As we get older, taking care of our heart becomes increasingly important. The heart is more than just a muscle. It’s the engine that powers every moment of our later years and enables us to stay active and live independently. Good cardiovascular health can be the difference between a vibrant lifestyle and one limited by health issues.
Professionals who work in the field of in-home care in Westwood are well aware of this, but you and your elderly loved one should be informed as well. Let’s explore the vital role the cardiovascular system plays for seniors and how aging affects heart health.
Why is the cardiovascular system so important to your overall health and fitness?
Your cardiovascular system is the central highway of your body, transporting oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to every cell and carrying away waste. For older adults, a well-maintained cardiovascular system affects everything positively. It boosts energy, sharpens the mind, and strengthens the body’s defenses against illness.
A healthy aging heart also means you can enjoy longer periods of physical activity without fatigue, maintain your muscle strength, and manage your weight more effectively. And let’s not forget the mental benefits: staying active helps fend off the blues and keeps you feeling connected and content. In simple terms, a strong cardiovascular system helps you enjoy a fuller, more active life as you age.
Good cardiovascular health also reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and certain types of cancer. Efficient circulation helps in better regulation of blood sugar and aids in calcium absorption, which is crucial for bone strength.
Furthermore, a healthy cardiovascular system also ensures optimal functioning of the kidneys, which helps in detoxifying the body and maintaining blood pressure within a healthy range. All these factors collectively contribute to a longer life.
How is the cardiovascular system affected by aging?
Aging naturally changes how our hearts and blood vessels function. Over time, the heart might grow larger, its walls can thicken, and it might not beat as fast as it once did. These changes can reduce how effectively the heart pumps blood, which is often more noticeable during stress or exercise.
Our blood vessels tend to stiffen with age, making it harder for the heart to pump blood through them. This can lead to higher blood pressure and puts more strain on the heart. What’s more, arteries can narrow from plaque buildup, which can drastically increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Seniors and their loved ones need to understand these changes and manage them proactively. If they try their best to lead a lifestyle with a balanced diet, regular exercise, staying hydrated, managing stress, and a healthy sleep schedule, they can mitigate many adverse effects of aging on the cardiovascular system. Regular check-ups with a doctor can also help catch and manage issues before they become serious.
How do I find dependable in-home care in Westwood and the surrounding area?
Caring for your cardiovascular health is key to enjoying your senior years to the fullest. If you’re looking for comprehensive support for your loved ones, A Better Way In Home Care is here to help.
We connect you with reliable and qualified professionals from our database, all of whom have years of experience with the elderly.
Your senior loved one doesn’t have to leave their familiar and comfortable space thanks to the professionals we match you with. Whether they live by the Fox Theater or in a different part of Westwood, we can help. Get in touch with us today to learn how we can help your family members lead a healthier, more joyful life!
Us humans have a tendency to take things for granted, especially our health. As we get older, our health inevitably starts to deteriorate and go through detrimental changes. This can happen abruptly. However, it is never too early to undergo health screenings as part of preventive care.
Early health screenings among the aging population, starting at the age of 50, can be an effective preventative measure to maintain health among the aging population. It’s biology 101: the older we get, the more attention and upkeep does our health demand and the need for regular medical testing increases accordingly.
Take it from professional providers of homecare in Sherman Oaks and other areas: being proactive about health and about monitoring changes in the body can be crucial to preserving one’s health and vitality and staying strong and fit longer.
Physical therapy can be extremely beneficial for seniors, especially when they deal with reduced mobility and pain. Whether they are recovering from an illness, injury or surgery, specialized senior rehabilitation program can help restore functionality, reduce pain and improve quality of life safely and effectively.
Combining physical therapy with home care in Sherman Oaks, The Valley and other parts of LA could be the optimal solution for senior and elderly clients recovering from surgery, dealing with a recent injury or undergoing treatment for a chronic condition.
So how exactly can seniors and the elderly benefit from physical therapy? Read on to find out more!
No one is ever completely ready to switch roles with their parents, but for many of us, such a turn of events becomes simply inevitable at some point. Of course, you don’t have to take on the commitment all by yourself. There is a way to ensure your elderly loved one is safe and healthy even if you cannot be there yourself.
An alternative solution that can work just as well, if not even better, is to hire a provider of home care in Sherman Oaks and nearby areas who can take good care of your loved one for you.
A caregiver can also keep an eye out for your loved one, and may be the first to notice if anything is the matter. Case in point: malnutrition. Malnutrition is a condition which can severely compromise your loved one’s health. So how do you identify and prevent malnutrition in seniors?
No matter how old you currently are, having an active lifestyle which incorporates exercise matters. It’s simple, really: if we take good care of our bodies, we’ll live longer and have a healthier, more fulfilling life. Physical activity is, or at least it should be, an essential part of who we are. But as we age, our ability to move our body may shift or even decline. Does that mean we should stop trying to keep up with an active lifestyle? Definitely not.
In fact, it means just the opposite: we should do our best to stay as active as possible. This is part of the reason why homecare in Sherman Oaks incorporates light physical activity and walking whenever possible. It is also why doctors recommend physical therapy to senior patients.
So what are the best physical activities for seniors and what is the best way for seniors to stay active?
We all want what is best for our loved ones, especially our aging parents, which is one of the reasons for the steady popularity of professional homecare in Santa Monica. However, as our parents become older and older, it gets increasingly more difficult for us to understand their needs and what they are going through. This is doubly true for the elderly who live alone.
To make our elderly loved ones happy, we sometimes need to think outside of the box and perhaps give them a glimpse of exciting new experiences. No one can argue that making sure that the elderly follow doctor’s orders is important, but giving them the opportunity to boost their mental fitness is just as important.
The purpose of caregiving in general is to make the elderly healthier, happier and give them a better quality of life. That said, let us not forget the tangible effect of happiness and good mood on health: the happier we are, the healthier we are.
Even if you cannot afford to spend much time with your parents, having a caregiver step in and help out is the next best thing. A caregiver will be there to remind your elderly loved ones to take their medication, help them follow their diet plan or take a bath. But an equally important aspect of caregiving is companionship. Finding your elderly loved one a trusted companion is perhaps the most effective way to help them fight off depression and feeling of loneliness that so many elderly struggle with.
In our previous blogs, we talked about your senior loved ones’ health. And while we are quick to give advice such as modify your diet or exercise more with the best intentions, how many of us actually follow the same advice? When was the last time you exercised? What did you have for lunch?
However, working for a respectable company that offers senior care referral services in Los Angeles, we have seen firsthand how slightly adjusting the diet and introducing an exercise routine can improve the lives of most seniors. Something as simple as a stroll around the park can help the elderly battle various health issues and make them feel better about themselves.
For the last twenty years, people are living longer and are remaining healthier during the last years of their lives. Past research discovered that people usually have poor health during the last few years of their life, however, due to advancements in medicine and nutrition knowledge, people can now remain healthier into their later years. Working in the senior care Los Angeles arena for more than fifteen years we have learned some valuable insights. Here are some suggestions how to feel great and be healthier long into your latter years:
Diet. Ward off fatigue in the afternoon. Many adults have problems with fatigue during the afternoon hours. In order to avoid this, drink water and eat foods such as prunes that are filled with antioxidants. These types of foods can energize the body and jumpstart your brain.
Exercise Your Brain. Do exercises from the neck up. Finding ways to exercise the brain is very important for elderly adults. This does wonders for keeping memory loss conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia at a distance. Consider doing things like word game puzzles and memory exercises. For instance, walk around the neighborhood and look for seven blue items during your walk. Once you get home, try to remember where they were located.
Share meals. You will eat less if you dine with a partner. This is an excellent weight loss strategy. In addition, it keeps you social. This is simple for the person who lives in an elderly community setting. It would be wise for elderly adults who live alone to have more meals with their friends and family.
Experience the Unusual. Do something out of the ordinary. You tend to get brain tired when doing the same things over and over again. Change your eating habits and try something new. For instance, try eating fresh peaches instead of canned ones. Also, switch up your route when going to the grocery store.
Reduce salt. High blood pressure can decrease your cognitive function and lead to strokes. This is a condition that gets worse as you age. As you get older your sense of taste seems to change also. This makes you want to eat more salt as a result. Cut back on your salt and take up more exercises like dancing. Doing these things will help increase your cognitive function and help with your blood pressure as well.
Exercises. Start doing exercises that make you stronger and flexible. Add a few balance exercises to your lifestyle. Try doing things such as yoga, water exercises and anything that can increase your center of gravity.
There’s nothing better than being healthy in your senior years. For more information about healthy senior living contact our Los Angeles caregiving agency at: (323) 650-2211.
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