Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a serious issue. Your senior may only have mild issues with her blood pressure at first but that can change quickly. High blood pressure is often referred to as “the silent killer,” because often people don’t realize that they have anything wrong until they’re officially diagnosed. Putting together a plan now is going to help your senior to avoid further damage to her circulatory system.
Look into Specific Lifestyle Changes
Some people with high blood pressure can address the problem by making simple lifestyle changes. Exercising more, eating a healthier diet, and drinking enough water can be surprisingly effective in terms of lowering high blood pressure. If those don’t work, your senior may have to move onto more active therapies, like taking medications.
Follow Doctor’s Orders
No matter what your senior is trying at first, she should adhere as closely as possible with her doctor’s recommendations. Every case of high blood pressure is different and your senior also has a unique set of health requirements. If she’s prescribed medication, she needs to take it exactly as directed. When she follows her doctor’s orders closely, she has a higher chance of success with her care plan.
Keep Track of Blood Pressure at Home
Lots of aging adults overlook how helpful it can be to keep track of blood pressure levels at home. This can allow your senior to see patterns in what she’s doing and how that impacts her blood pressure levels on a daily basis. Home blood pressure monitors are inexpensive now and are really easy to use without getting incorrect readings.
Manage Other Health Issues
As important as it is for your senior to manage her high blood pressure, she also needs to manage other health issues that she’s battling. No health issue exists in a vacuum, which is why your senior’s doctor is going to have a personalized list of recommendations for her. If she’s got high cholesterol or high blood sugar as well, keeping those issues under control can influence her high blood pressure.
It might be helpful for your elderly family member to have help from someone else with all of the changes she’s likely to experience. Elder care providers can help her to eat healthy meals, remember to exercise, and assist with checking and logging her blood pressure. All of that can keep her motivated to stick with her care plan.
If you or an aging loved one needs Elder Care in Rancho Cordova, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.
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