4 Tips to a Healthy Heart

February is National Heart Month, which makes now an excellent time to share a few heart healthy tips for seniors. While the four heart healthy tips below are relevant to adults of all ages, they are especially important for seniors with an increased risk of heart-related concerns. These seniors stand to benefit the most from senior living communities and retirement homes, which can provide more healthy living opportunities and activities to their residents.

Always consult with your doctor or health professional before making any changes to your lifestyle, like starting a new diet or exercise regimen.

Stay Active

What “staying active” looks like in your senior years may be vastly different than what it looked like 10 or 20 years prior. However, that doesn’t negate the need for staying physically active. Check with your physician to determine the best types of physical activity for your level of mobility. Aim for 2.5 hours of physical fitness per week, even if it has to be broken into 10-minute intervals spread throughout the day. For many seniors who live in a senior living community, a few physical activities might include:

• Range of motion exercises
• Chair exercises—such as chair yoga
• Walking
• Swimming
• Resistance band exercises
• Handheld weight training
• Gardening

Eat a Heart Healthy Diet

Your diet plays a vital role in all aspects of your health and well-being, including your heart health. Monitor your intake of processed sugars, fat, and carbohydrates. This, along with physical activity, can help you maintain a healthy weight. You also want to ensure that your diet is high in heart healthy fruits, vegetables, and fiber-filled foods. A few foods that are known for their heart-healthy benefits include:

• Red wine (in moderation)
• Salmon
• Avocado
• Walnuts
• Spinach
• Broccoli
• Citrus fruits
• Herbal teas
• Berries

Many retirement living communities or senior health facilities provide residents with a prepared meals service, incorporating the nutrients and minerals seniors need to live a healthier lifestyle.

Maintain Your Regular Checkups

As you enter your senior years, you may be required to visit your physician more than once per year. As inconvenient as this may be, and even if you “feel” good—ensure you are current with all of your doctor’s appointments, that you are following doctor’s orders, and that you keep all prescriptions filled to help you achieve your optimal health.

Keep Your Stress in Check

Even in your senior years, you may find that life brings you a higher level of stress than you desire. In order to keep your stress in check, participate in stress relieving activities—many of which are available as part of the daily/monthly activities within a retirement community. A few stress relieving activities include:

• Maintaining a healthy social life
• Getting out of the house each and every day
• Learning new hobbies
• Participating in hobbies you enjoy such as reading, knitting, or playing cards
• Spending quality time with loved ones
• Asking for help when you need it
• Yoga and meditation
• Massage and spa treatments

These four heart healthy tips above are designed to help you thrive in your senior years. If you have many areas of opportunity when it comes to improving your heart health, make one adjustment at a time so that your heart-healthy life changes do not feel too overwhelming.

One of the best choices you can make for your heart’s health is to seek out senior living facilities to help provide you with peace of mind and so much more. Take advantage of the worry-free lifestyle that senior living apartments have to offer by checking out the care services at a Concordia location. Our senior living apartments and personal care centers offer beautiful and safe environments equipped to assist with every senior- and health care need. Call us today to arrange a tour of one of our beautiful locations and discover why so many seniors choose Concordia for all their health care and community living needs.