As many as half of all Americans have one of these three key risk factors of heart disease: high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, and smoking. And many more struggle with the effects of other lifestyle choices, such as lack of adequate physical activity, overindulging in alcohol, and a poor diet. Heaven at Home Senior Care recommends getting back to basics with these ABCs to maximize heart health:
Avoid tobacco: If you smoke; quit. If someone in the household smokes, he or she should be encouraged to quit. It’s tough, but it’s tougher to recover from a heart attack or stroke or to live with chronic heart disease.
Be more active: Be physically active every day. Research has shown that getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity on 5 or more days of the week can help lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and keep weight at a healthy level.
Choose good nutrition: A healthy diet is one of the best weapons to fight cardiovascular disease. The food eaten (and the amount) can affect other controllable risk factors such as cholesterol, diabetes, blood pressure and obesity. Prepare heart-healthy meals that are low in fat and cholesterol and rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber.
Additionally, everyone should be aware of the warning signs of an impending heart attack or stroke. Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, but most of them start slowly with mild pain or discomfort with one or more of these symptoms:
- Chest discomfort
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body
- Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort
- Other signs including breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness
If your senior loved one can use a little assistance in making – and keeping – healthy heart lifestyle choices, Heaven at Home Senior Care is here to help! In addition to our standard Texas in-home care services, think of us as a cheerleading team of encouragement, keeping seniors’ hearts healthy through preparation of creative, appealing meals, providing transportation and accompaniment to exercise classes or programs, taking walks together in the neighborhood, and much more, according to each person’s specific abilities and doctor’s orders.
Give us a call at your convenience at 866-381-0500 and get started on the path to a healthier heart for your senior loved one!