is loss of strength, specifically lower body/legs, a known sign of oncoming death in an elderly person?
2007-10-23 16:39:03 · 11 answers · asked by ? 3 in Health ➔ Other - Health
an eldery family member became extremely week a couple weeks before his death and i am seeing the same symptoms in an 87 year old relative
2007-10-23 16:51:54 · update #1
not necessarily. I may not be a doctor, but after nearly 10 years of looking after both parents 24/7, I'll answer according to what I've seen with them. Both of them had severe issues with weakness, especially the legs, and dizziness. Turned out it was their heart. They had had occasional periods of weakness many times over the previous years, mostly due to either diabetes or dehydration. My mother still has some weakness in her legs, particularly one, due to the onset of osteoporosis. On the other hand, up until 1 week before he went into the hospital for the last time, my Dad was going up and down the stairs and the only part of that that bothered him was his breathing and his back, not his legs. So leg weakness is not a precursor to death, simply an indicator of a myriad of health problems.
2007-10-23 16:51:04 · answer #1 · answered by philos34002 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lot of elderly people come into the ER for "weakness". It is not really a SOLID sign of an oncoming death. It's just old age. Nothing to worry about I wouldn't think...but it is a concern.
2007-10-23 23:41:54 · answer #2 · answered by nessa20 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To become weak many reasons are there. A good healthy person will die systematically, and at the same time he will die slowly stage by stage.My father died at the age of 90 years only after he stopped talking, eating, and at last he breathed his last only after two years. But he was healthy till he died and attending his own works till his death, Yours,
vrvrao
2007-10-23 23:45:19 · answer #3 · answered by Raghavendra R 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it was a sign of oncoming death for my hamster... because it signaled a disease.
but for a person, it could just be a sign of arthritis, fatigue.. or a plethora of other things. only by checking other symptoms with a doctor will you know for sure
good luck
2007-10-23 23:42:41 · answer #4 · answered by MissMercury 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not necessarily. It could be peripheral artery disease, symptoms due to diabetes, or it could be a sign that death is near. At any rate, see a doctor
2007-10-23 23:42:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope.
It could be, theoretically, but not usually. There are too many other things that cause weakness in different body parts.
My motto; use it or lose it! [ function ].
So lift arms, walk, use all your muscles as much as possible - they will last longer.
2007-10-23 23:43:31 · answer #6 · answered by Nurse Susan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can be or they can just be sick. Some people live for quite some time unable to walk.
2007-10-23 23:43:14 · answer #7 · answered by nursekuba 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I sure hope not. I should have been dead a long time ago if that were the case!
2007-10-24 00:00:17 · answer #8 · answered by P/T Doctor 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
an ederly person maybe a younger person no
2007-10-23 23:41:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
probably or motor neurone disease...then death.
2007-10-23 23:42:11 · answer #10 · answered by jowanale 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋