Health Anxiety In The Elderly

Signs of anxiety in the elderly come in a broad range of forms and signals.

Health anxiety in the elderly. Medication and psychotherapy are the main approaches for treating anxiety. Phobia when an individual is fearful of certain things places or events is the most typical type of anxiety. Anxiety in older adults may be linked to several important risk factors.

These include among others. In many people it seems to worsen with age or during times of stress. Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time.

Medication for anxiety may include antidepressants anti anxiety drugs and mild tranquilizers. Another commonality between old and young is the high incidence of depression with anxiety. Depression and anxiety go together in the elderly as they do in the young with almost half of those with major depression also meeting the criteria for anxiety and about one quarter of those with anxiety meeting criteria for major depression.

Chronic medical conditions especially chronic obstructive pulmonary disease copd cardiovascular disease including arrhythmias and angina thyroid disease and diabetes overall feelings of poor health. Since the elderly may be using chronic medication for other conditions these drugs should be used only under the strict supervision of a doctor. That can make it difficult for doctors to diagnose the condition too.

Treatment for anxiety disorders usually consists of a combination of medication and or psychotherapy. In the elderly treatment must also consider a patient s home environment existing support systems or lack thereof mobility level of isolation level of independence ability to manage daily tasks health history and existing illnesses. Active listening is an important part of care for the elderly.

According to an article published by harvard medical school anxiety is one of the most common types of mental illness affecting people ages 60 and older the mental health commission of canada estimates that by 2041 canada s senior population will have the highest rate of mental illness in the nation. But while feelings of anxiety are common in all people anxiety in the elderly can go untreated. However if you seek help and stick to.