There are many Americans who suffer from cardiovascular disease. According to the World Heart Organization, millions of people die each year due to heart-related conditions.

If you are caring for an elderly loved one, it is important to help them lower their chances of experiencing cardiovascular disease. There are many ways that you can help your elderly loved one with their heart health.

Reducing High Blood Pressure 

High blood pressure can play a big part in cardiovascular disease. The worst part is that it often goes undetected. This is because many people don’t have any symptoms to let them know they have high blood pressure. It is important to make sure your elderly loved one gets regular physicals to ensure their blood pressure levels are within the recommended guidelines.

You can help your elderly loved one prevent high blood pressure by having them reduce their stress levels. Some ways you can help them to lower stress levels include:

Encouraging them to talk about their worries

Reminding them you are always available to talk about any concerns they are having
Sending them emails with links to relaxation websites
Telling them about some meditation exercises that can help reduce their stress

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has stated that people who have high-stress levels are more likely to develop high blood pressure. Follow the tips above to help keep your elderly loved one’s blood pressure under control.

Getting More Physical Activity

Many experts say exercise releases endorphins. This means it helps a person to stay positive, maintain a healthy weight, and reduces their stress levels. It is highly recommended that people of any age participate in some form of physical activity. Even small amounts of exercise can be beneficial to heart healths. Encourage your loved one to take small walks around their yard or home. They can see if their senior care provider will take walks with them if they don’t want to do this alone.

Quit Smoking

Is your loved one a smoker? If so, they are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease. While it can be hard to quit smoking, it is best for their overall health to do so. If your loved one needs help to quit smoking, they should contact their doctor to get tips on how to quit.

Reducing High Cholesterol

Many studies show that high cholesterol can significantly increase a person’s chance of contracting cardiovascular disease. Research shows the main reason for high cholesterol is eating fatty foods. If your elderly loved one has high cholesterol, have them eat a healthier diet to improve their heart health.

If you want to help your elderly loved one avoid heart health risk factors follow the above tips and encourage them every step of the way.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Health Care in Williamstown, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Attentive Care Inc. 1-800-493-5660

Sources

Cdc.gov
Nhlbi.nih.gov
Who.int
Nhlbi.nih.gov