Cardiac Arrest and Elders: Causes and Prevention

Elderly Care in Santa Clara CA

A weak heart could be susceptible to a wide range of heart health problems, including cardiac arrest. It is very different from a heart attack because this condition involves having the coronary artery blocked and is usually the result of a severely abnormal heart rhythm. The blockage will stop the blood from flowing to the rest of the body, which could cause severe damage to the heart.

Studies are still being conducted to learn more about this condition. Those who are concerned with the health of their elderly loved one should hire an elderly care provider to stay with them each day in order to encourage them to make heart-healthy decisions. These decisions may include getting plenty of exercise and eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Below are some symptoms of cardiac arrest that could be prevented by eating the right foods.

Risk Factors

Some of the most common risk factors of cardiac arrest include:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure or hypertension
• Getting older
• Smoking
• High cholesterol
• Lack of physical activities
• Obesity
• Family history of coronary heart disease
• Male gender

A number of tests can be conducted to find out if your elderly loved one is at risk, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG), a cardiac enzyme blood test, and a hormone test.

Prevention

As with most medical conditions, making the right choices for a healthy life could help strengthen the elder’s heart, preventing cardiac arrest from every happening to them. As helpful as the following tips are at reducing your loved one’s chances of having this heart condition, there is no guarantee they will never get cardiac arrest.

• Eat a healthy diet. The foods we eat can make a huge difference in how healthy our hearts and bodies are in the future. Encourage your loved one to eat a healthy diet in order to lower their risk of developing a heart condition. Talk to a dietitian for tips on how to create the perfect diet for your elderly parent.
• Avoid smoking. Smoking is extremely harmful to your health and is often the reason that a wide range of diseases develop, including numerous types of cancer and lung disease. The heart can also become weaker when using these tobacco products, so talk to your loved one about quitting. Better yet, have them talk to their doctor about programs available to them that will help them quit.
• Drink in moderation. Excessive alcohol consumption can cause severe problems with one’s heart in the future. Prevent this from happening by having the senior drink no more than 2 drinks per day.
  For more tips on how to prevent cardiac arrest, talk to the senior’s doctor.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring elderly care in Santa Clara, CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Helpers today (408) 259-5930.