4 Things Seniors Can Do To Lower Their Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a serious health problem that your senior loved one may not even realize that they have. High blood pressure can contribute to the development of heart disease in seniors. More than 116 million seniors have high blood pressure in the U.S. Since February is American Heart Month now is a great time for your senior loved one to get their blood pressure checked.
If your senior loved one is living with high blood pressure there are some simple things that seniors can do to help lower their pressure. Making small lifestyle changes now can help seniors avoid heart disease later on. Talk with your senior loved one today about doing these things to lower their blood pressure:
Track Your Blood Pressure
In order to lower blood pressure it’s important for seniors to know what their normal blood pressure is. Checking blood pressure regularly and keeping track of it will help seniors see what methods of reducing blood pressure are working for them. A home care provider can help seniors track their blood pressure at home using a blood pressure monitor designed to be used at home. Seniors can also check their blood pressure for free at almost all pharmacies. Have your senior loved one or a home care provider check the blood pressure and write it down at regular intervals to track your senior loved one’s progress.
Find Out About Medication
Home Care Deerfield, IL: Blood Pressure
There are lifestyle choices that seniors can make to help lower their blood pressure but for some seniors medication is also necessary. Taking blood pressure medication combined with a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce a senior’s blood pressure and lower their risk for developing potentially deadly heart disease. If your senior loved one has high blood pressure but hasn’t started taking medication to lower their blood pressure yet they should talk to their doctor about what medications might be appropriate for them.
Cut Down On Salt And Processed Foods
The number one thing that seniors can do to lower their blood pressure is to stop eating a lot of salt and processed foods. Processed foods, like pre-packaged foods and canned foods, contain a lot of sodium. Sodium can contribute to high blood pressure. Seniors can try other seasonings besides salt to give their food some flavor. And switch to a diet that is primarily made of fresh vegetables instead of canned because fresh vegetables are much healthier. In a pinch seniors can use frozen vegetables too.
Start Getting Regular Exercise
Reducing salt, taking medication, and other steps can lower blood pressure but exercising more can strengthen your heart. A strong heart is more resistant to the development of heart disease. Even moderate exercise like taking a walk around the block after dinner every night can have a big impact on a senior’s heart health. A combination of exercise and eating better and taking the right medication can get your senior loved one’s blood pressure under control and help them avoid heart disease later on.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Deerfield, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.
Sources:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/hypertension-what-you-need-to-know-as-you-age
https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/facts.htm
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