According to the American Heart Association, over 50% of men and 30% of women over the age of 60 have coronary heart disease. This is a disease in which a waxy plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. Due to a poor diet and sedentary lifestyle, this plaque builds up over many years and blocks blood flow. Unfortunately, that’s why so many seniors have this problem- they’re the only ones who have lived long enough to have it build up! But we all know that having blocked arteries can lead to terrible things, so we need to remedy this situation. But how? Fortunately, it’s not as hard as you might think!
- Take your medications and follow the plan put in place by your doctors. When they tell you to take your pills at 8 am and noon and 5 pm with food or a full glass of water or whatever- they aren’t making suggestions. They are called “Doctors Orders” for a reason and they want your heart to be healthy.
- Exercise, Exercise, Exercise! One of my favorite sayings is “Sweat is just your fat crying.” And we all know that fat is a major problem when it comes to blockage. The recommendation is to exercise 4-5 times a week for 30 minutes and to sweat. A walk in the park is nice but sweat is what opens our arteries!
- Eat healthy. I’m sorry, but chips and soda aren’t going to clear your arteries. It might be time to consider going as Vegetarian as you possibly can. Whole grains, leafy greens, legumes, and soy products are proven winners!
To learn more about the importance of heart care, join me on Facebook Live with my friend Sue Strauss, RN BSN on Tuesday 8/24 at 3 pm. Sue is the Director of Critical Care and Cardiovascular Services at Western Reserve Hospital. Join click on facebook.com/danburyseniorlivingtallmadge to join the chat!
