A geriatrician (MBBS, MD) is a general physician who specialises in managing all common diseases exclusively in the older adults- from common diseases that occur with aging like diabetes , hypertension, thyroid, arthritis, backpain, prostate,constipation,depression- to severe advanced life threatening diseases like heart diseases, stroke, dementia , Parkinson’s, lung disease, chronic kidney and liver disease, life threatening infections in chest or urinary tract, and supportive care in cancer patients.
All medicines that a geriatric medicine physician prescribes to an elderly patient are safe, and with due consideration of minimum side effects possible, with maximum symptomatic relief.
Medicines are kept as mimimum as possible.
Along with prescribing safe medicines , a geriatric medicine physician also tries to avoid unnecessary interventions and operative procedures in elderly like heart surgeries, and other major operations or treatments that may not be tolerated by elderly patient, and may risk them becoming bed bound, or even have risk of death during or after such procedure, if done unnecessarily.
Along with prescribing medicines, the geriatric physician utilises the problems uncovered in the Geriatric Assessment to prescribe medical evidence based Diet, Exercises, Lifestyle changes and Counselling. Along with this, mental health issues that come with aging like memory problems, depression, sleep disturbances and behavioural issues are also managed to let elderly patient lead a peaceful life.
Anyone nearing age of 60 or above can consult a geriatrician and keep under their regular follow up care.
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