February is Heart Disease Awareness Month, and it’s a great time to take a moment to learn and educate yourself and your loved ones on the signs and preventatives of heart disease. Heart disease is a major threat to seniors, and in fact is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, with approximately 655,00 deaths from heart disease each year. Some factors make a person more of a risk for heart disease such as diabetes, obesity, an unhealthy diet, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of physical movement, and smoking. It is definitely not something to be taken lightly and we want you and the ones you love to be around for a long time!
Pinpointing if you’re experiencing a symptom of heart disease can sometimes be tricky since they are similar to the side effects of lots of other things. Lots of time With signs of heart disease, the symptoms with come on quickly before a heart attack. Some of these might include: Sweating, irregular heartbeat, feeling faint, having a hard time catching your breath, weakness or lightheadedness, pain or pressure in the chest, feeling nauseous or vomiting, and unusual pain in the back, shoulders, or neck.
You might be thinking this sounds very scary, and it is, which is why taking good care of your heart and working to prevent heart disease is incredibly important. While it’s never a guarantee, here are some things you can do in your everyday life to help keep your heart healthy; quit smoking, keep an eye on blood pressure and cholesterol, visit the doctor regularly, get enough exercise, reduce alcohol intake, watch wait, eat a healthy diet, an
d minimize stress in your life.
Heart disease is a scary thing, but knowing the preventatives and symptoms can be a good start. If you’re ever feeling off and are not sure, seek medical help just to be safe. Vibrant Life Senior Living is here to care for your loved one, but it’s never too early to start right at home.
