Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a serious health problem that affects many seniors. It requires careful management to combat this condition. While diet and medication are beneficial for controlling hypertension, there are other measures that seniors can take to ensure they remain healthy.
What Is Hypertension?
Hypertension occurs when the amount of blood pumped by the heart exerts too much force on artery walls. Over time, this can narrow your vessels and contribute to problems such as stroke or dementia. High blood pressure can also lead to an increased risk of kidney disease or hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis). That's why it's important to make sure you take action to protect your health when you start suffering from symptoms of hypertension.
Ways To Manage Hypertension Besides Diet And Medication
Fortunately, there are many affordable lifestyle modifications you can make alongside prescription medications that may prove instrumental in keeping hypertension at bay.
- Exercise: Regular physical activity has been shown time and time again to stave off cardiovascular issues like hypertension while improving overall health and physical fitness levels alike. Aim for thirty minutes per day, five days per week. Any increase above baseline exercise count will improve well-being! Just remember not to overdo it. Sixty minutes a day, five days per week could actually raise BP instead! Follow your doctor's orders and ask for advice before starting a new exercise routine.
- Stress management: Stress hormones like cortisol act directly on our bodies in a variety of ways, including increasing the risk of hypertension. Finding ways to cope effectively with both short-term stressors and long-term issues can help improve a number of possible health outcomes.
- Adequate sleep: Just like stress management is key in lowering hypertension numbers, getting enough restful slumber every night helps reset our hormones back into favorable positions. Adequate sleep can also help reduce stress, aid in healing, and more.
- Supplements: In many cases, taking over-the-counter supplements can help aid in the reduction of hypertension. Talk to your doctor about what supplements are most likely to help reach your goals and make sure that they do not interact with any of the medications you take on a regular basis.
Do You Need Help Caring For A Loved One With Hypertension?
Hypertension is a serious medical condition that requires careful management and attention to detail. Utilizing diet, medication and lifestyle modifications such as proper exercise, stress management, adequate sleep and supplement use can help individuals of all ages reduce their risk or manage the effects of hypertension in a sustainable manner. Those interested in benefiting from the wide range of solutions available should consult with their physician before making any changes to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Do you need extra help caring for a senior loved one with hypertension? At Senior Helpers Northern Delaware, we offer care services for seniors in Newark, Wilmington, Bear, and New Castle County. Contact us today to learn more about our in-home care options, including help with meal prep, companionship services, respite care, and more.