Health Maintenance Flashcards
Goals of Health Promotion/Prevention in the Elderly
Maximize quality & quantity of life
Contribute to preserving indepence & decreasing discomfort
Focus on elements of lifestyle, environment & health care management that delays onset of chronic disease
Define Aging
Characterized by the gradual decline of physical & physiologic capacity
Define Promotion
Prevention of avoidable decline, frailty & dependence
Goals of Screening
Reduce premature mortality caused by acute & chronic illness
Maintain function
Enhancing QOL
Extending active life expectancy
Role of PCP
Promote health at every opportunity
Individualize in terms of age, functional status, patient preference, culture, SES
Modifiable Risk Factors for CV Disease & Cerebrovascular Disease
HTN Smoking Inactivity Cholesterol Obesity DM
Single Most Important Activity in Reducing Morbidity & Mortality in the Elderly
BP
Especially orthostatic BP
Screening for Cholesterol
Controversial
Less likely to increase after 65 years of age
Those on meds should be screened yearly
Screening for DM
High risk for DM2
Established DM patients need A1C & glucose monitoring
Screening for Smoking
Counseling
Education on smoking cessation
2nd Leading Cause of Death in the Elderly
Cancer
Things to Think About with Cancer Screening in the Elderly
Expected time-to-benefit
Risk of developing the cancer in the patient’s lifetime
Individual’s estimated life expectancy
Focus on colorectal, breast, cervical & lung cancer screening
Potential Harms with Screening for Cancer
False positive leading to interventions & anxiety
Over diagnosis
Cost, discomfort, & embarrassment associated available tests
Breast Cancer Screening
Yearly PE
SBE
Mammograms suggested every 1-2 years through age 75 & with a life expectancy of at least 10 years
75+ if woman is at high risk
Cervical Cancer Screening
May be discontinued for women 65+ with 3 normal Pap smears over preceding 10 years
Discontinue for hysterectomy for benign indication