Keep Your Heart in Shape This Valentine’s Day

February is the month of love, so it’s no surprise that it’s also American Heart Month! Though heart disease risks increase with age, there are many things seniors can do to lower these and keep hearts in great shape. Here are some tips for a healthier, happier heart through your senior years, from our assisted living community in Camden County, NJ.

Know the 8 Symptoms of Heart Disease and Heart Attack 

For many people, the first sign of a heart problem may be a heart attack. Therefore, it’s vital to stay alert for signs of a heart attack to assist yourself and others in emergency situations. These warning signs or symptoms include:

1. Feeling faint, weak or light-headed;
2. Breathlessness;
3. Nausea and/or vomiting;
4. The sensation of being very full or having indigestion/stomach pain;
5. Pain or pressure in the chest;
6. Pain in the arms, especially down the left arm;
7. Sweating; and
8. Irregular heartbeat.

6 Ways to Reduce Heart Disease Risks 

A healthier lifestyle is the foundation of heart health, and specialists recommend the following steps to make your heart stronger and reduce the risk of disease:

1. Get enough exercise – 30 minutes a day is ideal, but you don’t have to start running! Aqua-aerobics, dancing, gardening, walking, yoga and other activities count. Always include weights, activities and exercises appropriate for your level of physical health. If you’re new to exercise or worried about overdoing it, speak to your doctor and a senior fitness specialist.
2. Quit smoking.
3. Reduce alcohol intake – Recommended consumption is no more than 7 drinks a week, and no more than 3 on any day.
4. Eat healthy – Good diets for heart health include lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, water, and lean protein, as well as limiting saturated fats, salt and fatty meat. This also promotes weight loss, as maintaining a healthy weight also reduces risk of heart disease.
5. De-stress – Because stress is bad for the heart, it’s important to find healthy outlets for stress and remove unnecessary stressors from your life.
6. Have regular check-ups – Commit to regular check-ups with your physician to monitor your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Any high levels can be checked and managed before they become a problem for your heart.

Relax, Unwind and Enjoy Your Golden Years – Independent-Style Living for Seniors 

Collingswood is part of the United Methodist Communities network of high-quality, non-profit assisted living communities specializing in independent-style living for seniors. With an experienced care and assistance team, scalable services customized to each resident’s needs, and a lively social calendar, we focus on providing essential resources that promote independence and quality of life.

To find out more about United Methodist Communities or our assisted living community in Camden County, NJ, please visit our website at http://collingswood.umcommunities.org/ or contact us and book your visit today.