Take care of your loved one’s heart, and it’ll go a long way in ensuring the longevity of their health for years to come. Here are five healthy habits that’ll keep your loved one’s heart health in pristine condition!
Watch Their Weight
Your loved one’s diets and lifestyles can change as they transition into their golden years. Unfortunately, traits such as obesity can put your loved one at greater risk of heart diseases such as coronary heart disease or cardiovascular disease (CVD). To prevent this, portion control and a proper diet are key. However, you may also need to introduce high-calorie foods to help your loved one gain weight if they’re underweight.
Feed Their Stomach and Their Heart
Fixing your loved one’s diet can contribute greatly to their heart health. Not only does avoiding certain food types prevent adverse heart effects, but you can also provide extra helpings of beneficial foods to boost heart health.
They are encouraged to incorporate more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into their diet not just for the health of their heart but their entire body. Additionally, vitamin D is a notable helpful nutrient in improving a senior’s cardiac function as well as maintaining their bones and teeth.
Keep Them Active and Fit
An active lifestyle that includes physical activity naturally strengthens their heart as well as their whole body. On the other hand, a sedentary lifestyle can be a risk factor in cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients.
If you’re looking for specific exercises that target the heart, a good session of cardio always helps! Cardio exercises for the elderly are life-saving, while also providing a social opportunity to have a fun time with loved ones. By being a positive influence in encouraging exercise in your elderly loved one, it can be a bonding moment for the both of you. So, what are you waiting for? Get moving together!
Encourage Positive Lifestyle Changes
Positive lifestyle changes can go a long way in improving your loved one’s overall health, including their heart health. Smoking can harm your loved one’s heart health as much as it does their lungs, raising blood pressure and making blood clots more likely to develop. In addition, alcohol can even impair one’s heart structure and function in older adults.
The earlier you can persuade your loved one to quit these unhealthy habits, the more healthily they can live out the rest of their golden years. If needed, you can help your loved one take the step toward seeking professional assistance and advice.
Alleviate Their Stress
Stress has been shown to have negative physical health impacts, including on the heart. By simply being a supportive and present figure in your loved one’s life, you can prevent a common risk factor: social isolation. Social isolation leads to stress, which is a risk factor for heart disease and heart attacks. Hence, try to keep in touch with your loved one whenever possible.
If your loved one seems lonely, you can consider introducing them to a retirement community. A retirement community like ours at Morada Waxahachie provides an excellent assisted living program, allowing them a carefree life with a fun-filled calendar of activities.
