Last month, May 3 to be exact, the husband of my sister-in-law died due to massive kidney failure.
It was a complete surprise to me and his family. He did not show anything to indicate kidney problems and he never hinted about it when we talked over the phone a month earlier.
Did he or did he not know that something wrong was going on inside him?
My son-in-law, who is a doctor, is certain he must have but chose to ignore it or hide it from his family to keep them from worrying.
Either way, it killed him to the great sorrow of his family.
Are you also like that? Do you also ignore signs that something inside you is not doing well as it should? Take note that major issues stalk the life of seniors. They just ignore, or are not aware about the.
It’s ironic that we obey road signs and believe in omens. We read horoscopes and consult palm-readers to know our future, yet we seldom heed the signs that portend potential health problems until it’s way too late.
My daughter, also a doctor, never tires of reminding me to tell her if I feel something woozy inside. She says no matter what, earlier is always better than later.
Agree?
So here are some signs you must heed before it’s too late:
1. Changes in urine color:
Urine has 70 markers or signs that determine the overall health of a person. Foremost of them is its color.
A healthy urine is pale-yellow to light gold in color. It could change due to the food you eat, or medications you take.
It turns whitish if you drink too much water or a diuretic like coffee. If you are dehydrated, your urine would turn into the color of dark honey.
If the color persists after even after having hydrated yourself, it could mean a liver problem. Consult a doctor.
Reddish urine could be due to urinary tract infection, or kidney stones if urination is painful. If signs of blood are obvious and urinating is pain-free, it could be signs of colon problems.
A dark-orange color, if accompanied by a pale-colored stool and jaundiced skin and eyes, are signs of liver problems.
2. Changes in weight:
Never take changes in your weight for granted – unless you are on a crash weight loss diet.
A weight loss of 5 to 10 lbs over a 3-mo period, could be a sign of cancer, autoimmune and chronic diseases, or depression.
Conversely, an unexpected gain could be a sign of hypothyroidism, adrenal disorders, or abnormal fluid retention which is common to people with heart failure or renal disease.
3. Swollen gums:
When brushing or flossing your teeth, check for signs of gingivitis (infection of the gums), or periodontitis (a gum disease resulting in the destruction of tissue and tissue).
Signs of gingivitis are bright red or purple gums, soft and painful to the touch. It causes halitosis (bad breath) and bleeding when brushing.
Periodontitis has similar signs as gingivitis plus it makes chewing painful and loose teeth.
Here’s the downer…
Dental problems are not confined to your mouth. They can lead to lung and heart problem, digestive system and can lead to oral cancer.
4. Changes on skin:
As we grow old, our skin grows old, too. It becomes soft, wrinkled, and liver spots start appearing on our hands and face.
These are unavoidable. But if a liver spot grows and size and starts to itch, visit a dermatologist immediately. It can be a prelude to skin cancer.
To safeguard your skin, limit your sun exposure to the minimum. Use sun-blockers if staying outdoors for prolonged periods is unavoidable. Keep away from chemicals and be careful around the kitchen to avoid scalding.
5. Shortness of breath:
Another unwholesome effect of aging is the loss of stamina.
But if you ran out of breath in doing things you never had problems before, consult a doctor. You may have respiratory or heart problems.
6. Home hazards:
Home hazards such as faulty electric wirings, frayed floor carpets, slippery bathrooms obstructions along passageways, etc., cause horrendous domestic accidents each year.
In fact, it is estimated that 18,000 elderly Americans each year, die from home accidents. These are due to falls, poisonings, accidental drowning, gunshot wounds, burns and many others.
And elderly people are very vulnerable to these accidents because of diminished vision, poor balance, and deteriorating cognitive skills.
Growing old is probably the most experience of one’s life (a lot never got this far). But it carries a lot of risks a lot of seniors either fail to recognize or choose to ignore.
And the price could be horrendous – either a long hospital stay or death.
~oOo~
