Senior Care in Delray Beach FL
Foodborne illness affects over 48 million adults each year in the United States, causing thousands of hospitalizations and deaths, reports the National Institutes of Health. This is causes from eating foods that are contaminated with bacteria, viruses or parasites. It is very common for a family caregiver to be surprised to learn that seniors are at an increased risk for food poisoning than younger adults.
Why Are Seniors At A Greater Risk?
As a person ages, the stomach does not produce as much acid. This is perfectly natural, but it does cause some issues when it comes to foodborne illnesses. The decreased amount of stomach acid means that less harmful bacteria in the stomach are killed during digestion. Additionally, the digestive process slows as a person ages. This allows bacteria, viruses and parasites to remain in the body for a longer period of time. If a person already has a compromised or weakened immune system, this can lead to a longer hospital stay or being sick longer. Lastly, the senses also change with age. A person’s sense of smell and taste may not signal that food has gone bad, leading to food poisoning in the elderly.
Foods To Avoid
The National Institutes of Health suggests that avoiding certain foods can decrease the chances of developing a foodborne illness. This includes foods such as:
- Meat or poultry that isn’t cooked properly (avoid that medium rare burger, even if it is a favorite)
- Fish or shellfish that is raw or undercooked, including refrigerated smoked seafood, sushi and sashimi
- Meat spreads or pates that are unpasteurized
- Eggs that are raw or only partially cooked (sunny side up, egg nog, raw cookie dough)
- Raw dairy products including cheeses such as feta and queso, along with Brie and Camembert
- Any unwashed fruits and vegetables
- Sprouts – bean, clover, radish and alfalfa sprouts
- Unwashed fresh vegetables, including lettuce/salads
- All hot dogs and lunch meats unless they are heated to 165 degrees
This may seem like a long list of foods, but many types of foodborne illness is often caused by bacteria and viruses that are becoming more resistant to medications. Often, food poisoning is confused with other illnesses, such as the flu or stomach upset.
Common Symptoms of Foodborne Illness
The most common symptoms associated with a foodborne illness, according to Mayo Clinic, are:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Watery diarrhea
- Abdominal pain and cramps
- Fever
While it is a common belief that foodborne illness is caused by the last thing a person ate, this is not always true, states Mayo Clinic. Symptoms can begin rapidly, from thirty minutes after a person eats a contaminated food, to up to three weeks later. However, the typical time span is one to three days. Not everyone who eats contaminated food becomes ill, as a variety of factors, including what type of bacteria was in the food.
If you or a family member near Delray Beach, FL are in need of senior care services, call the caring professionals at Star Multi Care today at (954) 870-4770. Providing Service in Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Pompano Beach, Delray Beach, Coconut Creek, Taramac, Margate, and surrounding Florida cities.
Source
http://nihseniorhealth.gov/eatingsafely/avoidfoodborneillness/01.html
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/food-poisoning/basics/symptoms/con-20031705
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