1) Constipation – This is very common amongst the elderly (geriatric) and could be distressing in some patients. With age, several changes happen in the intestines. The large intestine can become slow in pushing forward its contents. or the anal muscles may not relax when the rectum tries to push out the stools. Inadequate fiber intake or water intake may compound this. Fortunately, most patients with constipation find good relief with diet changes and medicines. Further evaluation is done for certain patients ( see below). An extreme form of constipation is fecal impaction when stools become like a big solid ball in the rectum and the patient is unable to push it out. Many patients find relief with rectal enemas in such cases for immediate relief. Our team of experienced gastroenterologists in Chennai provides comprehensive care for all gastrointestinal disorders, including liver diseases, constipation and geriatric gastrointestinal diseases.”To know more about constipation click here”
2) Cancer – It’s well known that with increasing age the risk of cancer increases. The challenge lies in detecting it early and treating the cancer safely. At Progress Gastro Care, we offer state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options, ensuring that our patients receive the best care possible from the best gastroenterologist in Chennai. “To know more about gastrointestinal cancer click here”
a) Recent onset constipation or worsening constipation are always evaluated in detail in the elderly to rule out cancers. Alarm signs include associated bleeding, loss of weight, loss of appetite, etc. Special note must be made of patients who try for long to push out stools but only mucus or blood comes out as this could happen in rectal cancers.
b) Rectal bleeding can happen due to fissures, hemorrhoids, etc but cancer needs to be ruled out by performing sigmoidoscopy. In this an endoscope is passed into the anus and up to the large intestine on the left side. Excessive straining with a thin stream of stools and/or blood staining should alert us to the possibility of rectal cancer. Are you experiencing rectal bleeding? Don’t wait for it to become worse. Progress Gastro Care, the best gastroenterology hospital in Chennai headed by an experienced gastroenterologist in Chennai, can help you diagnose the problem. With the use of advanced sigmoidoscopy, we can rule out cancer and identify the root cause of your symptoms.
c) Swallowing difficulty – Any swallowing issue in the elderly is first assessed by endoscopy to rule out cancers in the throat, food pipe, and upper stomach after which neurological causes are considered. Any progressive swallowing difficulty especially solids over liquids, voice change, weight loss, appetite loss, etc. are alarm signs and need to be quickly evaluated.
d) Abdominal pain – It can be caused by a myriad of diseases but constant pain needing painkillers, associated nausea, vomiting, constipation, and sleep disturbance due to pain need to be quickly addressed. Seek the expertise of our renowned gastroenterologists at Progress Gastro Care, the best gastro hospital in Chennai. With advanced treatment options, we aim to alleviate your discomfort and help you regain optimal health.
e) Jaundice – increasing Jaundice especially without pain or with constant pain lasting over a week should be addressed at the earliest as it could be a sign of obstruction of biliary passage. The pain could be in the upper abdomen or the upper back. Associated itching, pale-colored stools, and very yellow urine are other markers of obstructive Jaundice. At Progress Gastro Care, the best liver specialist in Chennai, our experienced doctors treat both medical and surgical cases of jaundice.
f) Diarrhea – Diarrhea may happen due to poor digestion in old age or drugs they may be taking for other diseases. But any diarrhea with abdominal pain lasting over a week, with or without blood in motion, loss of weight, or loss of appetite needs early evaluation as it could be a sign of colon cancer.
With advancements in various fields of medical science, treatments like surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, etc. are becoming safer with fewer side effects and better cures than before in the elderly population. At Progress Gastro Care, best Gastrology Hospital in Chennai, we focus on spending the extra effort in the pre, intra and post treatment phase to make cancer treatment safer for elderly patients.
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3) Hernia – With age body tissues become weak. In the abdomen, the intestines or other structures start projecting through areas of weaknesses in the abdominal muscle and this condition is called hernia. Most commonly these are found at inguinal (groin), umbilical(navel or belly button), or sites of previous surgery (incisional hernia) etc They appear as bulges in the abdominal wall that enlarge with time. Hernia that is ignored causes pain, emergency complications like obstruction of the intestine (may lead to life-threatening vomiting, abdomen distension, constipation), and strangulation ( death of the structures that enter the hernia like abdominal fat or intestine). Treatment for hernia is ideally done before all these complications develop when just a bulge is noted. With advances in surgery and anesthesia, age is not a limiting factor for undergoing surgery. In the majority laparoscopic hernia surgery can be done. However patients coming with complications are generally treated by open surgery. With the best gastrointestinal surgeon in Chennai, our team of experts will provide the right diagnosis and treatment for patients in any stage of hernia.
4) Acidity – The patient has more of a burning pain in the upper abdomen. This could be common with so many medicines being taken due to other ailments, especially blood thinners. Also, patients may have hiatus hernia where the tissue surrounding the food pipe and stomach is lax allowing the stomach to go up into the chest to varying degrees. This can lead to heartburn, belching, reflux, etc. a condition medically called gastroesophageal reflux disease ( GERD). Acidity in elderly patients needs an early endoscopy as symptoms of cancer can masquerade as acidity. Generally, acidity is treated with a combination of medicines, diet, and lifestyle changes. Get in touch with us at Progress Gastro Care for the best gastroenterology treatment in Chennai for ulcers, gastritis, reflux and acidity issues.
5) Low food intake – Reduced physical activity, reduced metabolic needs, issues like acidity, constipation, psychological issues,and food intolerance can all lead to reduced food intake. Inadequate food intake may in turn lead to constipation. Low food intake may be due to lack of appetite, abdomen pain, and distension all of which need early attention as they may or may not be symptoms of cancer. Our experienced team of doctors will diagnose and treat your condition using a combination of medicine, diet, and lifestyle changes. Early diagnosis is key, so book your appointment with us today.
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