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Aging adults often think as they grow older, they’re destined to have heart disease. This is not the case for many seniors. There are preventive measures that help maintain a healthy heart.
Heart disease threatens the lives of seniors over the age of 65. More than 80 percent of seniors that are older than 65 succumb to heart disease. While the risk of the disease does escalate as seniors grow older, it is not a definite part of life as a senior. Living a healthy lifestyle accompanied by a healthy diet can make a big difference. This is especially important for seniors who don’t have residential care or family to ensure they get the proper meals.
Heart disease is used to describe a cluster of health issues that distress the heart. One of the most common types of heart disease is coronary artery disease. It can lead to heart failure, irregular heartbeat and heart attack.
Signs of Heart Disease
Most signs or symptoms don’t surface until a heart attack is occurring. A few signs that you may be having a heart attack or heart-related emergency include:
- Light-headedness
- Faint or feeling of overwhelm
- Difficulty catching your breath
- Vomiting or feelings of nausea
- Indigestion
- Chest pain or pressure
- Back, neck or shoulder pain
- Profuse sweating
- Irregular heartbeat
Steps to Prevent Heart Disease
As part of a healthy-heart regimen, steps must be taken to preserve the health of the heart. Change in daily habits and increased physical activity are primary components to living with a healthy heart. Here’s how you can improve your heart health:
- Exercise daily. Increase your exercise routine by getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity or exercise each day.
- Healthy eating habits. Eat a diet that is filled with fresh vegetables and fruits. Decrease your consumption of salt, fatty foods, saturated fats and cholesterol. Residential care offers nutritious meals to help you stay on track.
- Say goodbye to nicotine. If you are a smoker, quit.
- Stay on top of your numbers. Keep appointments to make sure your heart-health is in order. Monitor your blood pressure, diabetes and take all medication as prescribed.
- Decrease stress in your life. Seniors who lead stressful lives are likely to face heart disease. Find healthy ways to relieve yourself of stress and decrease the risk of acquiring heart disease.
- Monitor your weight. Exercise regularly to maintain a healthy weight or lose excess pounds. This is an essential factor in helping to prevent disease of the heart.
Regular visits and check-ups with your medical provider can help to control health issues. You are never too old to begin leading a healthy life to decrease the risk of heart disease. Take advantage of residential care programs which provide transportation to appointments for seniors who need assistance.
Broadview Residential Care Center provides healthy living options for seniors to help them maintain a healthy heart and lifestyle. Contact us today to find out more.