CAUSES OF KNEE PROBLEMS IN THE ELDERLY The knee is the largest joint in the body and bears much

of the body's weight when walking and running. Because it takes the most stress, it is also more prone to injuries and degeneration. According to Mayo Clinic physicians, almost one in every three Americans over the age of 45 will report some type of knee pain, and the potential to experience knee pain rises with age. Many of the problems that the elderly experience in their knees start with poor muscle development or inadequate stretching that begins in their 50s. Osteoarthritis Sometimes called degenerative arthritis, this condition is fairly common in people over the age of 50, and the incidence rises considerably as people approach age 70. According to Mayo Clinic physicians, osteoarthritis will cause a variety of degrees of pain when standing or walking. Individuals will experience swelling, stiffness and creaking or popping sounds from the knee. Most people who suffer from osteoarthritis will also experience a loss of flexibility in the knee joint so that they do not have full range of motion. These symptoms are a result of breakdown in the cartilage of the knee that happens with use and increasing age. Varicose Veins Treatment Laser Treatment for Varicose Veins. India's best Center 02223525001 www.varicoseveinsindia.com Sponsored Links Meniscus Tear The menisci are "C" shaped discs that help to support the fit between the large thigh bone and shin bone. They help to distribute the weight and absorb the shock during walking or running. According to the Stretching Institute, a meniscus tear can be the result of injury or degeneration. Because the meniscus doesn't receive any blood supply, recovery from this type of condition is very difficult. Degenerative tears to the meniscus are associated with the breakdown of collagen fibers in the meniscus in the elderly. Bursitis The bursae are small sacs of fluid that cushion the outside of the knee joint so that the tendons and ligaments move smoothly over the joint. With repeated injury or increased age, the bursae can become inflamed and cause problems. Injury to the bursae is common when an individual hits the knee against a hard object, such as a desk or cabinet. According to the Mayo Clinic, the symptoms will include warmth, swelling, redness, tenderness, aching and pain at rest and when going up or down the stairs. If an infection is present, there can also be fever. Chondromalacia Patella This condition is common in the elderly who develop it as a result of arthritis in the kneecap. It causes pain and tenderness at the front of the knee when sitting for long periods of time, getting up from a chair or climbing stairs. The sufferer may also experience a grating or grinding sensation when the knee is straightened or extended. Tendinitis According to Dr. Mark King from Dynamic Chiropractic, patellar tendinitis is an inflammation of the tendons that keep the kneecap in place. Individuals may experience pain either above or below the

kneecap. The type of tendinitis more commonly experienced in people over age 35 is located above the kneecap. This condition can be aggravated when the individual has weak gluteal muscles or stiff hips. Both of these situations place more stress on the knee joint and is common in the elderly who do not spend time stretching.

Sleep disorders in the elderly

Email this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version Sleep disorders in the elderly involve any disrupted sleep pattern, such as problems falling or staying asleep, too much sleep, or abnormal behaviors with sleep. Causes Sleep problems are common in the elderly. In general, older people need 30 to 60 minutes less sleep than younger people. Their sleep is less deep and more choppy than sleep in younger people. A healthy 70 year old may wake up four times during the night without it being due to disease. Some causes or contributors to sleep disturbances in older adults include: Alzheimer's disease Chronic disease, such as congestive heart failure Depression (depression is a common cause of sleep problems in people of all ages) Neurological conditions Pain caused by diseases such as arthritis Prescription drugs, recreational drugs, or alcohol Sedentary lifestyle Stimulants such as caffeine Urination at night

Symptoms Difficulty falling asleep Difficulty telling the difference between night and day Early morning awakening Waking up often during the night

Exams and Tests The health care provider will take a history and perform a physical exam to look for medical causes and determine which type of sleep disorder is causing the problem. Treatment Relieving chronic pain and controlling medical conditions such as frequent urination may improve sleep in some people. Treating depression can also improve sleep. Sleeping in a quiet place and drinking a glass of warm milk before bed may improve the symptoms. Other ways to promote sleep include following these healthy lifestyle tips: Avoid large meals shortly before bedtime. Avoid stimulants such as caffeine. Get regular exercise early in the day. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. (Don't take naps.) Use the bed only for sleep or sexual activity.

If you can't fall asleep after 20 minutes, get out of bed and do a quiet activity such as reading or listening to music. Avoid using sleeping pills to help you sleep, if possible. They can lead to dependence and can make sleep problems worse over time if you don't use them correctly. Your health care provider should assess your risks of daytime sleepiness, mental (cognitive) side effects, and falls before you begin taking sleep medications. If you need sleeping pills, Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata, and Rozerem can be safe when used properly. It is best to NOT take sleeping pills several days in a row or for more than 2 - 4 days a week. Alcohol can make the side effects of all sleeping pills worse and should be avoided.

WARNING: The FDA has asked manufacturers of certain sleep medicines to put stronger warning labels on their products so that consumers are more aware of the potential risks. Possible risks while taking such medicines include severe allergic reactions and dangerous sleep-related behaviors, including sleepdriving. Ask your doctor about these risks.

Common Causes of Vision Loss in Elderly Patients DAVID A. QUILLEN, M.D., Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania Am Fam Physician. 1999 Jul 1;60(1):99-108. Vision loss among the elderly is a major health care problem. Approximately one person in three has some form of vision-reducing eye disease by the age of 65. The most common causes of vision loss among the elderly are age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract and diabetic retinopathy. Age-related macular degeneration is characterized by the loss of central vision. Primary open-angle glaucoma results in optic nerve damage and visual field loss. Because this condition may initially be asymptomatic, regular screening examinations are recommended for elderly patients. Cataract is a common cause of vision impairment among the elderly, but surgery is often effective in restoring vision. Diabetic retinopathy may be observed in the elderly at the time of diagnosis or during the first few years of diabetes. Patients should undergo eye examinations with dilation when diabetes is diagnosed and annually thereafter. The elderly population in the United States is increasing rapidly. By the year 2030, approximately 70 million Americans will be over 65 years of age. Loss of vision among the elderly is a major health care problem: approximately one in three elderly persons has some form of vision-reducing eye disease by the age of 65.1 Vision impairment is associated with a decreased ability to perform activities of daily living and an increased risk for depression.2 This article reviews the four most common causes of vision impairment in the elderly: age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract and diabetic retinopathy.3,4 Presenting symptoms of these four causes are summarized in Table 1. Age-Related Macular Degeneration Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of loss of vision in people over 65 years of age. AMD is characterized by degeneration of the macula, the area of the retina responsible for central vision (Figure 1). Risk factors for AMD include advancing age, family history of AMD and cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and cigarette smoking. AMD can be divided into two categories: nonexudative (or dry) AMD and exudative (or wet) AMD.