While many seniors endure battles with cancer, diabetes, and hypertension, there is one disease that every senior is concerned with either through experience or having it in the back of their minds – heart disease. Heart disease kills more Americans every year than any other disease. Seniors 65 and older are the most likely to suffer a heart attack, have a stroke, or develop coronary heart disease. It’s estimated that over 85 million Americans have one or more types of coronary heart disease, and over half are 60 or older. While these numbers are alarming, there is some good news – heart disease is preventable. If you or a loved one are 65 or older, here are four tips to consider that will keep seniors heart-healthy or improve it if you already have some heart health issues.
Stay active
Regular physical activity is one of the primary means of keeping your heart healthy. It:
- Helps you lose excess weight
- Improves your physical fitness and overall sense of well-being
- Lowers your risk for many health conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol
Staying active doesn’t mean you have to run marathons or compete in triathlons; anything that gets you moving promotes heart health. Brisk walking, dancing, swimming, yoga, and gardening are just a few of the activities that will raise your heart rate – and they’re fun to do!
Maintain a healthy weight
Heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, breathing issues, and certain types of cancer are directly linked to the amount of body fat you have. Fortunately, losing weight can lower body fat levels (a healthy body mass index (BMI) is between 18.5 and 24.9).
Consult with your doctor and find out what your optimal BMI is. Staying physically active and following a heart-healthy diet can help you reach and maintain a healthy weight for your height and body frame.
Minimize unnecessary stress
It’s impossible to live a totally stress-free life no matter how hard you try (shoelaces will sometimes break when you’re in a hurry to leave the house!), but it needs to be minimized. High-stress levels have been proven to trigger heart attacks and angina and contribute to diabetes and other heart disease risk factors, like high blood pressure.
If you’re feeling stressed, talk with a loved one, your primary care physician, or a licensed therapist. Exercise helps reduce stress levels, such as yoga and tai chi. Meditation and a healthy diet are also effective in combatting stress.
Know the symptoms of heart disease
Because the early stages of heart disease are barely noticeable, it’s important to have regular check-ups. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms:
- Pain, numbness, or tingling sensations
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- Chest pain during physical activity
- Lightheadedness, dizziness, or confusion
- Headaches
- Cold sweats
- Nausea/vomiting
- Tiredness or fatigue
- Swelling of the ankles, feet, legs, stomach, and/or neck
- Reduced ability to exercise or be physically active
- Problems with normal activities
If you think you’re having a heart attack, don’t try to wait it out or drive yourself to the emergency room – call 9-1-1 immediately.
Need senior care in Bedford, MA, and the surrounding area?
Assisting Hands Home Care serving Boston Northwest is our area’s premier provider of in-home senior care. Contact us today to schedule your free in-home consultation and learn how we help our clients age comfortably and gracefully at home.
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