Heart disease and everything that comes with it can be a scary topic for your senior. But understanding her possible risk factors and helping her to avoid heart illnesses helps her to take action now.
Increasing Age
It’s frustrating, but simply getting older can have a huge impact on whether your senior develops heart disease or not. She can’t exactly stop aging, but your senior may be able to manage some of her other risk factors. That one decision can help quite a bit.
History of Heart Disease
If your elderly family member has had a history of heart related illnesses, like high blood pressure, that can impact her likelihood of developing further heart diseases. Also, family history is a factor, too. So, if your elderly family member’s family have had heart disease, especially severe heart disease, that can increase her risks as well.
History of Other Illnesses
But it isn’t just cardiovascular illnesses that makes a difference. Other illnesses, like diabetes, may contribute to heart disease as well. That’s even more true if those other illnesses are out of control or have family history attached to them as well. All of it makes a difference.
Not Being Active Enough
By now pretty much everyone knows that physical activity is crucial for good health. A history of sedentary choices can add up to heart disease down the line. That’s especially true if your elderly family member has other risk factors that aren’t as controllable. Talk with her doctor to determine if exercising now is a good idea for your senior. Home care providers may be able to help.
Too Much Stress
Stress takes a big toll on your senior’s health, including her heart. If your senior has effective means of managing her stress, it’s less likely to be an overriding factor in heart disease. One way your senior can reduce her stress is by accepting help. Personal care at home can help your elderly family member to relax and to let some things go.
Dietary Factors
Diet really can be the basis of good health. That’s also true when your senior is trying to avoid heart disease. Changing her diet is a lot easier with help, so having personal care at home managing the meal preparation tasks and getting something nutritious on the table is an excellent first step.
Talk to your elderly family member’s doctor about her individual risk factors for developing heart disease and heart health concerns. From there you can both make plans that help her to reduce those risk factors.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE IS CONSIDERING HIRING personal care at home in sunnyvale, ca, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT HOME HELPERS TODAY (408) 317-4969.
