Mental Health in the Elderly

According to WHO, depression, and dementia are the most common mental and neurological conditions present among the elderly. The most common complaint that geriatricians get from people over the age of 60 is losing sleep and depression. Changes in eating and sleeping habits are some of the symptoms you should consult with a specialist. You can use search options like geriatrician near me or get suggestions from your family doctor.

      What is the reason for these pattern changes in the elderly?

Usually, at the age of 60, most people undergo not able changes in their life. This is the age of retirement and when the children tend to settle in their own lives. Age-related mobility restrictions are common during this age. Other than the resulting loneliness, there is also the inclusion of health ailments.

All these drastic economic and health change scan be responsible for the loss of sleep and increased stress in the elderly. These stressors do not always lead to mental health problems.

But in India, a study has found that about 30% of the people above the age of 60 suffer from mental health problems that often go undetected.

      What are the symptoms that we should look out for?

Prolonged stress in the elderly can result in mental health problems like depression. Depression in the elderly can be undetected since most people consider being withdrawn as part of aging. Also, we are more ignorant towards mental problems and thus do not immediately get help. Here are some of the symptoms that you should look out for in the elderly and, if noted, should get help.

•       Somatisation - Prolonged pain in a specific part of the body without any medical reason
•       Loss of interest in usual activities for over 2 weeks
•       Loss of energy
•       Change in eating and sleeping patterns

If you notice any of these symptoms for more than 2 weeks, it is important to consult with a doctor.

To know more, watch the full video at

Also Read: Maintaining a Good Mental Health in Our Silver Years

Kauvery Hospital

People need to understand that depression is not a part of aging, and with the right help, older adults can lead happy and healthy life. At Kauvery Hospital, we have the best geriatricians and psychologists who can help older people get over their problems.

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Blood in stools

Blood in stools is a common problem and can occur in people of any age group. Blood can appear in stools for various reasons, but the most common among them are piles and anal fissures. Other reasons may include colon cancer, rectum cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, stomach ulcer, and more. To find the right cause and choose an appropriate treatment, it is important to consult with a doctor or an expert. You can use options like a Gastroenterologist near me to find immediate care.

Most people assume the reason to be ‘piles’ when they notice blood in stools. But when you visit the doctor, the diagnosis is made considering various symptoms, and then the treatment is done. For example, those who suffer from constipation have the risk of developing anal fissures. For some people, there might be a lot of blood, and it might be due to leakage of blood from different organs like the small intestine or large intestine.

When the stool is black or dark in colour it might indicate GI bleeding, which means bleeding in the stomach, esophagus, or small intestine. Blood mixed with stool might be a symptom of cancer.

Diagnosis

First, the symptoms are evaluated, and then a physical examination is done. Then for piles diagnosis, an assessment using an instrument called a proc to scope is done. To examine the rectum and lower part of the large intestine, a test called sigmoidoscopy is done. If there is a problem suspected CT scan, MRI and angiogram are done.

Also Read: Testing for Abnormal Blood Flow with Doppler Ultrasound

Treatment

Simple problems like fissures and piles can be treated with medications and diet changes in the early stage. In severe cases, surgery might be needed. For cancer, different treatments like surgical procedures and radiation are done.

Kauvery Hospital

If you notice blood in stools, do not assume the reason yourself. Instead, please consult with a doctor and get it diagnosed properly. If you don’t get satisfactory results, with search options like Gastroenterologist near me, visit our hospital since we have experienced experts with advanced treatments.

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Anxiety and Gastric Issues

Being in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, the anxiety levels of individuals have increased a great deal. Along with the mental pressure, anxiety brings along with it many gastro problems. These problems are now collectively termed as “brain-gut axis” disorders.

These anxiety-related gastro problems are quite common than you may think. That rumble you hear in your stomach before an interview or the abdominal discomfort before undertaking an exam are some of the gastric symptoms related with the sense of anxiousness.

Symptoms

Some of the common symptoms include:

•          Difficulty in swallowing
•          Abdominal bloating after food intake
•          Upper abdominal burning
•          Discomfort/pain
•          Constipation
•         Diarrhea
•         Region pain

These symptoms arise due to the neurochemicals released during the anxious or stressed state and not due to any diseases in the digestive system. Thus when the stress factors leading to anxiety are identified and presented to the patient and when they process or avoid them mentally, the symptoms slowly go away.

Good lifestyle modifications

To keep your mind stress-free and avoid further symptoms, here are some lifestyle changes to make:

•          Proper timing of meals
•          Good hydration and sleep
•          Sunlight exposure
•          Good hygiene
•          Regular physical activity

There are some red flag signs/symptoms like severe abdominal pain, blood loss in vomit or stools, unexplained weight loss, fever, etc., that should be ruled out before choosing to label that the patient is experiencing anxiety-induced functional gastro disorder.

Also Read: How to maintain a healthy digestive system – Infographic

Other than this, some cases might require the help of a gastrophysician and an occasional referral to a psychologist/psychiatrist. Lending a sympathetic ear to the patient’s concerns and some kind words can help a great deal in soothing the condition when compared to supportive medicine.

Kauvery Hospital

People can experience gastro problems due to stress and anxiety, and this can worsen sometimes even making the patient sick to the stomach. If you experience any of the above symptoms and they do not seem to get better with time, visit a doctor. You can use the gastroenterologist near me option or visit Kauvery Hospitals, and we assure you to provide the best care.

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