The 12 Most Common Health Problems for People 55+

Thanks to new medications and surgical techniques, people are living longer. However, a 35-year-old body will be a very different body than a 75-year-old one. Many issues, both genetic and environmental, affect how we age. The most widespread condition affecting those 65 and older is coronary heart disease, followed by stroke, cancer, pneumonia and the flu. Accidents, especially falls that result in hip fractures, are also unfortunately common in the elderly. A lot of our elders are coping with at least one of the following conditions, and many are dealing with two or more of the following: 1. Heart conditions Hypertension, vascular disease, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure and coronary artery disease are all risk factors for many adults as they age. Heart disease affects 37 percent of men and 26 percent of women 65 and older, according to the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics. What you can do “Exercise, eat well, get a good night’s rest. Eating well means eating in a fashion that will allow you to keep a healthy weight with a well-balanced and healthy diet,” says geriatrician Marie Bernard, MD, deputy director of the National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland. RELATED: Is Your...