4 Ways Seniors Can Lower Stress and Improve Heart Health
Paying attention to diet and getting more exercise are both essential for seniors who are concerned about heart health. But did you know that stress can play a role in the development of heart disease too? February is American Heart Month so it’s a great time to find out how seniors can lower their risk of developing heart disease by lowering their stress.
The Stress-Heart Connection
Seniors who are chronically stressed because of health problems, sleeplessness, loneliness, depression, and other reasons tend to have higher blood pressure. And high blood pressure can lead to heart disease. For seniors managing their stress levels is another way to safeguard their heart health. Some of the things that seniors and their family caregivers can do to lower stress include:
Home Care Assistance
Getting a home care assistance provider can be life-changing for seniors who are aging in place. A home care assistance provider can eliminate stress by helping with chores, cooking meals, and providing consistent companionship and friendship. Seniors who don’t have to worry about cleaning, cooking, and other chores have less stress. Home care assistance providers can also help with personal care and grooming so that seniors look and feel their best.
Meditation
Some senior may be reluctant to try meditation but studies show that regular meditation can dramatically improve the symptoms of illnesses like depression and chronic anxiety disorder. Guided meditation apps and CDs and videos can help seniors learn the basics of meditation and give them a set of relaxation tools that will help them stay calm and stress free in all kinds of situations. Meditation practice is something that gets easier over time. Seniors can start with just a couple of minutes of meditation and build up to 15 or 30 minutes of meditation per day.
Arts And Crafts
Doing physical activities that involve making something have huge mental and physical benefits for everyone, not just seniors. But seniors can significantly lower their stress levels by making art, sewing, crocheting, woodworking, glass blowing, painting, or doing other physical arts and crafts. Help your senior find a stress busting hobby by taking a class with them to learn a new skill.
Getting More Sleep
Millions of seniors are chronically tired because they are not getting enough sleep. When the body doesn’t get the restorative sleep that it needs it goes into overdrive trying to keep doing. It will flood a person’s system with adrenaline and cortisol which can increase stress. And being tired and stressed can lead seniors to do things like eat unhealthy foods and skip their exercise which will cause even more stress. Seniors should be getting at least eight hours of sleep every night.
If your senior loved one struggles to sleep at night 24-hour home care might be the answer. A home care assistance provider who is in the house with your senior loved one overnight can relieve anxiety, help manage the symptoms of depression, and make your senior loved one feel safe enough to sleep soundly.
If you or someone you know needs help with senior 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) 258-2300 for more information.
Sources:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/risk-factors-for-heart-disease-dont-underestimate-stress
https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/stress-heart-disease-risk
- Understanding Osteoporosis and What to Look for in Your Aging Loved Ones - April 23, 2024
- What Your Senior Needs When Going to the Hospital - April 17, 2024
- 5 Things to Calm Your Senior Parent with Alzheimer’s - April 10, 2024