The older you get, the more important it is to care for your health and wellbeing. As a senior, you can expect age to take a toll on your heart and body. If you’re in poor health, you’re at even greater risk of developing heart-related problems and diseases. You can’t stop the aging process, but you can take measures to improve your health to help prevent issues with your heart. With a healthy heart, you can enjoy a higher quality of life in your golden years.
How to Prevent Heart Disease
Heart health is important at any age, but even more so as you grow older. Here are a few ways you can strengthen your heart and prevent heart disease in your senior years:
Stay Active. Retirement gives you time to live a full and active lifestyle. Take advantage of this time to participate in activities you enjoy most. Take daily walks, play golf, start a garden, go biking or find a pool and take to the water. When cold weather hits, look for ways to exercise inside. Join a Zumba, yoga or senior aerobics class or find a gym where you can burn off calories and tone your body. Exercise keeps the heart in shape so it can function well throughout the aging process.
Eat Healthily. Adopt a healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish, chicken and other nutritious foods. Healthy foods will strengthen your heart, bones, and muscles and keep off excess pounds that can put a strain on your heart. If you’re overweight, make a priority to getting back to a healthy weight level. A healthy diet and regular exercise can help keep your weight in check.
By finding a balance in your diet, you can still enjoy favorite dishes without compromising your health. Processed, fatty and sugary foods, however, should be avoided altogether as they can cause damage to your heart and body.
Quit smoking. No matter how long you’ve been smoking, quitting can improve your health. Quitting smoking can improve blood circulation, lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of stroke and heart attack.
Tips for Controlling Chronic Conditions
Chronic illnesses like obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure can cause your heart to age and weaken prematurely. If you suffer from a condition that’s already affecting your heart, it’s important to adhere to your doctor’s instructions for treatment. Your treatment plan can help keep these conditions under control to minimize the ill effects they have on your heart. You should also schedule regular exams and screenings as it helps your doctor pinpoint heart problems early on. Early diagnosis and treatment could prevent a stroke or heart attack.
Although genes play a role in heart health, there’s much you can do to reduce the risk of heart problems. With the help of professionals from Sunny Days In-Home Care, you or a loved one can receive the in-home senior care services you need to live a healthy and happy lifestyle. To learn more about our professional caregivers and services, call 724-260-5186 today.