Heart failure affects nearly six million adults throughout the United States. Contributing to more than 10% of deaths throughout the nation each year, heart failure does not mean that the heart has stopped working or stopped beating. Instead, it means that the heart has become weakened to the point that it can no longer pump blood adequately throughout the body to support regular functioning. This can be an extremely serious condition, leading to death within five years in approximately half of those diagnosed with the condition. As a family caregiver, it is important for you to recognize the individual risk factors your senior has when it comes to heart failure so that you can help them to make modifications to their daily life, and also be aware of issues so that together you can better monitor their health and identify changes that may need attention by their doctor.
Some risk factors for heart failure include:
- Living with high blood pressure
- Living with diabetes
- Being overweight or obese
- Personal history of coronary heart disease
- Personal history of heart attack
- Frequent use of alcohol
- Smoking or other use of tobacco
- Use of drugs or medications that can weaken the heart muscle
It is important to note that risk factors that involve other health issues, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, are particularly pressing among those who do not adequately treat this health issue. The better managed these health problems are, the lower their impact on the body, and the better controlled the further risk for heart failure. Talk to your senior’s doctor about their personal risk for heart failure and get recommendations for how you can help your parent to reduce this risk and stay healthier as they age in place.
Including elder care in your regular routine with your aging loved one can be a fantastic way to help them to manage risk for health problems and issues such as heart failure. An elderly home care services provider can offer your aging parent customized services specifically designed to help them manage their health, make good lifestyle choices, and follow through with instructions given up by their doctor. These services can include meal and snack preparation, support and assistance with an active lifestyle, medication reminders, and more. This care provider can also help your parent to manage tasks throughout their home such as dishes and laundry, personal care needs such as bathing, and more to adapt to fatigue and other issues that can be caused by other health problems.
https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-failure/causes-and-risks-for-heart-failure
if you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Littleton, CO, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare today at 303-953-9924.
