Five Tips for Helping Seniors Improve Their Heart Health
Home care offers vital support to aging seniors to maintain good heart health.
Good heart health is essential for seniors to have the best possible quality of life as they age. As heart issues become more prevalent, seniors may find it more difficult to live their lives on their own terms. Home care services can help them make some shifts in their daily routines that help them keep their hearts as healthy as possible.
Include Regular Physical Activity
Exercise is one of the most common recommendations for heart health. Moving more can help lower blood pressure, keep cholesterol levels in check, and help with weight issues. Home care providers can offer encouragement and reminders to exercise.
Low-impact exercises like walking or yoga can improve circulation and help seniors move more without putting a lot of strain on their joints. Strength training or resistance training can help with muscle tone.
Consider a Heart-Healthy Diet
Nutrition makes a difference with all sorts of health issues, including heart health. Seniors should aim for a balanced diet made up of nutrient-dense foods. That means a mix of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats. Lean proteins round out a healthy plate. Reducing sodium might be something that a senior’s doctor recommends as well.
Stay on Top of Blood Pressure Levels
For seniors with high blood pressure, keeping those levels under better control helps to reduce heart problems later. High blood pressure often doesn’t have symptoms, so it’s important for seniors to check their blood pressure regularly.
Home care providers can help aging adults do this regularly. If seniors need medication to manage high blood pressure, they need to make sure they’re taking that medication consistently and as directed.
Manage Stress Well
Chronic stress has big health ramifications over time, especially for aging adults. Too much stress, especially over a period of time, can lead to higher blood pressure levels and other problems that strain the heart.
Learning to deal with stress healthily can help seniors release it before it creates health issues. Exercises like yoga can help seniors stay active and offer benefits for stress relief.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Excess weight can strain the heart and cardiovascular system. Adopting some of these other habits may automatically help seniors maintain a healthier weight. If they are still dealing with a few more pounds than they would like to see, seniors should talk with their doctors about possible solutions. There may be an underlying cause that can be handled medically.
Heart health is a big part of helping seniors live their best lives. Adopting some of these heart-healthy habits, like regular exercise, eating right, and managing stress, are all powerful ways for seniors to stay on top of heart health.
Working with home care providers also offers companionship, which helps seniors feel less isolated and alone, which is another risk factor for heart disease and other illnesses.
If you or someone you know needs help with Home Care in East Grand Rapids, MI, contact Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services in our community. Call us at (616) 560-4057 for more information.
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