4 Things Seniors Should Do Every Day To Protect Their Hearts

Taking steps to protect your heart shouldn’t stop when you reach your elderly years. It’s important to get into a routine that includes heart-healthy practices and stick with that routine as much as possible. If your senior parent needs help with this routine, elder care can be there to support their efforts. Below are a few of the ways that seniors can improve their overall heart health :

Flossing

What’s flossing got to do with heart health? As it turns out, quite a bit. Seniors that have periodontal disease have a higher risk of developing heart diseases. Oral health is strongly connected to heart health so seniors need to take their oral health as seriously as their physical health. That means seniors need to brush their teeth and floss daily to avoid developing periodontal disease. Seniors also should be getting regular dental deep cleanings and seeing their dentist for routine care. Seniors that have trouble brushing and flossing their teeth can get help from elder care. Elder care can help seniors with many things including getting dressed and brushing their teeth.

Exercising

Daily exercise is important for all seniors, but it’s especially important for seniors that want to protect their heart health. The aerobic activity seniors get from exercise like walking or swimming is great for the heart. Exercise improves circulation and gets the heart pumping. Even though seniors may not love exercise they will love staying healthy as they get older and exercise can make that happen. Seniors that really want to age in place and be safe should be exercising every day to improve their physical health and keep their hearts strong.

Lowering Stress

Stress can be a silent killer when it comes to seniors. When seniors experience chronic stress their hearts are forced to work harder and that can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, and heart attacks. Seniors are under a lot of stress because they are adapting to a new phase of life, experiencing the loss of friends, family members, and maybe even their spouse, and trying to focus on their own health. Thankfully, there are lots of ways that seniors can manage their stress like meditating, exercising, and getting enough sleep. Seniors may also find hobbies like knitting or painting can help lower stress. Studies show that working with the hands or creating things can significantly reduce stress.

Choosing Heart Healthy Foods

Seniors should also be incorporating heart healthy foods into their diets while avoiding foods that can be bad for the heart. Seniors should be eating lots of leafy greens like spinach. And seniors who want to protect their hearts can use herbs and spices instead of processed dressings and sauces to give food great flavor. Eating fish and lean protein instead of beef or red meat can help too. Seniors who want to expand their diet and learn more about eating healthy can benefit from elder care. An elder care provider can help seniors learn to cook healthier foods.