The Problem of the Multiple Problems

Most of the major diseases of our time are more common in the older patient. Diabetes, atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, cancer, and the other major problems are more common with increasing age. And the older patient, with less organ reserve, may have several problems at once, thus creating special difficulties.

If you already have one significant medical problem, a second one is more serious than if it occurred when you were in good health. Because the simple rules do not apply as well in this situation, you have to use more judgment. In general, a combination of problems is more serious than the sum of the problems dealt with by themselves.

One problem can easily complicate another. High blood pressure can increase kidney failure, which can increase blood pressure. A problem of breathlessness caused by the heart can complicate breathlessness caused by lung disease. Arthritis can increase inactivity, which leads to promise in which all aspects of the situation are considered. You need a doctor to help you in these decisions much more often than in the uncomplicated, isolated illnesses of relative youth.