Tips to Improve Elderly Heart Health
One of the most common health issues in senior citizens is heart disease. Unfortunately, there are some senior citizens that lose their life to this health issue. However, with all the new advances in the health field and newer studies that are being done, there are numerous tips that can help to improve elderly heart health. As a family caregiver, you can share these tips with your elderly loved one to help them to prevent some heart health issues.
Exercise Schedule
One of the best things your elderly loved one can do to prevent heart health issues is to exercise regularly. It may be a good idea for you or a senior home care provider to help your elderly loved one create an exercise schedule. Some of the ways that exercising regularly can help to prevent heart health issues in the elderly include:
Senior Home Care Glenview, IL: Heart Health
- Reducing cholesterol levels
- Losing weight
- Reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes
- Lowering blood pressure
Your elderly loved one should do their best to exercise a minimum of 20 minutes, 5 days a week. If they can get in a little bit more that would be great.
Lowering Stress
Does your elderly loved one know that high stress levels can lead to heart health issues? Even if they didn’t know about this, you can share this information with them. From there, hopefully, you and senior care providers can help your elderly loved one to reduce their stress and prevent as much stress in the future as possible, too. Some of the tips that can help them to lower stress include:
- Exercising
- Eating healthy
- Improving sleep
- Socializing
- Taking part in activities they enjoy
- Allowing breaks throughout the day
If your elderly loved one seems excessively stressed, they may even want or need to see a doctor or therapist about this issue.
Improving Sleep Quality
There are many studies that show poor sleep quality can lead to heart health issues. When the body is asleep, it works on healing itself. However, when someone isn’t getting good sleep, more stress is added to the body, especially to the heart. If your elderly loved one isn’t sleeping well right now, you and senior home care providers can help them to improve their sleep habits by:
- Setting up times to fall asleep and wake up each day (keep it consistent)
- Making the sleep area dark and quiet
- Keeping clutter and electronics out of the bedroom
- Reducing caffeine intake
If your elderly loved one can improve their sleep consistently, it can significantly reduce their risk of heart health issues.
Conclusion
These are some of the best tips for senior citizens to improve their heart health. With this being said, your elderly loved one may need help from you and elderly care providers to commit to making and implementing these changes in their life.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Home Care in Glenview, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.
Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/prevention.htm
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/heart-health-and-aging
- Understanding the Importance of Planning for a Hospital Stay - April 23, 2024
- Getting Seniors to Talk About Feelings of Loneliness - April 17, 2024
- Helping Seniors Reduce Pain and Discomfort to Gain a Good Night’s Sleep - April 10, 2024