Welcome to The Geriatric Patient. This website is dedicated to providing all of the latest news and articles regarding geriatrics and gerontology with a focus on geriatric medicine and healthcare.

What is Geriatrics

Geriatrics is best described as the the branch of medicine that focuses on health of elderly patients. It's focus is to prevent and treat disease and disability, as well as promote general health of seniors. There is no specific age at which a patient is prescribed geriatric treatments, as this is generally determined by the patients profile, and the symptoms that the patient suffers from. Some of the most common treatments are for immobility, incontinence and degradation of memory.

Current Trends in Geriatrics

One of the most important trends in geriatrics today is the continuing efforts to treat and prevent delirium in hospitalized elderly patients. Symptoms of this condition surface when the hospitalized elderly patient becomes disoriented and confused while hospitalized. The result is a degradation of health, and it can also lead to prolonged hospitalization and other health complications. Treatment of this disorder includes mental stimulation and keeping the patient oriented in reality.

Erectile Dysfunction in Elderly Men

Men can suffer from erectile dysfunction or impotence at any point of time in their lives but according to a survey conducted, 50% men over the age of 50 more commonly experience erectile dysfunction. Erection problems become more frequent with age. Earlier men thought that it has to do more with the age but it has been proved that erectile dysfunction in elderly patients has more to do with diseases than age. Older men tend to suffer more from physical problems like cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases which form a major cause of erectile dysfunction. Also, age causes decreased concentration of elastic fibers and smooth muscle fibers, both of which play an important part in erection.

Erectile dysfunction is very much curable so men should find professional help. The treatment choice for older men does not differ from impotent men in general. These include PDE-5 inhibitors (like Viagra, Cialis and Levitra), penile injections, hormone therapy, behavioral therapy and psychotherapy. Effective oral medications have changed the course of treatment for ED and are effective in nearly 70 - 75 % of cases. Several online resources are available for more detailed information about these drugs.

An Easy Way To Prevent Prostrate Cancer and Promote Sexual Health

Prostrate Cancer affects older men in large numbers every year. There were over 190,000 new cases reported in 2009 which have resulted in over 27,000 deaths. This is particularly alarming when one considers that there is an easy way to reduce the risk of an enlarged prostrate but also reduce the need for medications such as Viagra and Cialis.

Your diet can have a huge impact on your likelihood to develop Prostate Cancer. Foods high in saturated fat, such as red meat are thought to increase the risk of prostrate cancer. Further, it seems that an increased intake of fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of Prostrate Cancer. Dairy products also contain of saturated fat therefore it is recommended that substitutes such as soy, soy milk and tofu be used to replace or reduce one's intake of dairy products.

One of the side effects of an enlarged Prostrate (which is the first sign that you are at risk for developing Prostrate Cancer) is sexual impotence. Drugs such as Cialis and Viagra have become increasingly popular over the last few years to try to combat this problem. But that is like looking for the horse after it has already left the barn. Proper diet, that is one that includes less saturated fat can dramatically reduce the need for these drugs.

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Aging Parents And Geriatric Health

As parents get older it can become increasingly more difficult to take care of them in their later years. As a child who had a Father who suffered with dementia in his later years, I can tell you that problems abound when taking care of an aging parent. There are many websites available on the Internet that can supply lots of good advice. One such website that I am particularly fond of is www.parentgiving.com. This site offers answers to many of the very questions the caregiver of an aging parent will have.

One of the problems that frequently arises is that of incontinence. It is estimated that over 50% of homebound aging folks have this problem. The website offers useful articles on incontinence products and supplies as well as advice on where one can get training on Alzheimer's and Dementia and how to deal with the resultant incontience. Once it is known how to handle this problem, another related problem is that of adult diapers. The subject website offers links to various types of products and provides detailed descriptions of each.

Lastly, one of my great concerns was that of bathroom safety in general and bathroom handrails in particular. Again this website offers a complete section on Bathroom Safety, including the use of grab bars, transfer benches, raised toilet seats, and general bathroom safety, as well as elderly safety in general. I only wish I had had the knowledge of this valuable website before my Father passed on. If you have an aging parent or one showing signs of Alzheimers or Dementia, I highly recommend you give this website a visit. It is well worth the read and will be invaluable in providing the insight you will need in caring for an aging parent.

Brain Training For Geriatric Patients

Numerous studies have recently been conducted on the effects of training elderly patients who have varying degrees of dementia with computerized memory training with some remarkable results. Commonly referred to as brain training, these exercises can prove extremely beneficial to the elderly patient showing signs of memory loss. Some studies suggest that as little as an hour a day of brain exercises can improve thinking and memory. When coupled with physical exercise, brain training offers significant improvement in the quality of life for the elderly.

Although the training doesn't have to be computerized, it usually is and is usually coupled with various types of mental exercises, such as puzzles and quizzes. Patients often report significant improvements in memory and attention span. Some studies even claim processing speed of more than twice that than before the exercises. These fitness programs are based on the premise that the brain has the ability to form new pathways in response to the right kind of stimulation.

So if you or someone you know is showing signs of dementia, try checking out a brain fitness program. It is important to note that the earlier the disease is diagnosed the more treatable it is and the better the results. There is a plethora of information about these studies on the Internet and although it is a relatively new area of science the exercises and the results are well documented.

Online Doctor's Consultations Now Available For The Elderly

With today's high tech world improving every aspect of our everyday lives it is no wonder that health care services would take advantage of modern technology. The advantages of an online doctors consultation are numerous including faster service, economics, and privacy to name a few.

Today's online doctor is a highly skilled professional who can diagnose most ailments, suggest treatments, and call in prescriptions all over the phone or via email. This is especially convenient for the elderly who may have difficulty with mobility or making transportation arrangements. In addition, the cost for an online consultation is generally less than a face to face visit. A word of caution however: Be sure you are using a secure email system when consulting with your Doctor the same as you would when making a purchase online.

So don't let a Doctors Excuse convince you that the only efficient way of treating you is through face to face visits. There are many advantages to Online doctors consultations. The advantages and disadvantages of both types of visits are discussed throrughly on numerous websites on the Internet. The elderly need especially to take advantage of this new technology wherever and whenever possible. It will save you time, money and most of all protect your privacy all from the comfort of your home.

How Geriatric Patients Can Learn About Hydrocephalus

There are many ways for geriatric patients to learn what hydrocephalus is and how it can affect them. One of course is to talk to their primary care physician. Another is to talk to other patients. But perhaps the most effective way to get up-to-date information is to go online and visit one of the many websites dedicated to the problem.

Hydrocephalus is caused by an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the cavities of the brain. This may cause increased pressure inside the skull which can lead to progressive enlargement of the head, convulsion, and mental disability. This condition is usually due to blockage of outflow fluid from the brain. The most established treatment of Hydrocephalus is the use of a Hydrocephalus Shunt which establishes an accessory pathway for the drainage of fluid which allows the excess fluid within the drain to be evacuated.

Hydrocephalus Symptoms in geriatric patients usually begins with difficulty walking after which urinary incontinence may develop, along with slowness of thinking and information processing usually associated with a type of dementia. Other symptoms may include any or all of the following: Sluggishness or lack of energy; Problems with balance, coordination or gait; Blurred or double vision; Sluggishness and lack of energy, and; Headache followed by nausea. All of these definitions, treatments and symptoms are detailed in one of the many websites dedicated to this condition.

The Use of Brochures to Benefit Doctors

Believe it or not, doctors can actually do some promotion with brochures if they do it the right way. What’s interesting is that booklet printing is often thought of as a dead end type of marketing because everyone sees the printing, but they never really pay attention to it. That’s because the marketing is not being done in the right way.

What a doctor has the capability of doing is creating a pamphlet that does two things: first, answer the question of a problem. By stating the cure to a common ailment or something along those lines, a doctor is able to make the patient feel better. Once the patient feels a bit better, the next section can be about said doctor. What this does is give that doctor a sense of respect with the patient so the patient will check them out.

The same thing is with small businesses and new start-ups. If you provide a service to a particular problem, what happens is the customer gains a certain level of respect. That respect turns over to become a potential customer. It is imperative, though, that you fix a problem and provide your marketing information briefly. Pamphlets shouldn’t be books.