{"id":4258,"date":"2021-09-13T15:02:43","date_gmt":"2021-09-13T19:02:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/125\/?p=4258"},"modified":"2023-10-25T12:40:18","modified_gmt":"2023-10-25T16:40:18","slug":"thriving-at-home-chronic-conditions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/68\/bostonnw\/massachusetts\/blog\/thriving-at-home-chronic-conditions\/","title":{"rendered":"Thriving at Home Series: Part 2 – Chronic Conditions Can Cause Trips to the Hospital"},"content":{"rendered":"

Based on statistics<\/a> compiled by the CDC, over 85% of all Americans aged 65+ have at least one chronic health condition, and 60% have two or more. It\u2019s a fact that living with a chronic disease increases a senior\u2019s risk for both falling and being admitted to the hospital<\/a>. For that aging loved one in your life, these four conditions are most likely to cause a trip to the hospital when you least expect it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Common Conditions in the Elderly<\/h2>\n

Unlike accidental falls<\/a>, chronic health conditions do not appear suddenly. Most take years to develop and usually present with warning signs along the way. Each year, these chronic conditions send millions of older adults to the hospital:<\/p>\n

COPD<\/h3>\n

Starting with emphysema and chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease<\/a> (COPD) refers to a group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related issues. As the fourth leading cause of death in the US, over 16 million people have COPD- although the actual number may be much higher. COPD is usually caused by long-term exposure to irritating gases or particulate matter, most commonly cigarette smoke.<\/p>\n

COPD symptoms include:<\/p>\n