Why do Elderly People Have So Many Digestive Disorders?

Why do Elderly People Have So Many Digestive Disorders?

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QUESTION: It seems as though we all sit around much of the time and complain
about our stomachs. Why do elderly people have so many digestive disorders?
Are some gastrointestinal problems more common to us senior citizens than
others?
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ANSWER: Elderly people suffer from digestive disorders because of many
different factors. Although the gastrointestinal (GI) tract does not usually
change very greatly due to the aging process, there are influences other than
aging that take their toll. Malnutrition, a reduction in exercise, or a
problem with any other part of the body may lead to digestive symptoms ranging
from abdominal pains to constipation to dysphagia (difficulty with
swallowing). The number of cases of cancer somewhere in the digestive system
is very high among the elderly. Chromosomal instability is often the cause,
but other factors include a diet low in fiber and high in carcinogens or a
chronic inflammation of the lining of the stomach. Diverticular disease is
also common among the elderly. Again, a low fiber diet is one of the leading
causes of this painful problem in which pouches or sacs form in some part of
the digestive tract. A low fiber diet often causes constipation and this in
turn increases pressures in the colon promoting the formation of these sacs.
Ulcerations near the diverticula may then cause colonic hemorrhage,
complicating matters.
The incidence of gastric ulcers rises with age. In many cases, these
ulcers are found in people who must take aspirin and other kinds of
medications, as the elderly often do. Diseases of the mouth and esophagus are
also found more frequently among the elderly than among younger folk. Many of
the problems can be prevented with regular tooth brushing, gum massage and
flossing. Gallbladder problems develop in the elderly because as individuals
age, their bile contains fewer acids which break down the substances that
cause gallstones. But you can do more than talk about it. A change in diet,
a bit of exercise, a little prudence, can work wonders.