Tag: Age Group

A Look At People And Warts

Warts are a problem for anyone who has them. While there is a range of difficulty in terms of type, location, and other factors, there is also the factor that warts in general can affect people differently. Age, gender, lifestyle all of these factors figure in to exactly how distressful warts can be to a particular person. Understanding this can assist you in better understanding the people themselves who are dealing with this problem.

Teenagers and young adults who have acquired warts are likely to be much more bothered by them than the rest of the population. In addition to having to deal with the warts themselves, teens will also consider it to be a social issue. Most young people will fear being stigmatized by their peers because of unsightly, contagious warts. This fact can actually be a trauma to many young people. While assisting the teenager in getting his or her warts removed, the emotional implications of having visible warts should not be dismissed. Such concerns should not be treated lightly, for peer approval is one of the most important parts of life for people in this age group.

Younger children who have warts may also fear ridicule from their peers. Warts may cause children to be scorned by their own friends, and also play a part in being bullied by other children. For children, anything that is different, much less also unsightly, stands to make him a target for bullies. The warts themselves are usually less of a problem for a child than this factor. In addition to the factors of the child’s own health, and of not spreading the warts to other people, getting the warts removed as soon as possible is also important to avoid undue embarrassment for the child. Tending to a young child’s health means tending to his sensitivity when helping him deal with warts.

For adults whose lifestyle includes dating, warts can pose a special aggravation. When meeting new people, and when one is just beginning to get to know a potential mate, having unsightly warts is certainly not an asset. In this day and age where many seem to have the theory that whatever one’s natural state may include, one will be accepted for both the better and the worse, this attitude generally is not based on fact. People are expected to present themselves at their best, and neglecting to do what it takes to look one’s best is considered to be a sign of not caring about either oneself or the impression that one gives to others. A person’s physical appearance really does count. Sometimes it is not feasible to have warts removed immediately; but displaying an careless attitude toward warts on one’s skin is generally as much of a turn-off as refusing to use a toothbrush.

Other men and women may see the subject of warts differently. Even if they are in a position of not needing to consider anyone’s opinion but their own, there is still the matter of presenting a nice appearance in one’s everyday interactions on the job, and with friends and family. The other matters to consider are one’s health, and the discomfort caused by some types of warts. While youngsters are more inclined to worry about peer approval, adult men and women are more concerned about problems such as extreme discomfort from walking with plantar warts, or aggravating warts which are on the hands by doing work which involves the hands. Working out at the gym, or using public pools and showers, all present the opportunity for warts and their infections to spread to other people.

Everyone who has warts dislikes them but for different reasons.

The Busy Field of Geriatric Physiotherapy

Clinics that specialize in geriatric physiotherapy never run low on work. The elderly have diseases and disorders in greater numbers than any other age group. Their care is difficult, but rewarding.

Geriatric physiotherapy became a specialty of physical therapy study in 1989. Since then, physiotherapists have worked to understand the problems of the aging. There is a long list of problems dealt with in geriatric physiotherapy.

Alzheimer’s, arthritis, balance disorders, cancer, cardiovascular disease, incontinence, joint replacement, pulmonary disease, stroke, and osteoporosis are only a few of the problems covered by geriatric physiotherapy. Physiotherapists have a whole range of therapies for these ailments.

The types of problems faced in geriatric physiotherapy are grouped into three different categories. One category is the problems that happen because the patient simply does not use their limbs or does not exercise. These problems can be addressed by reconditioning through range-of-motion exercises and other exercises.

Another category geriatric physiotherapy deals with is cardiovascular disease, like heart disease and stroke. The physiotherapy professional has an array of tools at her disposal to work with these conditions. Exercise, aqua therapy, electrical stimulation, and more can be used.

The third category is skeletal problems. Geriatric physiotherapy helps people who have these disorders, such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. These problems require special attention as osteoporosis makes patients frailer, and osteoarthritis is very painful.

Because falls are such a problem, the osteoporosis therapy is crucial. Along with that, geriatric physiotherapy is responsible for preventing many falls because of work with balance and gait. Some clinics focus entirely on balance issues for the elderly.

Much of the work of geriatric physiotherapy is not aimed at returning patients to their earlier states of health. The most important goals are to be able to function at their best abilities. Doing everyday tasks and living an unconfined life are valuable assets.

At the same time, geriatric physiotherapy can have a profound affect on a person’s ability to enjoy physical activities. Golf is an activity that many seniors enjoy. It can be a very hazardous sport for the elderly if they are not in condition to play. It does have many health benefits, too.

Geriatric physiotherapy can focus on physical training to get an older adult in shape to play sports like golf. This strengthens them in many ways. The fact that it allows them to play golf will make them even healthier, both physically and psychologically. Since depression is a growing problem among the elderly, any help they can get in this area is needed.

Another role of geriatric physiotherapy is to help with rehabilitation after knee or hip replacement surgeries. People who have these operations are likely to walk differently. It affects their abilities to do daily chores, and their quality of life. Physiotherapists can help.

Some people turn to physiotherapy as a means of better functioning. Others are referred to physiotherapy clinics by their doctors for specific problems. Still others end up in geriatric physiotherapy care in hospitals or nursing homes after accidents or illnesses. All of these people can be helped.

Depression And The Elderly

The elderly face many more challenges than their younger counterparts. They are at an age where death is almost expected whether it is reading about a friend in the paper or losing a family member. They also face more health problems. These factors can often lead to depression if older people do not have the appropriate support systems in place. Depression does not have to happen and it is not part of aging. However it can happen and it will prevent an elderly person from living a full life as they are more likely to withdraw into themselves and their memories.

The biggest thing a family can do for their elderly parent or relative is to learn to distinguish between the symptoms of depression and of grief. Grief occurs much more frequently for the elderly as they are more likely to lose loved ones, their health, their mobility, their freedoms, and their careers. Doctors know grief is painful and can last a long time sometimes even weeks. It is when these weeks start to turn in to months and the grievers behaviors start to change that is cause for concern.

Depression in the elderly is more likely to go unchecked and untreated than in any other age group. Often relatives do not visit as often so do not notice how long the person has been feeling sad. Some assume feeling sad is part of aging, although that could not be further from the truth. Even doctors are often more concerned about the physical well-being of their patients rather than their emotion state. The consequences of these inactions are cause for serious concern. Depressed elderly individuals are at a higher risk for alcohol and drug abuse, illness, and suicide. Their relatives need to be able to discern when a person is depressed and to watch out for the warning signs.

Warning signs for depression in the elderly can be isolation, extreme sadness, loss of interest in hobbies, weight loss, difficulties sleeping, feelings of being a burden to their family, lack of personal hygiene, even possible suicide attempts. Sometimes the signs are harder to see as the depressed elderly individual may not even feel sad. It may be that they are constantly worrying, wringing their hands, complaining more than usual, experiencing more aches and pains than before, pacing in the home, or even generally lacking energy. These are all signs of depression that relatives should be on the lookout for so they can help the elderly seek the treatment they need and deserve.

Treatment is available and necessary. As the general population of Americans age, the once-called baby boomers are now turning into our elderly. The population of elderly is steadily increasing at rates never before seen. It is essential for families and relatives to pull together to help keep an eye on our older loved ones. Perhaps it is as simple as inviting a parent, grand-parent, or elderly aunt over for supper. Perhaps it is getting involved at the local recreation center and organizing activities for the elderly. Perhaps it is watching over older family members more closely to make sure they are eating properly and taking their medications on time. Whatever we choose to do, it is our responsibility as the younger generation to look after our elders.