Why Heart Health is Important | Aging in Place Solutions

Why Heart Health is Important | Aging in Place Solutions

Heart Disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S.  It is important to know the signs of a heart attack, ways to prevent heart disease, and some lifestyle choices that can affect your heart health.
 

What are the signs of heart attack for women?

Women have different symptoms than men when it comes to experiencing heart issues.  Often times women feel just a little off or just say, "I am not feeling well."  Some of the most common signs of a heart attack in women are nausea/lightheadedness, jaw pain, shortness of breath without chest discomfort and squeezing of the chest.  If you feel like you are experiencing any of these signs or just don't feel quite right please be checked out by a physician right away.  Women tend to put off seeking help due to family obligations and not wanting to cause a scene which can lead to delayed treatment. Check out other heart attack symptoms here.

 

How does blood pressure affect your heart?

Consistent high blood pressure can cause damage to your arteries over time and result in a heart attack or a stroke.  The good news is there are ways to manage your high blood pressure with medication and exercise. Find out more here.
 

Diet & Your Heart

Changing your diet can be tough, but your heart deserves it!  Here are some tips to help improve your heart health with diet.

  1. Control your portion sizes
  2. Choose low-fat protein options like chicken & fish
  3. Limit your unhealthy fats like fried foods.
  4. Allow yourself a treat every now & then - just not every time you eat!

Find more steps here!

 

Ways to Help Prevent Heart Disease

There are some simple ways to help lower your risk of heart diseases like heart attack and stroke.  The first is to make sure you get enough sleep.  Sleeping well ensures your body has a chance to internally recover from your day.  Secondly, manage your diabetes, blood pressure & cholesterol. When these things are not managed well it causes stress on your heart.  Third, eat a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight. You may find more here.

 

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Brandy Archie, OTD, OTR/L, CLIPP

Dr. Archie received her doctorate in occupational therapy from Creighton University. She is a certified Living in Place Professional with past certifications in low vision therapy, brain injury and driving rehabilitation.  Dr. Archie has over 15 years of experience in home health and elder focused practice settings which led her to start AskSAMIE, a curated marketplace to make aging in place possible for anyone, anywhere! Answer some questions about the problems the person is having and then a personalized cart of adaptive equipment and resources is provided.

She's a wife, mother of 3 and a die-hard Kansas City Chiefs fan! Connect with her on Linked In or by email anytime.

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