Home Health Care for Improving Senior Heart Health

Home Care Blog>In Home Care  |  February 16, 2018

Improving Senior Heart Health

Senior Heart Health | February is Heart Month throughout Canada, and an ideal time for older adults to learn more about keeping their hearts healthy, and about the prevention of heart disease. Heart disease affects more than 2.4 million Canadian adults and impacts seniors more than any other age group. However, heart disease can be prevented by making consistent healthy lifestyle decisions, including quitting smoking, maintaining a balanced diet, getting enough rest, exercising regularly, and monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Seniors who struggle with everyday tasks at home can surely benefit from home health care provided by Comfort Keepers of Calgary, AB.

Important information about heart health:

Causes of Heart Disease

Atherosclerosis, or the narrowing and blockage of arteries by fatty plaques on the walls of the artery, is the main cause of heart disease. This is typically caused by an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, obesity, smoking, and other correctable issues.

Symptoms of Heart Disease

Although each type of heart condition requires unique treatment, all heart conditions share similar symptoms. The most common symptom of heart disease is chest pain. Seniors with chest pain often feel pressure, heaviness, discomfort, or fullness in their chest.

Types of Heart Disease?

Heart disease is considered the second leading cause of death in Canada. It is a term used to describe several types of heart conditions including coronary artery disease, silent ischemia, angina, heart attack, heart failure, arrhythmia, heart defects, and peripheral arterial disease.

Other symptoms of heart disease include a faster heartbeat, shortness of breath, palpitations or irregular heartbeats, weakness or dizziness, nausea, and sweating.

Preventing Heart Disease

The good news is that seniors can prevent heart disease by simply maintaining a healthy lifestyle and properly managing existing health conditions. Seniors who live alone and need extra help implementing some of these daily changes can get the professional assistance they need from home health care providers. These simple strategies can help older adults prevent heart disease:

•        Visiting the doctor regularly.
•        Maintaining a healthy weight.
•       Exercising on a regular basis.
•        Adhering to a well-balanced diet with limited amount of sodium.
•        Managing stress levels.
•        Quitting smoking.
•        Limiting alcohol intake.

This February, seniors should strive to learn more about heart disease or donate to an organization that supports heart research. By doing so, they can help spread awareness about Heart Month and improve their own heart health in the process.

Comfort Keepers^® Calgary Can Help with Senior Heart Health

At Comfort Keepers^®, we create individual care plans for every client. These plans include wellness goals that consider physical, mental and emotional health. Our caregivers can help support physician-prescribed diet and exercise plans, provide medication reminders, provide transportation to appointments and help seniors engage in the activities they love the most. And, our caregivers can help senior stay connected with loved ones through video chats, phone calls and care updates. We believe that every senior should experience the best in life.

Contact the Comfort Keepers Calgary office to learn more about how we can help maintain safety, comfort, and happiness in the home.

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