Blood pressure refers to the way the blood flows throughout the body, delivering important nutrients and oxygen to all parts, including major organs like the heart, brain, and eyes. When it’s not kept at a healthy level, it can damage the body and lead to multiple serious health issues. The tips below and home care assistance providers can help seniors with high blood pressure age in place safely.
High Blood Pressure Symptoms
High Blood Pressure (also called hypertension) affects many older adults. It’s often called the silent killer because it doesn’t present itself with any noticeable symptoms. Many people walk around for years with high blood pressure and don’t know it until another part of their body, such as the eyes or the heart, starts to feel the effects of the disease.
Once blood pressure levels reach a dangerous level, your loved one may start to feel symptoms. The goal and hope is to manage blood pressure levels so these symptoms don’t occur.
- Blurred vision
- Extreme headaches
- Dizziness
- Chest pain
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Feelings of anxiety and confusion
- Ringing in the ears
- An abnormal heartbeat
If your loved one has been diagnosed with high blood pressure and begins to feel any of these symptoms, his doctor should be contacted right away to determine if he should seek immediate assistance.
Five Tips To Remember When Taking Blood Pressure Medication
In addition to lifestyle changes, medication is one of the most common ways to manage high blood pressure. When combined with healthy habits and home care assistance, it is one of the most effective ways of keeping blood pressure regular.
Keep your loved one healthy by reminding him of these basic medication facts:
- If his blood pressure gets better after taking the medication, it means it’s working and not that he can stop using it.
- When standing or sitting, do so slowly and methodically to prevent getting lightheaded and possibly falling or stumbling into something. Slower moves will help his blood pressure to adjust before he starts walking or moving about.
- Blood pressure medication should be taken at the same time of day every day. If your loved one finds it difficult to remember to take his medication, set up reminders for him on his phone or put his medication in a pill dispenser so he can check each day to ensure he took it.
- Don’t start new drugs (even over-the-counter items like supplements) without first talking to his doctor about it. Other drugs and some supplements may affect the effectiveness of the blood pressure medication and his blood pressure.
- Don’t wait until the last day to refill the medication. Illness, accidents, and holidays may all lead to not getting to the pharmacist on time. Plan ahead by refilling at least a week before the current prescription is gone.
If Managing Medication is Difficult, Home Care Assistance Can Help
Your loved one may have trouble remembering to take his blood pressure medication or ordering his refills on time. If he has multiple medications he has to take for other conditions, he might get confused. Having a professional come to the home to provide home care assistance with medications can help ensure your loved one takes what he should take, when he should take it, and how he should take it.
A home care assistance provider will also manage prescription refills, making sure your loved one never runs out of the medication needed to manage his blood pressure.
If you or an aging loved one needs Home Care Assistance in Lincoln, CA, contact A Better Living Home Care today (916) 514-7006
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