Tips for a Healthy Heart

There’s no question that COVID-19 can put the elderly at risk, even more so than normal, and that’s why it’s important for in-home care to include a heart-healthy regimen, which can help you to reduce that risk and maintain a healthy heart as we age. Healthy hearts for seniors can be a normal part of senior home care, even if you happen to be living with some kind of chronic heart condition. At Gentle Shepherd Home Care, we put these principles into practice every day for our Colorado Springs patients.

If in-person visits are necessary, these should be scheduled by all means. But in between times, your heart health can be monitored effectively by telemedicine sessions, where your vital signs would be taken and transmitted to a health professional for evaluation. In this way, you can stay abreast of any developing conditions, and avoid unpleasant surprises.

All of us have been forced into new routines and habits by coronavirus, and as a senior living at home, it’s important that you keep up with your new normal routine to maintain a healthy heart. This means doing all the COVID-19 requirements like social distancing, seeing your doctor when needed, wearing masks, continuing to sanitize, and doing any physical exercise or therapy which has been recommended to you by your physician. Don’t jump the gun on getting back to pre-coronavirus conditions, and just stay the course until your health professional advises you otherwise.

Continue doing things that contribute to a healthy lifestyle, beginning with staying in close contact with your family doctor about your heart health. Apart from this, make sure to eat healthy, keep exercising, and get plenty of rest, so you’re able to cope with daily stresses. Monitor your blood pressure if you have a history of high blood pressure or heart problems. 

Be sure you know the symptoms of COVID-19, so you can react quickly if you or anyone in your household should become infected. Look for a dry cough, fever or chills, muscle pain, abrupt loss of the sense of smell or taste, difficulty breathing, and gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea, vomiting, or persistent nausea. Also be on the lookout for any kind of chest pains, drooping of the muscles on one side of the face, or arm weakness or numbness on one side of the body.

By following the recommendations above, you should be able to maintain good heart health as a senior, even during the era of coronavirus.