What diseases does the geriatric department treat?

Geriatric diseases, also known as old age diseases, refer to diseases related to aging that people suffer when they are old. These diseases are closely related to their own characteristics. Geriatric diseases are often unique diseases, that is, only the elderly will get this disease. In addition, common diseases among the elderly are often related to the decline of physical function. They are often chronic diseases with their own characteristics. Let us learn about them below.

What diseases does the geriatric department treat?

Diseases that the elderly are prone to are called "senile diseases", which usually include the following three aspects:

1. Diseases unique to the elderly: This type of disease only occurs in the elderly and has the characteristics of the elderly. As the elderly age, they experience functional decline and disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, senile psychosis, presbycusis, cerebral arteriosclerosis and the resulting stroke, etc. These diseases, which are related to aging and degeneration, increase in incidence with age. 2. Common diseases among the elderly: These diseases can occur in middle-aged and elderly (early elderly) or in elderly. But it is more common or becomes more serious in old age. It is related to pathological aging of the elderly, decreased immune function, long-term strain or illness in young and middle-aged people that causes a decline in physical fitness. Such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes, malignant tumors, gout, parkinsonism, senile degenerative osteoarthritis, senile chronic bronchitis, emphysema, cor pulmonale, senile cataracts, senile osteoporosis, senile pruritus, senile pneumonia, hyperlipidemia, cervical spondylosis, prostatic hypertrophy, etc.

Disease characteristics

1. The causes of geriatric diseases are often not very clear; 2. The disease course is long, recovery is slow, and sometimes it suddenly worsens; 3. There are no obvious symptoms and signs, the clinical manifestations are difficult to detect in the early stage, and the symptoms become diverse after they appear; 4. The same disease can manifest itself very differently in different elderly people; 5. An elderly patient often suffers from several diseases at the same time; 6. At present, there is still a lack of effective methods to treat and control the disease. Therefore, the diagnosis of geriatric diseases depends not only on doctors, but also on nurses, and the examination of geriatric diseases requires the close cooperation of the patient himself and his family. The same is true for prevention and special treatment.