Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. It surpasses any type of cancer, yet often doesn’t get the attention it deserves until someone has an “attack” that puts them near death. That’s because it’s often undetectable until it reaches that stage, making it a frightening disease, especially if you have an elderly loved one who has a family history of Coronary Heart Disease.
Coronary Heart Disease occurs when the heart’s arteries are no longer able to bring oxygen-rich blood back to the heart. It affects the larger arteries of the heart and is often caused by build-up in the arteries such as plaque. This plaque, created by cholesterol, blocks or slows the blood’s ability to reach the heart.
If your loved one is either at risk for developing Coronary Heart Disease or has already been diagnosed with it, there are steps they can take to reduce his risk of either developing it or having it progress. Some of the steps to take are small lifestyle changes that can easily be implemented by committing to some different choices in everyday options. Let’s look at six ways your loved one can reduce the risk of Coronary Heart Disease.
- Make healthy choices about what to eat. Changing eating habits is one of the largest steps to take to reduce the risk of Coronary Heart Disease. There are foods your loved one should add to his diet and foods to try to eliminate or greatly reduce. Sometimes these choices can be difficult to navigate, so having a home care provider help with shopping and preparing meals will be a big advantage for your loved one to have success in this area.
- Be more active. The next big step to take is to take more steps. Regular exercise creates a more efficient heart and blood circulatory system. It can also lower cholesterol and reduce high blood pressure – both of which are risk factors for developing Coronary Heart Disease. If exercise is new, have your loved one start small with daily walks with his Home Care provider, working toward longer walks and more exertion to get the full benefits of exercise.
- Aim for a healthy weight. Extra pounds or being underweight both put more pressure on the heart. As the diet improves and exercise increases, your loved one will probably see his weight become more healthy.
- Quit bad habits. Habits like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption damage the heart. Help your loved one quit these habits with a supportive cessation program and individuals in his life, like family and his home care team, who will encourage his progress.
- Take medications as prescribed. If your loved one has high blood pressure or diabetes, he may have prescriptions to help him keep those conditions under control. Help your loved one manage his medications wisely by having a home care provider help with medication management.
- Keep health conditions under control. Whether it’s high blood pressure or diabetes, your loved one should regularly visit his doctor for a health assessment as well as manage it at home as well. That may mean routinely checking his blood pressure or glucose levels as well as following all of the recommendations from his physician for managing the disease.
With consistent care and positive lifestyle changes, your loved one will be able to reduce his risk of Coronary Heart Disease.
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/coronary-heart-disease
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Apopka, FL, please contact the caring staff at Homewatch CareGivers of Winter Garden today! (689) 267-3005
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