Healthy Aging

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Diseases and Conditions

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Because people are living longer, more Americans are dying of diseases linked with old age. Health issues older women face include heart disease, cancer, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and injuries from falls. The medical community has been studying older women’s health issues in recent years. Many older women take part in research studies, such as the Women’s Health Initiative. This study included more than 150,000 postmenopausal women. This research has increased what we know about menopause, osteoporosis, and heart disease. Other research has looked into ways to prevent and treat problems such as Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.

Chronic conditions, physical limitations, and the risk of many diseases and conditions all increase as women age, making preventive screening and care a key part of health care for older women.

Some of the diseases common in older women are listed below.

A

• Alzheimer's Disease
  • The risk of Alzheimer's disease goes up as you age. More women than men survive to the ages when Alzheimer's disease is most common. Learn more about brain impairment and memory loss in our Mental Health section.
  • Additional Resources
  
  
• Anxiety Disorders and Depression
  • Anxiety disorders and depression can interfere with daily living and normal function at all stages of life. These mental health conditions often coexist with other chronic illnesses common in older people, such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease, cancer, lung disease, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and arthritis.
  • Additional Resources
  
  
• Arthritis–Osteoarthritis
  • Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and a common cause of disability among older people. Almost 27 million American adults have it. Age is one of the biggest risk factors. Women have higher rates of OA, especially after age 50.
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• Arthritis–Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) often starts in middle age and is most common in older people. About 2.5 times more women have RA than men. RA can lead to long-term joint damage that results in pain, loss of function, and disability.
  • Additional Resources
  
  
• Asthma
  • Asthma affects more than 10 million adult women. People with asthma tend to be at increased risk of osteoporosis, which also is a health concern of older women. Taking menopausal hormone therapy may increase the risk of asthma among postmenopausal women. Asthma often begins in older adulthood.
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B

• Bronchitis
  • Older people are at higher risk of bronchitis. Acute bronchitis is often caused by the same viruses that cause colds and usually gets better over time. Smoking is the most common cause of chronic bronchitis, a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It can be treated but not cured. Women are more than twice as likely to get chronic bronchitis as men.
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C

• Cancer
  • Cancer is the second leading cause of death for women ages 65 or older. Screening tests look for signs of some types of cancer before a woman has symptoms. Cancer is often most treatable when it is found early.
  • Additional Resources
  
  

D

• Dementia
  • The risk of dementia goes up as you age. More women than men survive to the ages when dementia is most common. Learn more about brain impairment and memory loss in our Mental Health section.
  • Additional Resources
  
  
• Depression and Anxiety Disorders
  • Depression and anxiety disorders can interfere with daily living and normal function at all stages of life. These mental health conditions often coexist with other chronic illnesses common in older people, such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease, cancer, lung disease, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and arthritis.
  • Additional Resources
  
  
• Diabetes
  • About 1 in 10 women in the United States has diabetes. If not managed, diabetes can lead to blindness, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, amputations, and nerve damage.
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E

• Emphysema
  • Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). If you have it, your body does not get the oxygen it needs to function. Cigarette smoking is the most common cause. Quitting smoking can keep it from getting worse.
  • Additional Resources
  
  

H

• Heart Disease
  • Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women in the United States. Women of any age can have heart disease. But your risk goes up sharply after menopause.
  • Additional Resources
  
  
• High Blood Pressure
  • You can have high blood pressure and feel just fine. That’s why adults need a blood pressure test at least once every two years. Loneliness may boost high blood pressure in older adults.
  • Additional Resources
  
  
• Hip Fractures
  • Hip fractures are usually caused by a fall. Hip fracture can lead to disability and even death. You can take steps to lower your risk of falls and hip fracture. Learn how in our section on Preventing Falls.
  • Additional Resources
  
  

I

• Incontinence
  • Urinary incontinence is common among older women. It can keep you from going out and enjoying life. Treatment can help reduce or even cure urinary incontinence.
  • Additional Resources
  
  
• Influenza
  • People older than 65 are at high risk of influenza (the flu) and its complications, such as pneumonia. This also is true for people living in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities. A yearly flu vaccine can help protect you from the flu. Learn about what you can do to prevent the flu.
  • Additional Resources
  
  

O

• Osteoporosis
  • Of the 10 million Americans with osteoporosis, 8 in 10 are women. Women have a higher risk of bone loss because their bones are smaller and they lose bone more rapidly than men due to hormone changes that occur with menopause. A bone mineral density test is the best way to check your bone health.
  • Additional Resources
  
  

P

• Pain
  • As many as one-half of all older adults living on their own have pain that does not go away. Although common, chronic pain is not normal – it is a sign of a health problem. Treatment can help most types of pain.
  • Additional Resources
  
  
• Pneumonia
  • People at high risk of pneumonia are older than 65 or have chronic health problems. Preventing pneumonia is always better than treating it. A vaccine can protect you from a common infection that accounts for up to a quarter of all pneumonias.
  • Additional Resources
  
  

S

• Septicemia/Sepsis (blood poisoning)
  • Older adults are at risk of developing septicemia from bacterial infections and dying from it.
  • Additional Resources
  
  
• Stroke
  • Since women are generally older when they have strokes, they are more likely to die as a result. Knowing symptoms of stroke and getting medical help quickly can greatly reduce brain damage caused by a stroke. Getting treatment within three hours from when symptoms begin can prevent disability. Learn the signs of stroke.
  • Additional Resources
  
  

T

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
  • Adults age 75 and older have the highest rates of TBI-related hospitalization and death. Falls are the most frequent cause. Learn steps to prevent falls in our Preventing Falls section.
  • Additional Resources

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V

• Vision Problems and Blindness
  • Cataracts, which make it harder to see, are very common in older people. Glaucoma, which can lead to blindness, is more common in people older than 60. African-Americans are five times more likely to get glaucoma than whites.
• Additional Resources

Content last updated August 12, 2010.