SENIOR LIVING: TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEART THIS MONTH.
February is not only for Valentine’s Day fun and a time to recognize the ones you love, it’s American Heart Month. It’s a time to spread awareness about heart disease and prevention. Cardiovascular disease, which includes heart disease and stroke, remains the leading global cause of death, and more than 600,000 Americans die from heart disease every year. It affects all ages, genders, and ethnicities.
“National Wear Red Day, as part of the American Heart Association, was promoted at The Buckingham on Friday, Febuary 5th,” said Shannon Schmidt, ADC, director of life enrichment, The Buckingham. “On this day special attention was brought to awareness and education on women’s heart health. As a community we promoted for our staff and residents to join together in wearing red; our memory support residents created custom buttons for the community to wear, and we offered virtual education to our residents that focused on different heart conditions, symptoms and how to be proactive in their heart health. We continue to offer safe exercises and healthy food options, but this month we are taking just a step further and really putting our ‘heart in it.’”
Other area communities are offering programs as well.
“Heart health for residents is at the top of our minds. Alongside our nutrition and dining partner at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston, Belmont Village developed a full menu of delicious food choices designed to optimize heart health, which has been implemented in Belmont Village communities…,” said Patricia Will, founder and CEO of Belmont Village Senior Living. “Additionally, Belmont Village has been finding creative ways to keep seniors active and moving while maintaining social distancing, encouraging everything from chair yoga to aerobics with virtual fitness video repositories from the National Institute on Aging and the YMCA, in addition to fun games like kickball and bowling….”
Knowing information is key, Will said that Belmont Village prioritizes educating seniors and the public about heart health. Throughout the year they offer programs to promote heart health with their partners at the Texas Medical Center.
It’s estimated that 80 percent of cardiovascular diseases may be preventable. There are things to protect the heart and stay healthy. Educate yourself about the risk factors for heart disease, the ways you can prevent them, and the lifestyle choices that can help you stay healthy. You’re in charge of your heart health after all.
Risk factors for heart disease depend on many things, including your age, family history, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, smoking, being overweight or obese, stress, diabetes or pre-diabetes, and drinking alcohol.
With heart health in mind, it’s important to eat a healthy diet, choosing heart-healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fat-free or lowfat dairy foods, and protein-rich foods like fish, lean meats, eggs, nuts, seeds and soy products, and legumes. Limit sodium, saturated fats and added sugars.
In addition, being physically active is an important part of aging. Walking is often recommended for seniors by medical professionals, and all that’s needed are some good walking shoes and a safe place to do it, and many Houston-area communities and parks have excellent paved walking trails. If you have been physically inactive, it’s best to start out slowly and gradually increase the distance you walk. When doing exercise, the body releases endorphins, which have been called “feelgood chemicals.” They are only a part of the rewards to experience with exercising.
Overall, stress contributes to high blood pressure and other disease risk factors. Some people under stress may overeat or drink too much. Find other ways to combat stress with activities such as yoga or tai chi, which are both low impact.
Deep breathing, which also can also help, helps center the body and clears the mind, countering the effects of stress by slowing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure.
Talk to a doctor about ways to stay heart healthy, and get blood pressure and cholesterol checked to make sure they are at healthy levels. Remember that heart disease is easier to treat if it is detected early.