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5 Facts About Heart Disease

In the United States, heart disease is the number one cause of death for men and women. There are many different kinds of heart disease, including heart attacks. If your aging relative has been diagnosed with heart disease, learning more is the first step in becoming an effective caregiver. Below are 5 facts about heart disease to get you started.

1: Heart Disease is Serious

Some seniors may want to brush off their diagnosis as not being a big deal. However, it’s important that they take heart disease seriously. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), someone in the United States dies from cardiovascular disease every 37 seconds. That equates to 1 in every 4 deaths.

2: High Blood Pressure is a Kind of Heart Disease

There are lots of different kinds of heart disease. You may not know it, but high blood pressure is a kind of heart disease. In fact, it’s a major risk factor for more serious problems, including heart attacks. Approximately one-third of people in the U.S. have high blood pressure. The only way to know if your older family member has it is for them to have their blood pressure checked.

3: Some People Have Silent Heart Attacks

It’s possible for someone to have a heart attack without knowing it. These are called “silent heart attacks” and they don’t have noticeable symptoms. Silent heart attacks are most common in diabetics and seniors over the age of 75.

4: Women Often Don’t Have Classic Heart Attack Signs

Men typically have severe chest pain and radiating pain into their arms. Women, on the other hand, often don’t have pain in their chest. Instead, they may feel a heart attack in their back, neck, shoulder, or throat. They may also be nauseated, fatigued, and experience vomiting.

5: Some Conditions and Lifestyle Choices Increase the Risk of Heart Disease

The top risk factors for serious heart disease are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. Other risk factors include:

Diabetes.
Being overweight or obese.
Eating a poor diet.
Not being physically active.
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.

Older adults with heart disease can benefit from the assistance of an elderly care provider. Elderly care providers can remind them when it is time to take medications for managing their condition. An elderly care provider can also drive the senior to cardiac rehabilitation and other medical appointments. In addition, an elderly care provider can prepare healthy meals and encourage the elder adult to be more physically active, which can lead to better health.

If you or an aging loved-one is considering hiring Home Care in Thornton, CO, please contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts at Home today at 303-255-4071.