What are the benefits of going to a geriatric specialist?
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What’s the difference between a geriatrician and a gerontologist?
When your children were young, you most likely took them to a pediatrician. After all, infants and children have unique needs that are distinct from those of grown-ups.
Older adults frequently have medical concerns that they did not have in their 30s or 40s. However, many people are unaware that there are specialized experts who only work with seniors. Our bodies change as we get older. The types of conditions we have and the way they interact with one another differ from what most adults under the age of 60 experience. Geriatricians specialize in the health - care needs of the elderly. Seniors who see a geriatrician are much less likely to end up in a hospital, as these doctors are more likely to look for warning signs like frailty & appetite loss, and they are also less likely to prescribe potentially dangerous medications.
Here are four indicators that you may need the help of a geriatrician.
You're taking several medications.
The more medications you take, the more likely you are to have side effects, have cognitive problems or even end up in a hospital. The older you get, the more difficult it is to metabolize and eliminate medications from your body. A geriatrician can go over all of your medications with you and evaluate which ones you actually require and which you can skip.
You're having trouble remembering things.
A geriatrician can check you for mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is a precondition to dementia, as well as depression, which is more subtle in older adults.
You have less stability.
If you don't feel as steady on your legs as you used to or are having difficulty moving around, see a geriatrician who can evaluate your balance and gait. A geriatrician can also prescribe balance-strengthening exercises to do at home, as well as send a physiotherapist or occupational therapist to your home to perform a fall-risk assessment. All of these steps can help you stay independent — and in your home — for a longer period of time.
You've been admitted to the hospital.
According to research, older adults who receive geriatric care in the hospital perform better after they are discharged.
Searching for geriatrician near me?
We have got you covered. Visit healthywrinkles and consult a geriatrician near you for healthy aging.
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Every elderly person wishes for long life and graceful aging. The elderly population is in phase three of the demographic transition, with advances in better health care, higher standards, and newer modalities of medical qualifications, and the number of elderly in India is increasing. With the aging process comes the possibility of developing multiple comorbidities. For optimal clinical benefit, current medical practice guidelines frequently require multiple drugs to treat each chronic disease state, and polypharmacy is unavoidable. When multiple prescription drugs are taken in excess or in low doses, they can cause adverse drug reactions. The elderly body responds differently than the adult body mechanism, particularly in terms of drug-drug interactions, diminished organ functional capacities, and, most importantly, medication noncompliance due to age-related comorbidities such as dementia, blindness, and so on. There is also an accumulation of toxic byproducts of metabolism due to biological changes that occur with age. Some elderly patients may become confused about drugs due to dementia, but all prescribed drugs are necessary to treat life-threatening conditions.
Polypharmacy is defined as the "Prescription or intake of more medications than are clinically appropriate". Its disadvantage is that it is linked to more adverse drug reactions & interactions. Furthermore, the problem places a strain on both the patient and families. This increases the financial burden on family expenditures and thus poses an economic burden on patients. Polypharmacy is a common occurrence in the Indian context. The scenario is much more complicated in the case of elderly people, who are more vulnerable to side effects as well as poor adherence to medications. Many research findings indicate a marked public health problem in drug prescribing in the Indian population, which must be addressed in a greater perspective, such as continuing medical education for physicians and patient awareness of the dangers of polypharmacy.
While some see 'polypharmacy' as a threat, others believe there is no choice but to address health issues with appropriate medicines in order to save lives. Despite the raging debate over polypharmacy, psychiatrists believe that senior citizens require much more care and love, particularly from carers at home.
Senior Citizens: They need to be careful about risks of polypharmacy
Doctors prescribe millions of antibiotics each year. The drugs will have no effect unless the infection is caused by bacteria, which is usually not the case. The more antibiotics bacteria are exposed to, the less likely they are to respond to the drugs. The more antibiotics tablets you take, the more likely you are to develop an antibiotic-resistant infection. Doctors are aware of this, but they frequently prescribe antibiotics medicine anyway, partly because patients expect it.
Here are six situations in which antibiotics should be avoided.
1.Infections of the Respiratory Tract
Colds, flu, and the majority of other respiratory infections are caused by viruses, which are generally resistant to antibiotics. Bronchitis is typically caused by a virus or an airborne irritant, such as cigarette smoke. The majority of sore throats are also viral. One in every ten sore throats is caused by strep throat, a bacterial infection that can be treated with antibiotics.
Skip the antibiotics and instead relieve symptoms by drinking plenty of liquids, breathing moist air, gargling with salt water, and taking acetaminophen (Tylenol and generic) or ibuprofen (Advil and generic).
2.Infections of the Sinus
These are mostly caused by viruses. Even when bacteria are the source of the infection, these infections usually resolve on their own within a week.
Drink warm liquids, breathe warm, moist air, and keep your head propped up when lying down to loosen and drain mucus. Antibiotics should be considered only if you are still sick after 10 days, if you get better and then worse, or if you have a high fever and thick, colored mucus for three or more days in a row.
3. Conjunctivitis
Antibiotics will not help because pink eye (conjunctivitis) is usually caused by a virus or allergy. Even bacterial pink eye usually resolves itself within 10 days. Use a clean, cool, wet compress to relieve pink-eye symptoms. Antihistamine eye drops can help with pink eye caused by allergies.
Consider antibiotics for a bacterial pink eye if you have a weakened immune system if the condition does not improve after a week without treatment, if the eye is very swollen or painful, or if it develops a thick, crusty discharge.
4. Urinary Tract Infections in the Elderly
Antibiotics can help treat urinary tract infections (UTIs). However, even if no symptoms are present, older adults may be treated for a UTI if a routine urine test reveals bacteria. Bacteria living in the bladder of an elderly person is not uncommon but does not always cause an infection.
Consider antibiotics only if UTI symptoms, such as pain or burning during urination or a strong desire to urinate frequently, are present.
5. Eczema.
Antibiotics may be used to treat eczema, which causes dry, itchy, red skin. However, antibiotics will not relieve itching or redness. To relieve eczema, keep your skin moisturized and avoid triggers, which differ from person to person. In order to relieve itching and swelling, consult your doctor about a medicated cream or ointment. Antibiotics should be considered only if you have symptoms of a bacterial infection, such as pus-filled bumps, honey-colored crusting, very red or warm skin, or a fever.
Antibiotic stewardship is critical, but avoiding antibiotics at all costs is not the answer.
The Pros and Cons of Living in an Old Age Home
Dr. Sajesh Asokan explains the emerging role of geriatricians in India, who manage the medical management and diseases associated with the aging population. He explains that geriatrics deals with the medical management and diseases associated with the aging population. In Western nations, this field is considered a specialty within internal medicine, while in India, it is becoming an increasingly popular specialization. Unlike in pediatrics where there is a defined age group, geriatric patients can be classified as young old, mid old, and old old, and therefore require a more comprehensive approach to their specific problems associated with aging. As the aging population grows, geriatric medicine is becoming an essential part of medical practice in India, for internal medicine specialists, family medicine specialists, and general practitioners.
Dr. Sajesh Asokan describes the role of a geriatrician as being patient-centered, with the geriatrician managing all aspects of the patient's care and referring to other specialists only when needed. Geriatricians work in both hospital and community settings, with community geriatrics being particularly important since many elderly patients do not seek medical attention until they are brought to the hospital. The three points of contact between the geriatrician and the patient are described as being in the outpatient department, the emergency or casualty department, and the inpatient ward. Each point of contact is an opportunity to assess and study the patient further, which is particularly important given the complexity of elderly patients and the need for comprehensive and coordinated care.
Dr. Sajesh Asokan emphasizes the importance of geriatricians for the elderly population. He mentioned that as people age, they develop various issues, and that is when the role of these health professionals is crucial. They can guide regarding management of conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes, bedsore, or incontinence. Even if the patient is admitted to another department, help from an internal medicine physician or a geriatrician is always available to help sort out the matter.
What Is a Geriatric Doctor