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Changes in the Older Adult - Coggle Diagram
Changes in the Older Adult
Circulation and Cardiovascular System
Aorta becomes thick and more rigid
Aorta becomes dilated
Myocardial becomes less efficent
Calcification and hardening of the vessels
Less sensitive to baroreceptors in the regulation of blood pressure
Pathologies
Hypertension
Force of the blood against the artery walls is too high
Treatments include ACE inhibitors, Beta blockers, Diurectics, and calcium channel blockers. Lifestyle changes should include, reduced sodium diet, exercise, and promotion of weight loss.
Symptoms can include severe headaches, nosebleeds, and confusion.
Heart Failure
The heart is not pumping or distributing blood to the body as it should be
Symptoms are SOB, fatigue, swollen extremities, and tachycardia
Treatments are diuretics, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, and vasodilators.
Myocardial Infarction
A clot in the coronary arteries blocks blood flow to the heart, this can cause tissue ischemia
Signs and symptoms can include tightness or pain in the chest, dizziness, fatigue, cold, clammy skin, sweaty, GI upset, nausea, and vomiting
Treatments can include anticoagulants, and possible placement of a stent to keep the coronary artery open
Reproductive System
Sterotyping older adults views toward sex lives can lead to safe sex issues being ignored.
Testrone production in men decreases
Estrogen production decreases in women, which can lead to osteoporosis. However, estrogen supplements can increase heart dysfunction risks.
There is a misconception that older adults do not want to engage in sexual activity anymore.
Pathologies
Erectile Dysfunction
Unable to maintain a erection for sexual intercourse
Multiple causes atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension, MS, thyroid dysfunction, alchoholism, renal failure, medications and psychological factors
There are medications that can be taken to help maintain an erection
Dysparenunia
Not a normal consequence of aging, occurs during pain on intercourse
Gyncologic problems contribute, diagnosis is achieved through an exam
Breast Cancer
Second leading cause of cancer related deaths
Diagnosed by biopsy of breast tissues
Endocrine
Thyroid gland atrophies and activity decreases
Dimished adrenal function
ACTH secretion decreases
Volume of pituitary gland decreases
Insufficient release of insulin and decreased sensitivity to insulin in the tissues
Pathologies
Type 2 Diabetes
Body tissues become less sensitive to insulin and pancreatic cells stop secreting as much insulin
Symptoms include thirst, hunger, polyuria, and high blood sugar
Treatments can include metformin, sulfonureas, and can include insulin
Hyperthyroidism
Secretion of excess amounts of thyroid hormone
Symptoms : enlarged thyroid, exopthalmos, radioactive iodine uptake, thyroid scan, increased appetite, diarrhea, tachycardia, and heat intolerance.
Treatments are thyroid ablation, iodine therapy, and thyroidectomy
Hypothyroidism
Hypofunction of thyroid gland with resulting insufficient thyroid hormone produced
Signs include fatigue, weakness, lethargy, weight gain, periorbital edema, dry skin and hair.
Treatment can be artificial thyroid hormone
Respiratory
Lungs lose elastic recoil
Decrease in alveolar surface area
Decreased reaction of peripheral and central chemoreceptors to hypoxia and hypercapnia
Pathologies
Asthma
Intermittent disease with reversible airflow because a variety of stimulants
May cause difficultly breathing, chest pain, cough and wheezing
Treatments are bronchodilators, and steroids. As well as the use of rescue inhalers if need be
Chronic Bronchitis
Chronic sputum production accompanied by a chronic cough
Increase in mucus production, persistent, productive cough, wheezing, SOB, and recurrent respiratory infections
Treatments : bronchodilators, steroids
Emphysema
Reduced gas exchange, increased air trapping, decreased capillary network.
Symptoms : SOB, cough wheezing and on going fatigue
Treatments : bronchodilators, yearly vaccines, and oxygen therapy
Digestive
Atrophy of the tongue affects taste sensation
Saliva production decreases
Esophagus and stomach motility decreases
Decreased elasticity of the stomach
Stomach has a higher PH as a result of less pepsin production
Pathologies
Xerostomia
Decreased saliva production, and resulting dry mouth. Can develop from certain medications, mouth breathing, and AMS
Symptoms are dry mouth, but can result in infections in mouth
Treatments include saliva substitutes, sipping water, and sugarless candy and gum
Dysphagia
Difficulty swallowing, caused by GERD, structural problems, and strokes
Can cause aspiration
Treatments can be thickened liquids, eating slower.
Intestinal Obstruction
Food is not able to pass through the intestines, causes pain and potential perforation of the bowel
Causes include stool impaction, intersession, and or a tumor
Treatment include surgery or steroid therapy
Fewer absorbing cells impact the absorption of vitamins and nutrients
Neurological
Loss of nerve cell mass
Number of dendrites decreases
Demylenation
Decrease in cerebral blood flow
Free radicals accumlate
Pathologies
Parkinson's Disease
Neurologic disease of the basal ganglia affecting motor ability
Symptoms : Tremor at rest and muscle rigidity
Treatments : ultimately progressive but prognosis can be improved with dopamine
Neuro Cognitive Disorder
Cognitive impairments characterized by gradual progression. Affects abstract memory, critical thinking, and social behavior.
Symptoms : personality changes, confusion, disorientation, changes in mood or behavior, anxiety and depression
No medications. Help orient the pt.
Transient Ischemic Attack
Temporary reduction in cerebral perfusion
Symptoms : Sudden confusion, numbness of the face, trouble speaking, trouble seeing, severe headache
Treatments : blood thinners and possible surgery
Renal
Size and weight of the kidney decreases
Hypertrophy of the bladder wall
Inefficent control of the bladder
GFR decreases
Decreased tubular fx
Pathologies
Urinary Tract Infections
Infection at any site in the urinary tract
Symptoms : signs of infection, fever, chills, dysuria, hematuria
Treatments : Antibiotics
Bladder Cancer
Cancer of the bladder
Symptoms : Dysuria, frequency, blood in the urine, urgency
Treatments : Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy
Glomerulonephritis
A group of diseases that injure the kidney, can lead to kidney failure
Symptoms : Lack of appetite, nausea and vomiting, tiredness, dry and itching skin, muscle cramps
Treatments : low sodium and low protein diets
Sensory
Reduced elasticity and stiffening of muscle fibers of the lens
Reduced pupil size
Opafication of the lens and vitreous fluid
Loss of photoreceptor cells in the retina
Increased sensivity to glare
Pathologies
Cataracts
Clouding of the lens and loss of transparency
Symptoms : cloudy, blurred, or loss of vision. Increasing difficulty of night vision, and sensitivity to light and glare.
Treatments : removal of the cataracts and replacement of the lens
Glaucoma
Damage to the optic nerve by high IOP in the eye
Symptoms : severe headache, eye pain, blurred vision
Treatments : Beta blockers and possible surgery
Macular Degeneration
Most common cause of blindness in ages over 65, damage of the macula leading to loss of central vision
Symptoms : visual distortions, reduced central vision, increased blurred vision
Treatments : surgery
MSK
Muscles become rigid and lose tone
Bones become brittle and break easier
Height decreases
Joints can break down which leads to pain
Pathologies
Muscular Dystrophy
A group of diseases that can cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass
Symptoms : Pain in the muscles, abnormal walking, flaccid muscles, shallow breathing, constipation
Treatments : Physical therapy, surgery and breathing aids
Myasthenia Gravis
A weakness of voluntary muscles
Symptoms : weakness in the extremities, trouble chewing and swallowing, trouble speaking
Treatments : therapy and anticholengeric medications
ALS
Nerve cells break down, which weakens muscles and affects physical actvity
Symptoms : Muscle weakness, problems with coordination, fatigue, loss of muscles
Treatments : glutamate and muscle relaxers
Trunk and spine shorten
Integumentary
Thinner, more fragile skin
Less fat
Less sensitive to touch, heat or vibration
Loss of elasticty
Pathologies
Melanoma
When pigment producing cells in the skin become cancerous
Symptoms : New unusual growth of a mole
Treatments : Chemotherapy, radiation
Squamous cell Carcinoma
Caused by an uncontrollable growth of squamous cells
Symptoms : abnormal growths on skin
Treatments : Chemotherapy and radiation