Anemic seniors are at a far more serious risk than many people believe, recent studies indicate. For one, studies show that anemic individuals have a higher mortality rate after stroke than the average person does. This makes a lot of sense, but it’s a danger that most people don’t know about. Anemia indicates a lack of iron in red blood cells. This is a vital part of transporting oxygen throughout the body, and if oxygen supplies to the brain are impacted, then the severity of a stroke will be much more severe.
New studies say that as many as a quarter of individuals that are treated for a stroke have anemia upon admission to the emergency room. If this is the case, then that person’s predicted mortality rate is much higher than if they did not have anemia. This was true of both ischemic stroke (the most frequent type) and hemorrhagic stroke. That high rate of mortality stays at elevated levels, studies show, for up to one year after the stroke. Those with ischemic strokes were twice as likely to die during this period. Hemorrhagic stroke victims were about 1.5 times as likely to have this happen. This is obviously very disconcerting news as these are common types of stroke, but it’s also something that can be addressed through high quality medical care and preventative measures.
There is not a concrete way to measure when someone is going to have a stroke. Yes, there are risk factors that increase someone’s likelihood of suffering from a stroke, but this is not an exact science by any means. In other words, even if your loved one seems perfectly healthy, they could be at risk of a stroke and have anemia and never even know it. This is just one more reason why it’s so important that you have your elderly loved one report for their regular checkups at their doctor. Also, it’s important that you keep tabs on your loved one yourself. You might not know all of the warning signs and symptoms of anemia, but you can write down any questions or concerns that you might have about your loved one’s health and discuss them with a doctor. They can either provide a solution to the health concern themselves, or find someone who can. For example, many seniors sincerely struggle with the activities of daily living, such as preparing their own meals, getting around the house, or bathing themselves. In these instances, in-home care could be a good solution. It’s not medical care, but it helps your loved one to stay safe, supervised, and healthy thanks to the fact that there is someone professionally trained within the house to make sure that your loved one has everything that they need while you or another family member is away.
The bottom line is that we can’t account for every possibility when it comes to our loved ones senior care, but there are many things that we can and should do to help them stay healthy. If you have any questions about this, be sure to speak to a medical professional that is familiar with your elderly parent’s health history and they will get you pointed in the right direction.
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