Physical Conditions Flashcards
Hearing
be certain to face the person when speaking and show them visuals as well
- hearing loss may lead to speech problems
- a person may be unaware of gradual hearing loss
- the ear also affect balance
Vision
ensure you have the persons attention prior to speaking, speak slowly, clearly and descriptively
Glaucoma
is a gradual loss of vision starting with peripheral vision. The person is left with gradually narrowing tunnel vision
Cataracts
clouding of the lends of the eye that progresses over time. This can be treated with surgery (the only treatment)
Macular degeneration
vision loss begins in the center of the eye, gradually spreading outwards
Taste
as taste diminishes, food becomes less enjoyable. The sense of thirst also declines. Offer food and fluids frequently
Smell
the person may not be aware of burning odors, which can become a safety concern
Touch
small injuries may go unnoticed and become infected, leading to more severe problems
apnea
absence of breathing
dyspnea
difficulty breathing or painful breathing
hypoxia
lack of oxygen in the cells (as opposed to in the blood)
hemoglobin
the part of a red blood cell that carries oxygen to the tissues and gives blood it’s color
Assisting someone who is having trouble breathing
Sitting up and leaning forward can improve the effectiveness of breathing for many. Deep breathing and coughing exercises can also assist in keeping airways open and also in preventing pneumonia.
COPD
most common chronic respiratory condition seen in elderly people. It can be a combination of illnesses, most commonly chronic bronchitis (inflammation and narrowing of the airways) and emphysema (damage to the alveoli or air sacs so that oxygen can not move from the lungs to the blood to be transported to the cells). The most common cause of these conditions is smoking.
what happens if we don’t get enough oxygen?
When we do not have enough oxygen in our cells, we become tired and SOB (short of breath) as we try to get more oxygen into our body. The heart rate will also increase to try to move oxygen to the cells more quickly. This can make it difficult to complete tasks, including ADLs. Breaking tasks up into smaller parts with rest periods between can help to maximize independence.
hypertension
high blood pressure
hypotension
low blood pressure
angina
pain felt when the heart muscle is temporarily not receiving enough oxygen. This can be relieved with nitroglycerine and rest. No damage to the heart muscle results.
myocardial infarction (MI)
an MI or heart attack result from a loss of blood flow to part of the heart muscle. This presents as severe pain in the chest, back, jaw, and or arm. Pain may be described as crushing (an elephant sitting on the chest) or stabbing. This pain is not relieved by nitroglycerin or rest, and damage to the heart muscle does occur. If a large enough area of the heart muscle is damaged, cardiac arrest (heart stops beating) may occur.
cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
this is a stroke that occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted. This can occur due to a blood clot blocking blood flow or a blood vessel bursting. With rapid response, brain damage may be minimized. Common signs include weakness on one side of the body and difficulty with speech and/or swallowing. Following a stroke there is generally a period of rehabilitation.
osteoporosis
brittle bones that break easily. Bones gradually lose density throughout life, to the point of diagnosis later in life. This is the result of insufficient calcium, phosphorous and/or Vitamin D over many years
arthritis
Inflammation of the joints. This can result in pain, deformity and mobility issues. There are different types, with the most common being osteoarthritis (loss of the cushioning layer between bones due to wear and tear) and rheumatoid arthritis (autoimmune disease that may impact other parts of the body as well).
multiple sclerosis
most often begins in early or middle adulthood with blurred or double vision. Difficulty with mobility soon follows. Women get this condition more often then men. Sometimes younger adults require support in a LTCF at an early age.
diabetes
sugar cannot move from the blood to the tissues where it is needed to do its job due to a lack of insulin or the inability of insulin to work. As a result, sugar builds up in the blood, causing damage to the blood vessels and nerves. This can result in poor wound healing, difficulty fighting wound infection (can result in amputation), blindness and more. Hypoglycemia can occur as well, causing confusion, weakness, cool clammy skins and other symptoms. Hypoglycemia is an emergency which will require the person to have sugar right away (please let the nurse assess first if in a facility).
