Full Description
Medical care of the elderly today challenges the practitioner to break away from narrow diagnostic labelling and view the whole picture of disease in old age. In an excellent problem-oriented approach, Geriatric Medicine offers a complete overview for practitioners. The main portion of the text deals with the common diseases of old age; important aspects such as physiology, demography, and health care delivery are discussed in separate chapters. Social and legal aspects in the major English-speaking countries receive adequate attention. All of the contributors have at some time been connected with the University Department of Geriatric Medicine in Cardiff and attest to a positive and dynamic approach in geriatric medicine, an approach that has international validity and relevance.
Contents
Section I. Ageing: An Overview.- 1 The Physiology of Ageing.- 2 Demography and Epidemiology of Old Age.- Section II. Clinical Problems in the Elderly.- 3 Headache and Facial Pain.- 4 Chest Pain.- 5 Abdominal Pain.- 6 Musculoskeletal Pain.- 7 Dyspnoea.- 8 Hypertension.- 9 Lower Limb Oedema.- 10 Weight Loss.- 11 Constipation and Diarrhoea.- 12 Incontinence.- 13 Visual Impairment.- 14 Hearing Problems.- 15 Impaired Mobility.- 16 Foot Problems.- 17 Falls and Syncope.- 18 Confusion.- 19 Depression.- 20 Anaemia.- 21 Vomiting and Haematemesis.- 22 Accidental Hypothermia.- 23 Pruritus.- Section III. Aspects of Medical Care in the Elderly.- 24 Drug Therapy.- 25 Rehabilitation.- 26 Terminal Care.- Section IV. Delivery of Health Care to the Elderly.- 27 Geriatric Medicine and the Law.- 28 Supporting Old People in the Community.- 29 Care of the Elderly in Other English-Speaking Countries.
