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Here’s How Seniors Can Love And Care For Their Heart

Heart disease is the number one killer of people across the globe. High blood pressure and high cholesterol are the biggest risk factors. Older adults aged 65 years and over are more at risk for a heart attack (myocardial infarction-MI), stroke, or to develop coronary heart disease (CHD) than their younger counterparts. These also are the leading cause of disability, restricted activity, and poor quality of life for seniors.

The good news is heart disease is mostly preventable. It all comes down to the lifestyle choices you make. The following tips can help you keep your heart healthy with increasing age:

Diet- What you eat has an impact on the health of your ticker. Diet of older adults should comprise foods high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and a range of colorful fruits and vegetables (5-7 servings a day). It is equally important to limit intake of saturated and trans fats and added sugars. Consuming nuts and high-fiber foods can be great for your ticker. Also, steer clear of high-fat diary or meats, and cut your alcohol consumption.

Quit smoking- Smoking is another great heart disease risk factor. You can easily manage this risk factor by stopping smoking. The artery walls get damaged as you smoke. No matter the age or stage of life you are in, quitting smoking can significantly lower your risk of cancer, heart disease and stroke over time. There are programs available that can help you break this habit.

Regular physical activity- There is no substitute for exercise, which can do your ticker a ton of good. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. Exercises, as simple as, brisk walking, gardening, etc. can help you manage many of the heart disease risk factors, such as hypertension and high cholesterol. It is advised that you always consult with your doctor prior to starting an exercise routine in order to be on the same side, especially if you have heart disease or are on certain medications, and to also maximize the outcome.

Understand your heart disease risk- Your risk of developing CHD depends on various factors, some changeable (lifestyle factors), some non-changeable (age, family history). This highlights the significance of thorough check-ups and risk assessments. Also, in collaboration with your doctor you can build strategies to reach heart-healthy goals.

Become aware of the heart disease symptoms- Signs of early heart disease are not that obvious. This makes check-ups at regular intervals important. Watch out for symptoms, such as headaches, cold sweats, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, difficulty breathing, swollen ankles, feet, legs, stomach, and/or neck, difficulty carrying out the basic activities, reduced ability to exercise, chest pain during exercise and light-headedness.

Talk to your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

Other measures include

1.      Stay at a healthy weight (a healthy diet coupled with regular exercise can help)

2.      Manage unnecessary stress

3.      Receive plenty of quality sleep

4.      Keep medical conditions, such as diabetes, high LDL (bad) cholesterol, and high blood pressure in check

Undergo CPR training at the AHA certified CPR Tampa in Palm Harbor, and become equipped to deal with out-of-hospital cardiac emergencies efficiently. To register for a class, contact CPR Tampa at 727-240-9404. Train under the best with us.

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