The National Council on Aging states that almost 95% of older adults have one chronic health condition and nearly 80% have at least two. The 10 most common are:
- High blood pressure (60%)
- High cholesterol (51%)
- Obesity (42%)
- Arthritis (35%)
- Ischemic or coronary heart disease (29%)
- Diabetes (27%)
- Chronic kidney disease (25%)
- Depression (16%)
- Heart failure (15%)
- Dementia, most often Alzheimer’s disease (12%)
How do you know when one of those is a possible problem? If you have been diagnosed, what happens now? At Premium Urgent Care we are here to answer all your questions.
Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia
Almost 7 million U.S. adults have Alzheimer’s, the most prevalent form of dementia. It’s a very tough disease where symptoms extend well beyond memory loss. When someone has dementia, sundowning is common. At certain hours of the day, agitation may increase causing a loved one to lash out and cause an injury when hitting an object or moving suddenly and falling. A sudden UTI can also cause agitation and anger, so it’s important to check it.
Loss of balance is another issue. Mobility changes over time, and falls are a problem for people with dementia. Urgent care can help address injuries from falls. If your loved one tends to pick at the skin on the fingers or hands, urgent care is here to help clean and dress wounds, too.
Arthritis
About 35% of older adults sought medical advice regarding their arthritis pain. It’s a disease caused by decades of wear and tear on the joints. As the cartilage wears out, bones in a joint can rub together and cause pain and inflammation. While that pain makes you want to stay off your feet or not use your hands, that worsens the problem.
Exercising for at least 30 minutes a session is critical. And, you want the exercises you do to be a mix of aerobic activity, strength training, and stretches.
Chronic Kidney Disease
One in 7 adults in the U.S. is believed to have chronic kidney disease (CKD), and 34% of them are 65 or older. It’s a disease where damage to the kidneys makes it hard for them to properly filter waste from the blood. Having high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes increases your risk of CKD.
In the early stages, there are rarely any symptoms. In the more advanced stages, common symptoms include foamy urine, swollen legs, ankles, and feet, muscle cramps, and increased or decreased urination. Prevention through diet and exercise is important.
Diabetes
Most older adults who are diagnosed with diabetes learn they have Type-2, a condition where the body struggles to use blood sugars appropriately for energy. If you have diabetes, it impacts your health beyond the constant thirst and frequent urination that you may be familiar with. It can also cause eye disease (diabetic retinopathy), heart disease, and impact the nerves in your feet and other areas of your body.
It’s important to have your A1C levels tested to see if you have prediabetes or diabetes. After a diagnosis, you can work on diet and exercise plans with an urgent care doctor.
Heart Disease
While an ER is the best choice for chest pain, urgent care can help with treatment recommendations. Have your blood pressure checked as often as is recommended by your doctor. If your doctor isn’t available when you need it, a Fresno urgent care practice can check it and add it to your medical file. Shingles, pneumococcal, flu, and COVID vaccinations are also available.
High Blood Pressure
Each heartbeat places pressure on the arteries while the blood is pumped around the body. Your blood pressure reading is a measurement of the blood on vessel walls during a heartbeat and between heartbeats. Ideally, you want it to be below 120/80. High blood pressure puts you at higher risk of health conditions like stroke or heart attack.
People with high blood pressure need to check it regularly to make sure medications, diet, or exercise programs are working effectively. Come to an urgent care center to have your blood pressure and pulse checked. If you have concerns like swollen ankles or hands, the doctor can discuss them with you.
High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is found in many meats, dairy products, and seed oils. There are heart-healthy fats and bad fats. When there are too many unhealthy fats in your blood, they can create arterial clogs that increase the risk of heart disease. Dietary changes, exercise, and avoiding smoking and alcohol are important.
It’s also imperative that you have your lipids checked regularly. It’s a quick blood test that you can have done at an urgent care center.
Obesity
About 4 out of 10 older adults are obese, which increases the risk of arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Fresno’s Premium Urgent Care offers weight loss programs that cover important aspects like diet and exercise that are targeted to your abilities and interests.
When Is the ER the Best Choice?
There are some things that the ER is better equipped to handle. If you or the older adult in your care is experiencing chest pains or a suspected heart attack, go to the ER or call 9-1-1. You should also go to an ER or call 9-1-1 for the following complaints.
- Badly broken bone
- Bleeding that doesn’t stop
- Constant dizziness
- Consumption of a poison or overdose of medicine
- Coughing up blood
- Depression with suicidal thoughts
- Difficulty breathing
- Fever that doesn’t decrease with medications
- Seizures
- Severe abdominal pain
- Severe burns
- Signs of a stroke
- Smoke or toxic chemical inhalation
- Sudden loss of consciousness
Tips for Avoiding a Wait at Premium Urgent Care in Fresno
When you or someone you know who is 65 or older needs to be seen by a doctor, it’s not always possible to see your general practitioner that same day or until the weekend is over. That’s not the case at an urgent care practice. You can see a doctor right away. You don’t have to wait until a weekend or holiday passes.
It’s hard to tell when an urgent care practice will be busy and have longer waits than usual. You can use Google’s business listing to see the hours when the practice tends to be the busiest. It varies from day to day.
Make sure Fresno’s Premium Urgent Care accepts your insurance. We accept most, but it’s better to check before you arrive. Many patients miss this important step and become frustrated to learn that they’ll have to pay for care out of pocket. The North Milburn office accepts more insurance providers than the East Champlain Drive location. Both accept Medi-Cal and Medicare and certain Blue Cross, Blue Shield, and Cigna plans.
Save time by checking in online before you leave your home. Click the red button for “Online Check-In” and fill out the form to get on the list. It expedites your visit. Also, print out the forms you need and complete them at home. You won’t have to spend time completing paperwork when you arrive at the Fresno urgent care office.