5 Simple Steps to Reduce Stroke Risk

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Easy Ways to Lower Stroke Risk in Victoria, BC

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 1.6 million Canadians live with the effects of strokes or heart disease. Each year, more than 350,000 people are hospitalized for these conditions, and seniors are especially vulnerable to strokes. Fortunately, there are many things aging adults and their caregivers can do to limit stroke risk.

1. Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet

A senior’s diet should be rich in heart-healthy fats and utterly devoid of the trans fats commonly found in processed and heavily refined foods. Eating two to three servings of fatty fish such as tuna, mackerel, or salmon per week is highly recommended. Olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, and seeds should also be present in the diet. These elevate good cholesterol, which in turn lowers blood pressure and moderates overall body weight.

If your loved one needs help maintaining healthy habits that promote overall health, consider hiring a professional caregiver. Homecare agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Home Care Assistance, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. We offer a revolutionary program called the Balanced Care Method, which encourages seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy.

2. Get Active

Seniors should make every effort to lead active lifestyles. This is great for maintaining mood balance, flexibility, and mobility. It also regulates blood pressure, limits weight gain, and lessens stroke risk. Exercise should last twenty to thirty minutes and should be performed three to five times per week. Seniors can engage in low-impact exercises like swimming or cycling, or they can take long afternoon or evening walks.

Having a professional caregiver assist with daily tasks makes it easier to switch to a healthier lifestyle. If your aging loved one needs occasional help with bathing, grooming, cooking, or other basic household tasks, or if you need time to attend to important personal matters, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of live-in and respite care. Victoria seniors can maintain their independence while living at home with the help of our reliable respite caregivers.

3. Take Low-Dose Aspirin

When acceptable to do so, seniors can add low-dose aspirin (typically 81 mg) to their daily medication regimens. This change can lower stroke risk without any significant adverse effects. Seniors or their caregivers should discuss the use of low-dose aspirin with their physicians to verify there are no contraindications with any existing prescriptions.

4. Limit Alcohol Intake & Stop Smoking

Excess alcohol consumption and tobacco use significantly increase a person’s stroke risk. If seniors currently smoke cigarettes, it’s never too late to quit. Successfully completing a smoking cessation program can cut stroke risk by more than half while producing widespread health benefits. Although a small glass of wine is acceptable from time to time, hard liquor and beer consumption should be minimized or stopped entirely.

5. Make Risk Factors a High Priority at Checkups

Risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and elevated cholesterol. When these factors exist, they should be the top priorities at regular checkups. Seniors and in-home caregivers can work with doctors to establish long-term treatment or management plans for these issues so stroke risk is minimized.

Seniors can reduce their risk of strokes by making these important lifestyle changes. Maintaining a high quality of life can be challenging for some seniors, but professional caregivers can help them attain this goal. Families can trust Victoria home care experts to help their elderly loved ones focus on lifestyle choices that increase the chances of living longer and healthier lives. Trust your loved one’s care to the professionals at Home Care Assistance. To create a customized home care plan for your loved one, call (250) 592-4881 today.

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