American Heart Month: Heart-Healthy Tips for Seniors

Many older adults and their caregivers believe that heart disease is inevitable with old age.

However, there are numerous ways to keep the heart in great shape and improve cardiovascular health. With the right lifestyle habits and the support of a home care provider, seniors can strengthen their immune systems and reduce the risk of conditions that lead to heart disease.

In line with American Heart Month, we will share a few heart-healthy tips for older adults and their caregivers:

Stay Active

Older adults should aim for a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week. Great examples of aerobic activities include gardening and swimming. Seniors should also work on improving their balance, flexibility, and strength through activities like yard work, bike riding, or yoga.

Eat a Well-Balanced Diet

In general, seniors should focus on a mostly plant-based diet with vegetables and whole fruits making up most of their food consumption per day. Heart-healthy proteins are also good, such as lean meat, eggs, legumes, and skinless poultry. They should avoid sugary drinks, as well as salty and processed foods.

Be Symptom Savvy

Learning more about heart disease and its symptoms is important. Although its symptoms are barely noticeable in the early stages, knowing the signs of a stroke or heart attack when the disease progresses can save a life.

Symptoms of a heart attack include upper body discomfort, chest pain, shortness of breath, and nausea. Meanwhile, stroke symptoms include F.A.S.T., which stands for face numbness on one side, arm numbness, speech difficulty, and time to call an emergency number if these symptoms appear.

With these tips, seniors and their caregivers can take the steps to improve cardiovascular health. This decreases the risk of heart disease and promotes healthy aging and longevity.