A stroke can occur whenever blood flow to the brain is blocked by a broken blood vessel or a blood clot, and it can be damaging to a senior’s overall wellbeing. Strokes might sound scary, but it is possible to reduce the chances of having a stroke. Lowering a senior’s stroke risk primarily focuses on keeping the cardiovascular system strong and healthy. You can use the following tips to help your parent reduce the likelihood of getting a stroke.
1. Reduce High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is one of the biggest stroke factors because it makes it much more likely for blood vessels to burst. Seniors can lower their blood pressure by cutting back on salt, eating plant-based fats, exercising, and quitting tobacco usage.
If your loved one needs help maintaining healthy habits that promote overall health, consider hiring a professional caregiver. In Albuquerque, home care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Home Care Assistance, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. We offer a revolutionary program called the Balanced Care Method, which encourages seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy.
2. Moderate Alcohol Intake
Alcohol has a rather interesting effect on stroke risk because it raises blood pressure but also contains some compounds that help the heart work well. People who do not drink at all or people who drink more than two drinks each day have a higher chance of having a stroke. However, seniors who have one glass of wine a few times each week have lower stroke risks.
3. Treat Diabetes
If your parent has diabetes, it is important to treat it by keeping blood glucose levels low. High blood sugar can damage blood vessels and increase clot formation. Help your loved one by providing low-sugar foods and easy access to diabetes medication.
4. Work on Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Obesity is strongly linked to strokes because carrying around excess weight constantly puts a lot of stress on the body. Being obese causes high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar that can all contribute to increasing stroke risk. Help your parent lose weight by carefully monitoring his or her caloric intake.
5. Provide a Healthy Diet
A healthy diet lowers stroke risk by reducing blood sugar, keeping cholesterol low, lowering blood pressure, and preventing obesity. Try to feed your loved one a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and low-fat proteins. Avoid serving processed foods, fatty foods, or overly salty foods.
Having a professional caregiver to assist with daily tasks makes it easier to switch to a healthier lifestyle. If your aging loved one needs occasional help with bathing, grooming, cooking, or other basic household tasks, or if you need time to attend to important personal matters, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of live-in and respite care. Albuquerque seniors can maintain their independence while living at home with the help of our reliable respite caregivers.
6. Make Exercise Fun
Exercise is an excellent way to work out the cardiovascular system and keep the heart healthy. It also lowers blood pressure and aids in weight loss, so exercise can reduce stroke risk in many ways. Encourage your loved one to work out more by exercising together, taking him or her to fitness classes, or motivating him or her to try out fun exercise methods.
7. Check for Heart Conditions
Heart conditions like atrial fibrillation can go unnoticed because they have few external symptoms, but they can increase stroke risk by up to fivefold. Talk to your loved one’s doctor about checking for any heart irregularities, and take steps to treat them immediately.
Seniors can reduce their risk of strokes by making these important lifestyle changes. Maintaining a high quality of life can be challenging for some seniors, but professional caregivers can help them obtain this goal. Families can trust Albuquerque senior care experts to help their elderly loved ones focus on lifestyle choices that increase the chances of living a longer and healthier life. To learn about our premier senior care plans or to hire a dedicated caregiver for your aging loved one, call Home Care Assistance at 505-798-0800 today.
