Maintaining a healthy heart is a lifelong journey. As you age, the risk of the heart becomes prominent. Therefore, you must take the necessary steps to keep your heart healthy and happy. Certain people are unaware of how to prevent heart attacks. Fret not, as we have got you covered. In this article, we have jotted down the top 8 heart health tips for seniors. So, without any delay, here we go!
1. Stay physically active
Keeping your heart healthy is by staying physically active. The heart requires at least thirty-minutes of walking and gentle movements every day. Staying physically active manages the blood flow and keeps your heart active. Physicians recommend performing resistant or aerobic exercises due to mobility issues. You can do exercises like brisk walking and swimming. It is highly recommended to meet with a vascular care center before starting a new exercise.
2. Adopt a healthy diet
Follow a nutritious diet and engage in physical activities. It will help to keep your heart healthy. Heart diseases are caused by eating a diet rich in bad cholesterol. If you eat processed meals or red meat, you may develop heart diseases. Therefore, control consumption of trans and saturated fat to manage cholesterol levels. Whereas, include lean poultry and fish cuts into your diet. If you are a vegetarian, eat healthy vegetables and fruits.
You may also adopt a fiber diet consisting of fruits and vegetables. Some popular fruits to eat are:
- Pomegranates
- Oranges
- Berries
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Tomatoes
These fruits and vegetables antioxidants fight inflammation, which is a factor in heart disease.
3. Avoid unhealthy activities
Most elderly people who smoke or drink regularly have higher chances of developing cardiovascular problems. Smoking damages your artery walls, increasing the risk of heart attacks. Some people also inhale secondhand smoke, which results in stroke by causing blood clots. Alcohol consumption also increases blood pressure and heart rate. Therefore, elderly people must avoid all unhealthy practices to remain healthy. If you see symptoms of heart problems, meet a Heart failure doctor in Charlotte County.
4. Reduce stress
Heart diseases are commonly seen in elderly people who take stress or complain about anxiety. Long-lasting or chronic stress causes heart problems like heart attacks. Stress causes body inflammation, which negatively impacts your arteries. This increases the chances of high blood pressure and hypertension among people. Additionally, stress is determined as a major risk factor for cardiomyopathy. It weakens your heart muscles, causing heart problems. To avoid these conditions, you must try out meditation, perform light exercises, or remain active in social events.
5. Sleep well
Sleep at night is essential for the body’s healing process. Getting at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep each night is necessary because this is when blood pressure reduces by about 10 to 20%. This procedure, sometimes known as “nocturnal dipping,” lowers the risk of hypertension in elderly people. Furthermore, getting enough sleep can normalize the breathing rhythm and lower the heart rate. It reduces stress and allows the heart to heal from injury.
6. Schedule doctor visits
An effective way to reduce heart health problems is by visiting your doctor regularly. Most people do not attend their doctor’s appointments, which increases the risk of heart disease. People experiencing heart problems generally have certain symptoms. These symptoms can be tracked at an early stage through regular best cardiologist in Charlotte County visits. Screenings and visits to doctors help to determine any underlying risk factors. Healthcare experts closely monitor you and provide the necessary guidance to treat your symptoms properly.
7. Quit smoking or drinking
Do you drink or smoke regularly? If so, quit it now! As you grow old, your body cannot take the unhealthy smoke from cigarettes. The plague starts to build up on the arteries lining, making it difficult for the heart to pump the blood. As a result, the chances of experiencing heart problems increase. Therefore, you must go for nicotine replacement therapy or rely on medications for faster results. Additionally, stay away from areas where people smoke. This is because second-hand smoke is bad for your health.
8. Maintain a healthy weight
Being overweight increases the chances of experiencing heart problems among seniors. Therefore, you must focus on controlling your portion and eating a healthy diet. The best way to reduce weight is by remaining physically active. It is recommended that realistic goals be set so that they are easier to achieve. Consider walking for at least 30 minutes every day or doing light exercises. If you still see symptoms, go for Heart attack treatment in Port Charlotte.
These are the 8 best heart health tips for seniors that need to be followed for keeping a healthy heart.
For more detailed heart health tips for seniors, visit this informative site: heart helath tips by NIH
Wrapping Up
Maintaining a healthy heart majorly depends on the lifestyle of seniors. Heart diseases cannot be completely prevented; however, regular exercise and following given heart health tips for seniors can help to cope with the symptoms. If you spot any symptoms, you must get in touch with an expert immediately. So, what’s the wait for? Get in touch with Dr Harsh Patel cardiologist and get your expert guidance today!