February is American Heart Month, and heart health awareness can be very important for adults of all ages. This month, many organizations and communities will raise awareness for heart health. You can check out the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute fact sheet on ways to get involved. You can also check out some ways older adults can look out for their heart health.
Eating Heart-Healthy Foods
I’d suggest talking to a Registered Dietician (RD) about heart-healthy foods, as I am not one, but you can also find some information about heart healthy foods online. This article from Dona Health is about heart healthy foods. In general, the recommendation seems to be vitamins and protein-packed whole foods, reducing processed foods as much as possible. This can be a good way to reduce keep older adults healthy, but you should be aware of food aversions in older adults. Often, as people get older, they are resistant to change, including change in diets. It may be more helpful to phrase these diet changes as a way to take care of them, and as a way to add to their diet rather than taking things away from them. A professional caregiver can also help older adults with meal planning and preparation.
Know the Symptoms of Heart Disease
Listed in this article by the National Institue of Health, you should be aware of the signs and symptoms of heart disease. While, of course, chest pain is a very common symptom of heart disease. Other symptoms can include, dizziness, confusion, cold sweats, nausea/vomiting, and more. Call your doctor if you have any of those symptoms. Early detection is very important in cases of heart disease.
For more national health month information, stay tuned! February is also National Cancer Prevention Month and National Age-Related Macular Degeneration Month.
