From 2010 to 2030, the number of Ohioans 60 and older is expected to increase by 33.4% to nearly 3.1 million, which will account for more than a quarter of the state’s total population.
That’s according to the Ohio Department of Aging’s Summary Assessment of Older Ohioans.
Compared to an expected total population increase of 0.7% and a projected 7.4% decrease for people younger than 60, the increase is significant.
Here are six chronic health conditions to keep an eye out for as you get older:
Heart diseases
Heart diseases are the leading cause of death for Ohioans 75 and older, according to the Ohio Department of Aging. They’re also the second-highest for people ages 60-74, behind cancer. The percent of Ohioans diagnosed with heart disease or heart attack has grown since 2015, according to the state health department.
Such diseases include heart attack, congenital heart disease, heart failure, rhythm disorders, valve diseases and vascular disease, according to the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Risk factors include a family history of high blood pressure, low HDL (“good”) cholesterol or high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels and heart disease; older age; Type 1 diabetes; and menopause, according to OSU Wexner.
Having regular conversations with your doctor, as well as exercising, eating healthy, avoiding tobacco and consuming alcohol in moderation are all ways to reduce the risks.
Cancers
Cancers are the leading cause of death in Ohioans ages 60-74, according to the state Department of Aging. In people 75 and older, it’s the second-highest, behind heart disease.
The top five leading causes of cancer death in adults 60 and older are lung, trachea and bronchus; pancreas; colon; breast; and prostate, according to the department.
In simple terms, cancer is any disease that causes abnormal cells to multiply out of control and invade nearby tissue, according to OSU Wexner’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. Carcinoma starts in the skin or organ lining; sarcoma starts in the bone, blood vessels or other connective or supportive tissue; leukemia starts in blood-forming tissue, such as bone marrow; and lymphoma begins in the immune system.
One factor in determining one’s risk for developing cancer is if they have “two or more close relatives on the same side of the family with the same or related cancers,” according to OSU Wexner.
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Nearly two-thirds (60%) of Ohioans older than 65 have been diagnosed with hypertension, or high blood pressure, at some point in their lives, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
The World Health Organization defines hypertension as blood pressure that is 140/90 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) or higher.
Ohio fares worse than the rest of the United States overall and is getting worse, according to the state Department of Aging.
According to OhioHealth, ways to lower your blood pressure include: Stop smoking; manage diabetes; maintain a goal weight; check for sleep apnea; eat less salt, sugar and fatty foods; watch portion sizes; reduce stress by meditating; and get active by getting 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week.
Diabetes
Diabetes is the fourth-leading cause of death for Ohioans ages 60-74 and the seventh-highest for those 75 and older, according to the state Department of Aging. Nearly a quarter (23%) of Ohioans older than 65 have been told by a health professional that they have it, according to the health department.
For people of color, it’s even worse, with those who identify as Black or Hispanic (36% each) or Asian/Pacific Islander (30%) were more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than those who are white (27%), according to the state Department of Aging.
Some people can manage their diabetes by developing a healthy eating plan, according to OhioHealth. Other ways to reduce the risk of getting diabetes or lessening its severity include eating healthy, exercising and not smoking.
Obesity
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define obesity as a calculated body mass index of 30 or higher.
Body mass index is a person’s weight (in pounds or kilograms) divided by the square of their height (in feet or meters), according to the CDC.
For those with lower incomes, it’s even worse. Among those 65 and older, people with incomes below $50,000 a year were more likely to have obesity, according to the Department of Aging.
According to Mount Carmel Health, morbid obesity, which is defined as a BMI of 40 or higher, has been tied to other serious and life-threatening diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer. Eating healthy, creating a meal plan, paying attention to portion sizes and choosing well when eating out are all ways to reduce your risk of obesity.
Alzheimer’s disease
Neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, are becoming a bigger issue for older Ohioans, according to the state Department of Aging.
Alzheimer’s disease is the third-leading cause of death for Ohioans 75 and older, behind heart disease and cancers, according to the department.
More: Jack Hanna’s long goodbye: How Alzheimer’s is stripping away the man the world once knew
The number of Ohioans who are 65 and older with Alzheimer’s is expected to rise 13.6% from 220,000 in 2020 to 250,000 in 2025, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Not only does it affect those who have the disease, but it also burdens family caregivers, according to the department, and more than 60% have been doing so for at least two years.
nshuda@dispatch.com
@NathanielShuda
