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Older Adult Patient, Pathologies, Pathologies, Pathologies, Pathologies,…
Older Adult Patient
Reproductive System
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Men have a decreased testosterone level which leads to decreased libido. Sexual responses may become slower and less intense.
Vaginal walls become thinner, dryer, less elastic, and possibly irritated. Sometimes sex becomes painful due to these vaginal changes. Risks for vaginal yeast infections increases.
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Nervous System
number and sensitivity of sensor receptors, dermatomes, and neurons decrease: Dulling of tactile sensation
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Demylenation occurs which leads to slower nerve conduction, response and reaction times are slower, and reflexes become weaker
Integumentary System
The blood vessels of the dermis become more fragile. This leads to bruising, bleeding, under the skin.
The subcutaneous fat layer thins so it has less insulation and padding. This increases your risk of skin injury and reduces your ability to maintain body temperature.
Changes in the connective tissue reduce the skin's strength and elasticity. This produces the leathery, weather-beaten appearance and wrinkly skin.
Growths such as warts, skin tags, brown rough patches, pinkish rough patches, and other blemishes are more common in older people.
Muscular System
Muscles are less toned and less able to contract because of muscle rigidity and tone loss. As the muscles become less tones, older adults are at higher risk of injury and pulling muscles
Lean body mass decreases because of loss of muscle tissue. The muscle fibers shrink and muscle tissue is replaced more slowly. As we age, we take a longer time to heal and prepare muscles
Lymphatic System
The immune system looses its' ability to produce new, mature T cells in the thymus. By age 40, much of the Thymus has been replaced with adipose tissue and by 60 decreases to an almost invisible level.
Reduced responsiveness to inflammatory stimuli in aged lymphatic vessels decreases the normal capacity to react against foreign organisms
Primary and secondary antibody response decrease with age. More antigens are required to produce a response with fewer memory cells resulting
Respiratory System
calcification of costal cartilage, trachea, and rib cage more rigid
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lung loses elasticity to recoil. Changes occur in upper airway paths, nose, and trachea. This creates a reduced cough reflex and lung size overall decreases
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Cardiovascular System
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Myocardial muscle has become less efficient; there will be decreased contractile strength and prolonged cardiac cycle. Body will be unable to meet the demands of increased activity
Aorta becomes dilated; slight ventricular hypertrophy, thickening of left ventricular wall
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Skeletal System
Bones become more brittle and may break more easily. Overall height decreases as the true and spine shorten
Breakdown of the joints may lead to inflammation, pain, stiffness, and deformity. Jhe joints become stiffer and less flexible. Fluid in the joints may decrease and the cartilage may begin to rub together and wear away. Minerals may deposit in and around the joints
Bone reabsorption continues without the continued formation of new bone. This result in larger centrally located medullary cavities of the long bones and thinner walls of compact bone
costal cartilage begins to calcify and losses flexibility. This cartilage makes it possible for the rib cage to expand and contract with respiration and as it calcifies it can restrict breathing
Urinary System
The amount of kidney tissue decreases and kidney function diminishes. The number of filtering units or nephrons decrease as the kidney size decreases
Flomerular filtration rate decreases due to decreased renal blood flow and decreased number of functioning glomeruli. This affects the ability of the kidney to eliminate drugs
The elastic tissue of the bladder wall becomes stiffer and the bladder becomes less stretchy. The bladder cannot hold as much urine as before
The urethra can become partially or totally blocked. In women, this can be due to weakened muscles that cause the bladder or vagina to fall out of position. In men, the urethra can become blocked by enlarged prostate gland.
Pathologies
Parkinsons
Affects the ability of the CNS to control the body. It is a Chronic and progressive neurological disease of the basal ganglia
Dementia
A chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes caused by brain disease or injury and marked by memory disorders, personality changes, and impaired reasoning
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Pathologies
Cystic Fibrosis
An inherited life threatening disorder where the cells in the lungs that produce mucus produce think and sticky mucus that plug up tubes, ducts and pathways
Pneumonia
Infection that inflames air sacs in one or both lungs, which may fill with fluid or pus.
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Pathologies
Diverticulitis
A condition in which small, bulging pouches develop in the digestive tract
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Crohn's Disease
A type of inflammatory bowel disease. It causes inflammation of your digestive tract, which leads to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition
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Pathologies
Addison's Disease
A disease characterized by progressive anemia, low blood pressure and weakness. It is caused by inadequate secretion of hormones by the adrenal cortex.
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Pathologies
Deep Vein Thrombosis
A blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the legs. This is serious because blood clots can loosen and lodge in the lungs
Blood clots getting lodged in the lungs causes a pulmonary embolism. The respiratory and cardiovascular system are linked in many ways as blood runs through the lungs
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Coronary Artery Disease
A disease in which there is a blockage of the coronary arteries. It is usually caused by atherosclerosis
Pathologies
Myasthenia Gravis
A weakness and rapid fatigue of muscles under voluntary control. There is a breakdown in communication between nerves and muscles
As people get older, muscles have a harder time contracting and nerve impulses slow so this condition may occur more rapidly
Multiple Sclerosis
A chronic, progressive disease involving damage to the sheaths of nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain which damage signals from brain to muscles. This creates muscle pain and involuntary movements
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Pathologies
Osteoporosis
A medical condition in which the bones become brittle and fragile from loss of tissue, typically as a result of hormonal changes
Osteogenesis Imperfecta
A group of inherited disorders characterized by fragile bones that break easily
*This condition gets worse as a person gets older since bones get more brittle
Pathologies
Urinary Tract Infection
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Nursing interventions would include antibiotics and instructing the patient to perineal hygiene and drinking 3000 L
End Stage Renal Disease
Is the final permanent stage of chronic kidney disease, where kidney function has declined to the point that the kidneys can no longer function on their own.
Pathologies
Malignant Melanoma
The most serious type of skin cancer. It occurs when the pigment-producing cells that give color become cancerous
Pathologies
Lymahadenopathy
Immune system glands that usually enlarge in response to a bacterial or viral infection, but sudden swelling of many lymph
Blood flow issues caused by clots or arteriosclerosis have a huge impact and influence on a stroke formation
Inadequate blood flow can be seen leading to clots in the brain and lungs. Blood flow has a big influence on the nervous system and respiratory system. All parts of the body need blood for oxygen and without adequate blood flow all systems will fail
Neuropathy caused by Diabetes and too much glucose in the body impacts brain and nerve function and can be seen leading to infections of the feet because nerve function to feet is blocked
Nervous system, Endocrine System, and Integumentary system are all affected due to diabetes and neuropathy
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