According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 41% of people over the age of 65 rate their health as very good or excellent. Another study in 2015 found that 21.7% of seniors rated their health as fair or poor. Not too bad until you compare this with the general American public, in which 61% rated their health as very good or excellent.

Aging comes with a number of health issues that were never a problem in our younger years. Below are five ailments to watch out for that become more common with age.

Tooth Loss

It’s not surprising that oral health issues crop up later in life. Our teeth get used every day. There’s a tremendous amount of wear and tear that adds up over time. Other issues like osteoporosis also play a role in tooth loss.

Regular dental care in your younger years can help prevent or delay many oral health issues. Technology has also come a long way in improving the look and fit of dentures. However, the experts at DentureHelper.com note that denture maintenance and repair is extremely important. The dentures can become stained and damaged just like regular teeth.

If you need more advice on taking care of your oral health, check out this article with tips on living happily with dentures.

Bone Loss

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bone mineral density to decrease. This makes a person more susceptible to fractures, broken bones and other related complications. Areas that osteoporosis affects most frequently include the lumbar spine and femur neck.

The older you get the higher your risk is for bone loss. Osteoporosis is particularly problematic for women after menopause and people over the age of 80 years old. Women over 50 should take a calcium supplement to help maintain bone mineral density.

Vision Loss

The older we get the more our vision starts to dull. By the time people reach 40 years old, the majority are starting to notice a difference in how they see at a close distance. Vision loss is attributed to a number of diseases and conditions including:

  • ·  Cataracts
  • ·  Glaucoma
  • ·  Macular degeneration
  • ·  Infections
  • ·  High blood pressure
  • ·  Diabetes

Eyes also simply don’t focus as sharply as we get older. The problem can be quite serious for your health because poor eyesight increases the likelihood of a fall, which is one of the top causes of death among seniors. If your vision isn’t as sharp as it used to be, schedule an appointment with an optometrist to find out what’s affecting your eyesight. It could be a simple fix like reading glasses from the drugstore.

Arthritis

Many people begin to feel the pain of arthritis between the ages of 40 and 50 years old. While there are over 100 conditions and diseases that can affect your joints, two types of arthritis are most common:

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): Rheumatoid arthritis is considered an autoimmune inflammatory disease. The body’s immune system attacks certain joints and the surrounding tissue causing painful inflammation.

Osteoarthritis (OA): This is the most common form of arthritis. It occurs when the bones and cartilage of a joint begin to break down.

There are a number of medications specifically developed for treating specific types of arthritis, but first, you’ll need to be evaluated by a physician to determine which type you have.

Diabetes

The rise of diabetes in the U.S. has many health experts very concerned. Between 1990 and 2009 the rate of diagnosed diabetes increased by an astounding 150-217%. The most diagnosed group for type 2 diabetes is people aged 45-64. The one silver lining in recent research from the CDC is the diagnosis rates have stalled since 2009.

Age is a factor that can directly increase your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. Age also plays a role in indirect ways such as slowing metabolism, which makes it more difficult to maintain a healthy weight. As noted above, diabetes is also linked to other health problems such as vision loss.

You can’t do anything about your age, but there are lifestyle choices you can make to minimize the risk of developing diabetes. It’s highly recommended that older adults limit their sugar intake and eat a healthy diet. Regular, moderate exercise can also reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes.