Protecting Your Loved Ones From Heart Disease
It’s February-American Heart Health Month-a time to focus on the number one killer in Americans- Heart Disease. Learning about heart health is the first step you can take toward helping your loved one fight against the number one killer in America!
Small daily steps can lead to significant changes in their health and life. A healthier heart will allow them to enjoy time with family and friends, travel, and participate in more activities.
To improve heart health, it’s helpful to understand what can happen as we get older. It’s also important to recognize the symptoms of heart disease and know what factors increase the risk of developing it.
What is heart disease?
Heart disease can refer to several conditions, but the most common is coronary artery disease. This is a buildup of plaque on the walls of the arteries supplying blood to the heart. The plaque makes the opening in the arteries narrower, which can lead to a blockage that causes a heart attack. Coronary artery disease can also weaken the heart muscle over time, resulting in heart failure. If this happens, the heart can’t pump blood as it should. Heart disease can impact the quality of life by making it difficult to do everyday things. It is also the leading cause of death in the United States. That’s why it’s essential to lower the risk of this disease as much as possible.
What are the risk factors of heart disease?
Understanding risks and taking steps to manage them is a start to helping keep the heart healthy.
The top three risk factors of heart disease are:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
Other risk factors include:
- Diabetes
- Overweight and obesity
- Unhealthy diet
- Lack of physical activity
- Excessive alcohol use
How can I help lower their risk of heart disease?
- Help make healthy lifestyle changes, such as eating better, exercising or quitting smoking.
- Speak to their doctor about medication to treat conditions that increase the risk of heart diseases, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat.
- Inquire about surgical procedures, which may help restore blood flow to the heart.
Always speak to their doctor first before making any decisions.
At MJHS, we value both personal and professional caregivers and recognize the critical work you do. That is why we have created these online caregiving resources to help you through this crucial time in your life.
If you need additional help and support caring for your loved one, please feel free to contact MJHS. We can recommend other care options available to you through one of our programs.
