Is Your Elderly Loved One at Risk for Heart Disease?
When you think about your elderly loved one and their life, what comes to your mind? It is probably all the memories that you have with them and all the memories you still want to create with them. This is great. However, it is important to know that many elderly people have a higher risk for heart disease. If left untreated, this could shorten their life here on earth. To help your elderly loved one live a great, longer life with you and their other loved ones, you should learn what their risk for heart disease is.
Age
One of the risk factors for heart disease is age. Research and studies show that people who are older have a higher risk of heart disease. Of course, there is nothing that you can do about your elderly loved one’s age. However, knowing that the older your loved one gets the higher their heart disease risk is, the more you can keep an eye on them.
Gender
You should also know that gender is a factor in the heart disease risk. Research and studies show that when someone is under the age of 60, they have a higher risk for heart disease is they are a man. However, later in life, after women hit menopause, they have a higher risk than men do. This can help you to determine what your elderly loved one’s heart disease risk may be.
Family History
You should also look at your elderly loved one’s family history. Does your elderly loved one have family members who had heart disease? Maybe one of their parents had heart disease. They may have had grandparents who had heart disease, as well. The more people in the family or the closer relatives that had heart disease, the higher your elderly loved one’s risk for this disease would be.
Other Risk Factors
In addition to the factors mentioned above, there are some other factors that could increase your elderly loved one’s risk of having heart disease. Some of these risk factors include the following:
- Having high blood pressure or high cholesterol
- Having high triglycerides and low HDL levels
- Smoking
- Having diabetes
- Not being active enough
- Being overweight
- Having high stress for a long time
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Eating unhealthy for a long time
If your elderly loved one has any of these factors, the sooner they change them into healthier habits, the better it will be for their heart.
Conclusion
Is your elderly loved one at risk for heart disease? If you feel they are based on the information mentioned here today, you should schedule them an appointment with their doctor. If your elderly loved one already has heart disease and they need help managing it, you can hire caregivers to help with that.
Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/risk_factors.htm
If you or an aging loved one is considering caregivers in Highland Park, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Care Street Home Care today. Call (732) 607-8870.
The Care Street mission is straightforward and compelling: to provide a comprehensive range of the highest quality home health services in a professional and efficient manner that will enhance our clients' quality of life and empower families to keep their loved one at home.
Care Street has earned a reputation of excellence among hundreds of families, and is recommended by medical professionals and hospital discharge planners throughout the State.
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