Kristinelou Marie N.

Reyna
BSN 3

List common diseases of the elderly.

1. CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASE (STROKE)

a. Definition:
Cerebrovascular disease is an umbrella term that refers to any functional abnormality of the central
nervous system (CNS) that occurs when the normal blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Stroke is
the primary cerebrovascular disorder.

b. Signs and Symptoms:

 Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
 Confusion or change in mental status
 Trouble speaking or understanding speech
 Visual disturbances
 Difficulty walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination
 Sudden severe headache

c. Management:
 Take medications as prescribed to reduce blood pressure and encourage blood glucose
control
 Lower stress levels.
 Reduce the amount of alcohol intake.
 Follow up regularly for annual checkups.
 Eating a healthy diet to maintain a normal weight for your height and build.
 Increase physical activity.
  Reduce binge drinking and limiting drinks to no more than one per day for women and one to
two per day for men
 Refrain from using illegal drugs known to contribute to stroke, such as cocaine and
methamphetamines.

d. Prevention:
 Smoking cessation
 Getting at least 150 minutes of moderate to intense physical exercise every week
 Eating a balanced diet that supports vascular health, such as the DASH diet
 Maintaining a healthy body weight
 Managing blood cholesterol and blood pressure with diet and medications if necessary.
 Stroke risk screenings