Anchor Health Centers board certified Geriatric physicians provide general wellness and treatments to minimize aging along with specialization in arthritis, memory problems, falls, pain management, incontinence and hypertension, in addition to many other conditions.
Routine care and areas of Geriatric specialties include:
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)
A progressive, degenerative brain disease that causes destruction of nerve cells and a decrease in neurotransmitters (chemical messengers), resulting in problems in memory, thinking, and behavior. There are two types of AD, early onset and late onset. Early onset, which appears before age 60, is much less common, accounting for only 5 to 10 percent of cases. At present, AD is not curable, but treatments are available to delay the progression of the disease.
Arthritis
Inflammation of a joint, usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and stiffness, and resulting from infection, trauma, degenerative changes, metabolic disturbances, or other causes. It occurs in various forms, such as bacterial arthritis, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis. Treatments include medications as well as physical and occupational therapy.
Cardiac Disease
Cardiovascular disease refers to the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels (arteries and veins). Cardiovascular diseases include arteriosclerosis, coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, arrhythmia, heart failure, hypertension, orthostatic hypotension, shock, endocarditis, diseases of the aorta and its branches, disorders of the peripheral vascular system, and congenital heart disease.
COPD
COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe. COPD can cause coughing that produces large amounts of mucus, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and other symptoms. Most people who have COPD smoke or used to smoke. Long-term exposure to other lung irritants, such as air pollution, chemical fumes, or dust, also may contribute to COPD.
Constipation
Constipation is a decrease in the frequency of stool (the body's waste product) or difficulty in the formation or passage of stool. Lack of regular bowel movements may be treated with laxatives, dietary changes and lifestyle changes such as increased exercise.
Dementias
Dementia is impaired thinking, memory, reasoning and other mental functions. Dementia is not a disease itself but a group of symptoms that may accompany certain diseases or conditions. Some causes of dementia (e.g., drugs, alcohol, hormone or vitamin imbalances, depression) are treatable. However, dementia that is caused by a disease (such as Alzheimer’s disease) or injury (such as multiple strokes in the brain) is usually considered irreversible.
Depression
Extraordinary sadness that interferes with the ability to function. Symptoms of clinical depression include sleep disturbances, change in appetite, fatigue and lack of energy, feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt, difficulty concentrating, lack of pleasure in usual activities, hopelessness, and thoughts of death or suicide. Treatment may include social interventions, cognitive behavioral therapy and/or antidepressant medication.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition characterized by abnormal metabolism and inappropriately high blood sugar. Type 1 Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not make enough insulin. Type 2 Diabetes occurs when the body cannot respond normally to the insulin that is produced. This causes glucose levels in the blood to rise, leading to symptoms such as increased urination, extreme thirst, and unexplained weight loss.
Falls
Falls occur in more than 30% of adults over age 65, and serious injury occurs in over 20% of these falls. Risk factors include altered gait or balance, lower extremity muscle weakness, dizziness, fainting spells, postural hypotension, decreased visual acuity, arthritis, and certain medications. The risk of falls can be reduced by wearing the correct shoes, controlling hypertension, and avoiding medications that increase the likelihood of falls. Modifying the home environment, using proper lifting techniques, and participating in regular exercise can also help reduce the risk of falls.
Gout
Gout is a disease hallmarked by elevated levels of uric acid in the bloodstream. The most common symptom is a nighttime attack of swelling, tenderness, redness, and sharp pain in your big toe. You may also get gout attacks in your foot, ankle, or knees. These episodes may last a few days or many weeks before the pain goes away.
Hypertension
Hypertension, also referred to as high blood pressure, HTN or HPN, is a condition in which the blood pressure is chronically elevated. Persistent hypertension is one of the leading risk factors for strokes, heart attacks, heart failure and arterial aneurysm, and is a leading cause of chronic renal failure. Even moderate elevation of arterial blood pressure leads to shortened life expectancy
Hypercholesterolemia
Hypercholesterolemia is the presence of high levels of cholesterol in the blood. It is not a disease but a metabolic disorder that can be secondary to many diseases and can contribute to many forms of disease, most notably cardiovascular disease. While often there are no symptoms, sufferers may develop rings around their corneas or fatty deposits under the skin. Diet, obesity and stress are all risk factors for the disease.
Incontinence
Loss of bladder control, causing occasional leakage of urine or complete inability to hold urine. The two main types are stress incontinence (loss of urine during certain activities such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise) and urge incontinence (strong, sudden need to urinate followed by involuntary loss of urine). Incontinence may be a short-term problem due to infection, drug side effects, or other causes, or may be a long-term problem due to injury or disease. Treatment may include bladder retraining, Kegel exercises, lifestyle changes, medication and/or surgery.
Memory loss
Memory loss is unusual forgetfulness. The cause, which may vary from aging, alcoholism or Alzheimer’s disease to brain damage and emotional trauma, determines whether memory loss comes on slowly or suddenly, and whether it is temporary or permanent. Normal aging may lead to trouble learning new material or requiring a longer time to remember learned material. However, it does not lead to dramatic memory loss unless diseases are involved.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. These broken bones, also known as fractures, occur typically in the hip, spine, and wrist. Osteoporosis is most common in postmenopausal women.
Parkinson’s Disease
A disorder of the brain characterized by shaking (tremors) and difficulty with walking, movement, and coordination. The disease is associated with damage to a part of the brain that is involved in movement. Severe Parkinson’s disease can cause dementia.
Sleep problems
Sleep disorders are commonly underdiagnosed and a significant source of concern in the geriatric population. Contributing factors include changes associated with aging, such as retirement, health problems, death of spouse/family members, as well as changes in rhythm. Treatments for sleep disorders include over-the-counter and prescription medications, behavioral treatments, relaxation techniques, sleep hygiene, sleep restriction, light therapy and cognitive behavioral therapies.
Stroke
The sudden death of some brain cells due to a lack of oxygen when the blood flow to the brain is impaired by blockage or rupture of an artery to the brain. Symptoms of a stroke depend on the area of the brain affected. The most common symptom is weakness or paralysis of one side of the body with partial or complete loss of voluntary movement or sensation in a leg or arm. There can be speech problems and weak face muscles, causing drooling. Numbness or tingling is very common. A stroke involving the base of the brain can affect balance, vision, swallowing, breathing and even unconsciousness.