As we age, our chances of suffering from a stroke increase. If you have an elderly loved one that you worry will suffer from a stroke, there are steps you can take to help them prevent a stroke or decrease their chances of having one. Here are five ways to help seniors reduce their risk of having a stroke:
1. Help Them Start a Healthy Diet
Healthy and fresh foods can help your loved one see a positive impact on their health, especially when it comes to their heart. If your senior currently eats a lot of frozen or prepackaged foods, help them start a new diet that reduces the amount of fats, cholesterol, and sodium they take in and adds in more fruits and vegetables.
2. Encourage Exercise
Whether your elderly loved one is obese or just doesn’t get enough exercise, it’s important to encourage them to get some exercise. Obesity can raise their chances of having a stroke due to high blood pressure and diabetes. If obesity is a problem, you can help them set up a weight loss plan to lose as little as 10 pounds. While it may not seem like much, 10 pounds can make a difference in the chances of them having a stroke.
3. Help Them to Limit Their Alcohol or Quit Smoking
Cigarettes can negatively impact heart health just like alcohol can. Smoking cigarettes can triple a person’s risk of having a stroke. Try to help your loved one quit smoking. If cigarettes aren’t the issue, and your senior enjoys alcohol, it’s important to limit their intake because this can also harm heart health.
4. Help Lower Their Blood Pressure
One of the biggest factors leading to a stroke is high blood pressure. If your elderly loved one has high blood pressure, be sure that it is properly treated. It’s also important to regularly monitor their blood pressure because if you don’t, your loved one’s risk of having a stroke could double or quadruple. Help your senior keep a blood pressure of 120/80. Depending on the medications they take, this may not be possible, but you can still help them to have a normal level.
5. Learn Ways to Improve Their Mental Health and Well-Being
Mental health and well-being can also play a role in a senior’s chance of having a stroke. Improving both can reduce the chance of a stroke. This can be done by making sure your elderly loved one gets seven to nine hours of sleep or by reducing stress through meditation.
At Visiting Angels, we take the health and well-being of all our patients seriously, which is why we help them prevent their risks of having a stroke. But you can also help your loved one reduce their chances through lifestyle changes. By following these five tips, you’ll not only help your senior loved one reduce their risk of having a stroke, but you’ll help them lead a healthier lifestyle.