Does your elderly loved one have high blood pressure? If so, there are some tips to help them to lower their blood pressure. The tips that are noted here today all have to do with lifestyle changes that can be made. They don’t include medications. However, if your elderly loved one’s doctor does put them on medications, be sure that you or an in-home care provider remind them to take those as prescribed.
Achieving a Healthy Weight
If your elderly loved one is overweight that can cause their blood pressure to go even higher. It is important that you know what weight your elderly loved one should be. This is something that you can ask their doctor. Then, you and the home care providers can help your elderly loved one to achieve a healthy weight and stick around that weight from then on. Studies show that people who are at a healthy weight have a much healthier blood pressure level than those who are overweight or obese.
Exercising Daily
If your elderly loved one has high blood pressure, it is important that they start exercising daily. This is one of the easiest lifestyle changes to make. It can start with a slow walk and move up to brisk walking. Your elderly loved one can also go swimming or jog. They should choose exercises they feel are doable and safe. If your elderly loved one isn’t used to exercising, in-home care can stay with them while they do any exercises. This can just help to reduce the risk of them falling or getting hurt while exercising. Studies show that people who exercise daily can bring down their blood pressure levels significantly.
Eating Healthier
Did you know there are diets which are specifically heart-healthy? Some of the many different foods that are in these diets include healthy oils, dairy, protein, grains, fruits, and vegetables. The best diet to help control a person’s high blood pressure is the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet. Studies show that people who stick to this type of diet can lower and maintain a lower blood pressure.
Eliminating Salt
One of the reasons why people have such high blood pressure is because they eat too much salt (sodium). You should take a look at your elderly loved one’s diet to see how much sodium they are taking in each day. If it seems too high, you should help them to start eliminating some of these foods from their diet. For example, they can choose lower sodium sauces, fresh cooked chicken over canned or frozen, water instead of drinks containing lots of salt, and more.
Conclusion
Does your elderly loved one have high blood pressure? If so, hopefully, they can start making the lifestyle changes that are noted up above. The more of these tips that your elderly loved one can do, the more likely it will be that they can lower their blood pressure and then keep it at a healthy level, too.
Sources
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/high-blood-pressure-and-older-adults
If you or an aging loved one is considering in-home care in Aurora, CO, call the caring staff at SYNERGY Home Care of Denver today. 303-756-9322
