Why these symptoms in your old age require a visit to the doctor

As you age, your body exhibits signs and changes, some of which may be normal but some may not be. Like every milestone in your life, even old age comes with a number of health problems that you cannot turn a blind eye to. Signs of these problems may be visible or may be hidden, but when you do come across symptoms that require medical attention at this stage of your life, it is best to seek the help of a specialist.

What are the symptoms of old age for which treatment should be sought?

Memory loss

Memory loss is one of the most common symptoms of old age. You are said to be suffering from memory loss if you forget people’s names or lose memory of events that have just passed by. On the other hand, instances of forgetfulness regarding as to where you may have placed your things or why you are in a particular room are not a cause for concern. But if you forget words or fail to complete a sentence during your speech, it may point to the problem of dementia (a type of memory loss that hinders your daily activities).

Low mood

Low mood is another one of those signs that you need to look out for when you are at this stage of your life. Feeling grumpy or sullen due to aches and pains or for any other health reason is very natural at this age. But these feelings can be disconcerting if they become a permanent fixture of your life and do not go away no matter what you do. Reasons for you feeling low can be many such as relationship problems at home, loneliness or worthlessness.

Loss of sensation

Another sign for which you require medical help when you are old is the loss of sensation. At this point in time, a small amount of sensory loss is acceptable but if it hinders the quality of your life, you should not delay the medical help that you need. For instance, loss of sensation of touch can lead to accidents as you may not be feeling any pain when you touch a hot object or hot water.

Loss of appetite

Loss of appetite is very common during old age as your appetite undergoes changes and is no longer the same. But if the lack of interest in eating arises from problems like indigestion, cholelithiasis symptoms (a health condition characterized by a hard accumulation in the fluid of your gallbladder) or any other gastroenterology symptoms; depression; or the inability to cook, you should not hesitate to have a doctor take a look at you.

Mobility problems

Problems with movement are very common when you get old. You become more prone to falls and your bones become brittle. Head injuries and fractures become very common during this time. Additionally, even surgeries like partial nephrectomy (removal of tumors within your kidneys) or ventral hernia repair (a surgery to fix tears in your abdominal wall) can affect your movement as you spend time recuperating.

Loss of control of the urinary system

The inability to control your urine can point to old age-related health problems. If you’re a man, the reason can be problems with your prostate; and if you’re a woman, it may be due to a condition is known as stress incontinence. Consulting a doctor is vital to prevent problems from occurring such as acute urinary retention.

The first step in preventing the problem is being aware of the symptoms and this article strives to do just that. Be it cholelithiasis symptoms or gastroenterology symptoms, ventral hernia repair or partial nephrectomy, the importance of getting in touch with a specialist on this matter or any other issues associated with old age should never be ignored by you.