, genetics, bone deformities, as well as metabolic diseases including diabetes.
Foods To Avoid
According to Amanda Barrell of Medicalnewstoday, making certain dietary changes can help significantly reduce your risk of developing osteoarthritis especially as you age.
Some of the foods that you are advised to avoid or cut down on include sugary foods such as soda, sweet tea, flavoured coffees, and some juice drinks, refined carbohydrates such as white bread, white rice, and potato chips, and saturated fat such as pizza and red meat.
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