Geriatrics Flashcards
What causes changes associated w/ aging?
Gradual loss of homeostatic mechanisms
What does functional performance of an organ in older people depend on?
- rate of deterioration
- level of performance
What is the hallmark of aging associated w/?
not w/ how an organ performs at rest but rather during external stress
What are ill defined symptoms?
Confusion, change in endurance, loss of appetite, nausea
*Take the place of typical sx
What is failure of the stress response?
Atypical presentation in older persons
- Ex. failure to mount a white count or fever in response to infection
Changes in aging can work together to produce…
a normal-appearing resting state
What can be the 1st sign of a lower respiratory tract infection?
RR >25/min
Why can BP be overestimated in elderly?
Due to stiff arteries
What happens to the skin as you age?
- Wrinkles, becomes lax & loses turgor
- vascularity decreases
What happens to the hair as you age?
- loss of pigment
- hair loss (genetic)
What happens to the face as you age?
- eyebrows drop below superior orbital rim
- chin descends
- loss of angle btwn submandibular line & neck
What happens to the eyes as you age?
- eyelid skin wrinkles
- lower lid fat pushes forward/bulges
- pupils become smaller/irregular
What are 4 systolic murmurs in elderly?
- aortic valve stenosis
- aortic valve sclerosis
- mitral regurg
- hypertrophic CM
What happens to the peripheral vascular system as you age?
- arteries lengthen, become tortuous, & feel harder
- increased stiffness & decreased endothelial fxn
What happens to the respiratory system as you age?
…
What happens to the abdomen as you age?
- muscles weaken
- decreased lipase activity w/ fat accumulation
- soft, protruding
- increased cardio risk
- can blunt manifestations of acute disease
What do you do during GI physical exam for elderly?
- palpate abd for hernias due to weak muscles
- palpate for abd aortic aneurysm
- palpate for hepatosplenomegaly
- palpate/percuss surprapubic area for evidence of urinary retention
What happens in the genitoruinary system in elderly men?
- sexual interest declines after age 75
When does ovarian fxn begin to decline?
5th decade
When do menstrual periods cease?
Btwn ages…
What happens in the musculoskeletal system as you age?
Loss of cortical & trabecular bone
What can happen to the feet as you age?
- hallux valgus
- hammer toe
- claw toe
How do geriatric pts perform on the MSE?
Most perform well on MSE, but some impairments in memory may be apparent
What happens to the CNs as you age?
- small pupils, sluggish pupillary light reflex
- limited upward gaze
- bell phenomenon
