Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Your Mom’s High Blood Pressure
Take a look at some of the CDC’s statistics. Almost half of all adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure. Around half of all adults with high blood pressure are not taking prescription medications to control it and have a blood pressure that exceeds 140 over 90 mm Hg.
Your mom cannot ignore high blood pressure readings. If she’s been getting readings that are over 120/80 when she has her blood pressure checked at the store or takes a reading at home, she needs to call her doctor. If she’s been told she has high blood pressure by her doctor, make sure she’s following her doctor’s recommendations.
The Dangers of High Blood Pressure
Senior Care Des Plaines, IL: High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure does vary during the day. When it is regularly high, it puts excessive pressure on the walls of the arteries. This increases the risk of a stroke, heart failure, kidney failure, and heart attack.
If your mom manages her blood pressure by following her doctor’s recommendations, she lowers her risk. Treatment plans vary from one person to the next. Your mom may need to change her diet or get more exercise. She may need to take both of those steps.
If diet and exercise are not enough, she may need to go on prescription medications. Some people need to be on multiple medications. Others have underlying conditions that require treatment before the blood pressure goes down to normal levels.
Tips for Improving the Diet
If the diet is the way your doctor wants your mom to treat her high blood pressure, you’re looking at some simple changes. Make meals that are high in fiber, lean proteins, and fresh produce. They should have very little to no added salt.
Flavor dishes with herbs, spices, citrus peel, and juice from a lemon or lime. A lemon contains almost no salt, but it will add a lot of flavor to grilled fish. Make your own spice mixes and marinades that contain no salt. Store them in jars in the cupboard or the freezer.
Tips for Increasing Exercise
Your mom may not love the idea of exercising. Make it fun and keep it varied. Instead of going to a gym, she may do better if you get the game Ring Fit and let her work out at home.
Ring Fit is a workout for the Nintendo Switch. She can play the story mode and work her way through the story. She can customize her workouts to target something different each day. She might want to do an aerobic workout one day and the abs the next.
Help her stay on track by hiring senior care aides. They can help her cook low-salt meals, get enough exercise, and have a companion to cheer her on. You can also hire senior care aides to drive her to medical appointments, which ensures she keeps working with her doctor to stay healthy.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Care in Des Plaines, 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/bloodpressure/facts.htm#
- 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