What are the main causes of death among seniors?
Even if the cause of death among certain seniors is unknown, it is often due to pathologies, such as.
Diseases of the circulatory system
Of 149,839 recorded cases, 28.3% died from diseases of the circulatory system. According to the WHO, these are the main causes of death worldwide.
As a reminder, the circulatory system also called the cardiovascular system, brings together the heart and the blood vessels which ensure blood flow in the body. Unfortunately, by working hard, he can be affected by several disorders, the most common of which are:
- Ischemic heart disease (myocardial infarction, angina, other form). According to the figures: out of 40,597 cases recorded, 7.7% died due to this serious illness.
- Cerebrovascular diseases (cerebral hemorrhage, stroke, occlusion of cerebral arteries, etc.). Thus, out of 33,906 cases recorded, 6.4% died from these disorders.
- High blood pressure
Tumors
Tumors constitute the second source of death among people aged over 65 in France. And for good reason, among the 155,407 cases recorded, 29.5% are affected, the most common of which are malignant tumors:
- Of the larynx, bronchi, trachea, and lung which concern 5.6% of the 29,324 cases recorded. These tumors mainly affect the respiratory tract.
- Lymphatic and hematopoietic tissues which affect 2.4% of the 12,611 people identified.
- Of the colon which affects 2.3% of the 12,286 cases recorded. These tumors are common in industrialized countries, certainly because of dietary habits. But they can also be due to genetic dispositions.
Respiratory diseases
Respiratory disorders are among the third cause of death among people aged over 65 in France. According to statistics, among the 35,056 people recorded, 6.6% are affected by these diseases, the most common of which is pneumonia.
Remember that pneumonia occurs due to a viral or bacterial infection. Its appearance causes coughing fits, chills, and fever in victims. Although it mainly affects children, it is very serious among seniors.
Cause of external mortality
Although diseases are the leading causes of death among older people, they are not the only ones. External causes can also be the sources. And for good reason! 7.2% of the 37,805 cases recorded are affected by this phenomenon.
Among the external causes, the most common are:
- Accidental falls mainly affect people with a loss of autonomy or dependency
- Suicides affecting socially isolated seniors
What are the slightly involved diseases?
Even if the following disorders are not the main causes of death among the elderly, they are still singled out:
Diseases of the nervous system and sense organs
Diseases of the nervous system are among the causes of death among the elderly. 5% of the 26,371 cases recorded are victims of these disorders. They generally include:
- Multiple sclerosis
- Meningitis _
- Parkinson disease
- Epilepsy…
Diseases of the digestive system
These disorders mainly affect the digestive system. Certainly, they are far from constituting the main causes, but they are responsible for 5% of deaths among the 26,371 cases recorded. Among the diseases involved are:
- Stomach ulcer (caused by overconsumption of NSAIDs, etc.)
- Severe diarrhea, etc.
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases
These disorders are due to hormonal and metabolic dysfunction in older people. They are responsible for 3.7% of deaths among the 19,283 cases recorded.
What measures should be taken?
Thanks to this data, older people can act to stay healthy longer, while benefiting from better care.
The right actions to adopt
Although certain pathologies are inevitable, it is entirely possible to prevent their complications by adopting the following actions:
- Have a healthy and balanced diet. Each meal must consist of the necessary nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins and lipids)
- Drink a lot of water
- Stop smoking, alcohol, caffeine
- Practice physical activity, without making too much effort. A 30-minute session every two days is more than enough.
Coverage by mutual insurance
If you suffer from any of these conditions, seek treatment to prevent complications. If it is part of ALD (long-term illness), Social Security reimburses all of the care, except for excess fees and other additional costs. So, the best decision to make is to subscribe to mutual health insurance. Santors helps you find the right offer.