Med Surg Age Related Diseases Flashcards
Early Adulthood (20-40 years)
maximal body functioning, high risk grounds (breast and testicular cancer, skin, drug use, endocrine), leading cause of death: MVA, homicide suicide, injuries)
What age group affects intimacy and isolation?
Early adult hood, 30s
Middle Adulthood 40-64 years
slight decrease in resp. capacity and cardiac fx, hair and skin changes, menopause in women, decreased testosterone and sperm, HTN, CV, diabetes, arthritis
What age group affects generativity vs stagnation?
middle adult hood 40-64 yr.
Late adulthood 65 years old
CV, COPD, Lung and colorectal cancer, pneumonia, multiple chronic illnesses, and polypharmacy
Which age group is affected by integrity vs despair
late adulthood 65 years
1 killer in the US of elderly
coronary artery disease
silent killer illness of the elderly
HTN
What disease is very common in the elderly? Hint* these get inflamed, bleed, cause acute abdominal pain.
Diverticular disease
What should you always check for in an elderly patient’s skin, especially in the sacrum area?
Pressure sores
In this disease, a simple headache may lead to blindness
Temporal arthritis/ polymyalgia rheumatica
You are caring for Betsy a 75 year old patient admitted in the ED. What are common labs you expect ordered?
CBC, chem panel, TSH, UA, Vit B12/Folate, RPR/VDRL, ESR, LFTs, head CT or MRI
What is included in a basic chem panel and what does it evaluate?
BUN, CO2, Creatinine, Glucose, Cl, K, Na. Evaluates kidney function, blood acid/base balance, and blood sugar levels
High / Low levels of TSH may indicate what?
High: hypothyroidism. Low: hyperthyroidism
Why is vitamin B12 and folate important?
Both help the body produce RBC. Vit B12 is vital for an important nervous system. Folate important for brain function.
What are RPR and VDRL lab tests used to test ?
Syphilis
What is an erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) lab test?
Measures how much inflammation is in the body. Usually ordered for someone with unexplained fevers, some types of arthritis, and unexplained symptoms/. Helps monitor inflammatory diseases or cancer.
Why are liver function tests (LFT)ordered? Give 2 common tests ordered
Helps detect inflammation and damage to the liver. How well the liver is working. ALT, AST, PT, INR, albumin, and bilirubin
You are discussing with the UAP common ADLs that elderly patients need assistance with. What are basic ADLs you should discuss using the Katz’s modified scale
eating, bathing, dressing, transfer, continence, toileting, grooming, ambulation
True or False, urinary incontinence is a physiological aging change
FALSE
True or False, urinary incontinence is a symptom that can be improved not cured
TRUE
Would you expect a patient with urinary incontinence to be managed by his or her primary care doctor or a urologist?
Primary care doc
Why is urinary incontinence a neglected problem in the elderly?
patient embarrassment about problem, patient feels under appreciated, underevaluation by health care provider. These all lead to pressure sores and premature institutionalization
Acute Etiologies of urinary incontinence include : *hint: think DRIP mnemonic
D- Delirium ( acute disease, postoperative) and Drugs ( anticholinergics, psychotropics, diuretics, ETOH, anti-HTN). R- Restricted mobility (DJD, o-HTN, gait disorders, restraints) and Retention of urine w/overflow (drugs, BPH). Infection (urinary tract or systemic), Illness, Impaction and Injury to brain (stroke) and Polyuria (CHF and DM)