3 Ways to Prevent Heart Disease

According to the CDC, heart disease is the number one cause of death among men and women in the United States, killing over 600,000 people each year. That equates to approximately one in four deaths! Only American Indians and Alaskan Natives have a lower percentage at one in five deaths.

Although some heart disease is genetic, over 80 percent of deaths caused by heart disease are preventable. Just think what those almost 500,000 people who die each year might be doing today. Although prevention can start at any age, it is best if it is practiced when we are young. By having good habits throughout our lives, we may reduce our risk not only of heart disease other deadly diseases like strokes and cancer.

With World Heart Day falling on September 29^th, we thought we would call attention to heart disease and some prevention tips:

1. Have a healthy diet. Eating more fruits and vegetables and less processed foods is a good rule of thumb. By avoiding processed foods, you are also limiting added sodium and sugar in your diet, which will help to lower your blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
2. Get regular exercise. Whether you walk, run, bike, swim, or cross-train, it is important to get 2 to 3 hours of physical activity every week. Talk to your doctor before starting any type of exercise regimen.
3. Don’t smoke. If you don’t smoke now, don’t start. If you do smoke, stop. There are a variety of products and programs that can help a person quit smoking. If you tried to quit and it didn’t work, try again until it does. You can greatly reduce your risk of heart disease (and other diseases) by not smoking.

When you eat healthy foods and exercise regularly, you should be able to maintain a healthy weight. This will help you reduce your blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels, all of which are contributing factors to heart disease. It is not too late to make some simple changes to your diet and exercise routine so your senior years are happy and healthy ones!

At Assisting Hands® Home Care, our skilled caregivers will make sure the seniors in our care are eating and exercising appropriately. Whether you need someone to be with your loved one during the day, in the evening or overnight, our at-home care can accommodate your needs. You will have peace of mind knowing that they aren’t home alone when they need help with medication, fall prevention, personal care, eating or other needs.

Contact us today to schedule your free in-home fall prevention assessment at 630-305-9100. To learn more about our in home senior care, click here.

Health Risks You Should be Aware of with Veterans

Chances are that your dad, uncle, grandfather or a female relative has served in one of the armed forces. My dad was in the Army, stationed in Key West during the Bay of Pigs invasion. It may have seemed like a prime place to be stationed, but not so close to Cuba during those trying times! On behalf of everyone here at Assisting Hands® Home Care, we thank all Veterans for their service. We hope that they were not killed in the line of duty – the reason for the Memorial Day holiday; to remember those who were died while serving in the military.

As we remember those who have died defending our country, we focus on those veterans who are still alive. Below we identify the added health risks they may face. Most of these factors are prevalent whether the veteran you know is young or old.

• Higher Risk of Heart Disease. Veterans who suffer from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) may have blood vessels that don’t expand as much as non-veterans, leading to a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes. According to a researcher from the University of California, San Francisco, there needs to be more research into the relationship between mental health and cardiovascular disease.

• Suicides. Beginning in 2008, the rate of suicides in the Army outnumbered those of civilians. Almost one-third of suicides of military personnel involved alcohol or drug use. Depression and PTSD are suicide risk factors that should not go unchecked.

• ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). U. S. veterans have almost a 60 percent greater risk of contracting ALS than the rest of the population, according to the ALS Association. Researchers are still looking for the link between military service and this incurable disease.

• Cancers and Other Health Problems Associated with Agent Orange Exposure.Veterans who served in Korea or Vietnam and were exposed to Agent Orange are at an increased risk for several diseases, including cancers, type 2 diabetes, Hodgkin’s disease, heart disease and more. It is even more important that these veterans and their loved ones take care of them in the hopes of preventing one of these diseases.

At Assisting Hands® Home Care we take pride in helping our veterans, as well as civilians. They have done so much for our country; we are honored that we can be with them when you can’t be there. Our caregivers are trained to look for these symptoms and can get help quickly. Whether you need someone to be with your loved one during the day, in the evening or overnight we can accommodate your needs. You will have peace of mind knowing that your loved one isn’t home alone when they need help with medication, fall prevention, personal care, eating or other needs.

Contact us today to schedule your free in-home fall prevention assessment at 630-305-9100.

Do You Know the 4 Tips to Avoid Getting Type 2 Diabetes?

Did you know that March 22 is American Diabetes Alert Day? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 million people in the United States have diabetes. That is 9.3 percent of all Americans! Most of those cases involve type 2 diabetes, which is preventable. Diabetes.org has identified that almost 26 percent of seniors over age 65 has diabetes; much higher than the national average. They also note that diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States.

There are several ways to avoid getting type 2 diabetes. Although it helps to start when you are younger, it is never too late to start!

Here are 4 tips to avoid getting type 2 diabetes at any age:

• Eat Healthier. Sure that may be easier said than done, but it doesn’t have to be. Make one simple change at a time. Put less salt on your food. Choose a vegetarian meal versus a burger or other red meat once (or more) a week. Eat less processed foods – if it comes in a box or a jar, pass it by in favor of something fresh. If you are caring for an older loved one, try to make a healthy meal for them at least once-in-a-while instead of frozen dinners which have a lot of salt, sugar and other unhealthy ingredients.

• Exercise More. If you are not getting any physical activity, try to do something once or twice a week. If you exercise a couple times a week already, add one more day to your routine. You don’t have to run a marathon to be in shape; just do what you can. If you can walk, run, bike or swim, do it! Mix up your routine so you don’t get bored. Not only will you feel better physically, but exercising your body is a great way to keep your brain healthy too. Now that’s a win-win!

If you want to help an older adult get more physical activity in their day, take a walk with them. With the spring days getting longer and the weather getting warmer it is good to get them out and enjoy the nice days. If the weather isn’t great, go to a mall and walk around. It gets them out of the house and they can interact with the environment around them.

Always consult your doctor before starting an exercise regimen.

• Lose the Extra Weight. If you are eating healthier and getting more physical activity, you may lose some of that ‘winter weight’ without having to do anything else. Being overweight is one of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Losing a few pounds (or more) to get to a healthier weight is very beneficial at any age.

• Stress Less. High blood pressure is a risk factor for diabetes. Focus on the things that you can change and worry less about the things that you can’t change. You remember the Serenity Prayer:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

Even a few minutes of meditation each day can help a person re-focus their energy and have a positive mental attitude. Help your older loved one focus on happy memories, not sad or disturbing ones that make them upset.

Once you have diabetes, you are constantly in need of controlling it, so take steps now to prevent it. With some small, easy changes to your lifestyle, you can make a big difference in your health – and for those loved ones around you.

At Assisting Hands Home Care we can provide your loved one with healthy meals and daily activity to keep their mind and body in as good a condition as possible. Whether you need someone to be with your loved one during the day, in the evening or overnight, we can accommodate your needs. You will sleep better knowing that your loved one isn’t home alone when they need help with medication, fall prevention, personal care, eating or other needs.

Contact us today to schedule your free in-home fall prevention assessment at 630-305-9100.