Seniors over the age of 50 have a 90 percent chance of developing high blood pressure. If left untreated, this can lead to a variety of severe health conditions, but this can be prevented. When providing care for your elderly loved one, keep his or her blood pressure in the normal range to reduce the risk of kidney disease, heart disease, and stroke.
Reduce Salt Intake
Salt causes the body to retain water, which makes the heart work harder to remove the excess fluids. This causes blood pressure to increase. Your loved one should opt for low-sodium or no-sodium options when buying canned goods or prepared food to reduce his or her salt intake. Additionally, instead of adding salt to flavor food while cooking, your loved one should use no-sodium spice mixes or herbs.
Encourage Exercising & Maintaining a Healthy Weight
The stronger your loved one’s heart is, the more efficiently it can pump blood to the body. Cardiovascular exercises that raise the heart rate all strengthen the heart muscle. Encouraging your loved one to stay active can keep his or her heart strong and working well.
Being overweight can make your loved one’s heart work harder to pump blood throughout the body, but exercise can also help him or her shed extra pounds. Talk with a doctor to determine a healthy weight for your loved one and how much his or her daily calorie intake should be before making any dietary changes.
Even seniors with mobility issues or health challenges can still exercise, especially with the help of trained professional caregivers. Aging adults who require assistance with the tasks of daily living can benefit from reliable home care. Reston, VA, families trust Assisting Hands Home Care to provide the high-quality care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. Our caregivers are trained to help seniors prevent and manage serious illnesses and encourage them to make healthier decisions as they age.
Convince Your Loved One to Stop Smoking
Nicotine causes the blood vessels to constrict, making it more difficult for blood to flow through and putting more pressure on the heart to pump the blood. Studies conducted by the American Heart Association have shown that when people smoke, their blood pressure increases and remains high for several minutes after the cigarette is finished. If your loved one already has borderline high blood pressure, these increases caused by smoking can be dangerous.
If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of elderly home care. Assisting Hands Home Care provides professional in-home caregivers around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives.
Suggest Drinking Less Alcohol
Experts recommend senior men and women consume only one alcoholic drink per day. Drinking more than this can cause a variety of medical problems, including high blood pressure. Having several drinks in one day can temporarily raise your loved one’s blood pressure for up to two hours after he or she finishes drinking. Over time, excessive drinking can cause the condition to become chronic.
From exercising to managing basic household tasks, seniors may need help with several activities. The type of home care Reston, VA, seniors need can vary. Some need assistance a few hours a day, while others require more extensive around-the-clock assistance. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual care needs, and the plans can be adjusted at any time. Call us at 703-556-8983 to create a customized in-home care plan.
