One of the many things that people worry about is having a heart attack. If you are helping to take care of your elderly loved one or another elderly adult, you may worry about their heart health. While there may be many things to worry about, it will be better if you focus on how you can help to prevent heart failure, instead. You and your elderly loved one’s home care services providers can help them set up a heart failure prevention plan starting today.
Stop Smoking
Most people relate smoking to lung cancer. However, there are many more dangers to smoking than just lung cancer. In fact, research shows that smoking can cause heart disease and even heart failure. If you want to help your elderly loved one to prevent heart failure and they are a smoker, help them to quit. You can talk to their primary care doctor to see which smoking cessation plan would be best for them. If that program doesn’t work, try something else. The sooner they quit smoking, the better it will be for their heart.
Get Physical
Yes, you should make sure your elderly loved one gets physical. They need to be moving around for at least 30 minutes, 5 days every week. If they can do more than this, that is great. Regular physical activity is great for the heart. Your elderly loved one can do cardio, weight lifting, range-of-motion exercises, low-impact exercises, and more. Just make sure they are moving regularly if you want it to help maintain or improve their heart health.
Great Diet
No, your elderly loved one may not need to go on an actual diet. However, you should monitor what they are eating. Whether a home care services provider, you, or someone else is going to get their food from the grocery store, you should have a list of things to get. This should include healthy foods such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits, lean meat, and nuts. Olive oil is a great substitute for vegetable oil. Research shows there are many foods that help to boost heart health such as avocados, leafy greens, and whole grains. Add these to the shopping list.
Reducing Stress
Research shows that stress can lead to heart issues and heart failure, as well. If your elderly loved one seems stressed out a lot, there are ways to reduce their stress. You can have them practice yoga and mediation. Art therapy, walking, swimming, and spending time with loved ones can help to reduce their stress levels, too.
These are some of the many tips for preventing heart failure. Use these tips to help your elderly loved one protect their heart health.
Sources: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/heart-healthy-foods
https://health.gov/our-work/physical-activity
https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/health-information/how-smoking-affects-heart-health
If you or an aging loved one are in need of Home Care Services in Great Neck NY or the surrounding areas, contact the caring professionals at Star Multi Care Services today at (631)956-8835. We are the Right Choice for Home Health Care Services!
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