Elder Home Care Services Experts Share Best Ways To Take Care Of Someone After A Heart Attack

According to the CDC, someone in America has a heart attack every 40 seconds. If that sounds like a lot - it is. More than 790,000 people have heart attacks every year in the United States. An attack happens when the heart doesn’t receive enough blood. Heart attacks are extremely common, especially in older adults. While there are plenty of things you can do to attempt to prevent heart attacks, many seniors will still suffer from them anyways. If you or a loved one has suffered a heart attack, there are some things you can do afterwards to make sure you reduce the chances of having another. Here are some tips for taking care of a senior after a heart attack, according to elder home care services experts.

Encourage them to be more active

Being active is a proven method for preventing a variety of diseases and illnesses, and elder home care services experts agree wholeheartedly when it comes to heart disease. Encourage your loved one to spend a little time every day being more active, and maybe even offer to join them so it’s more fun.

Make sure to have a positive outlook

It’s easy to be scared for your loved one after a heart attack, but it’s important to remember that it’s even scarier for them in most cases. Do your best to keep a positive outlook and avoid scaring them with any negative statistics or articles. Instead, remind them that doctors are taking care of them and that you love them more than anything.

Emotions are okay - remind them

Elder home care services experts say it’s completely normal to have feelings of anxiety, depression, and sadness after a traumatic experience like a heart attack. If your loved one is exhibiting signs of emotional distress, remind them that it’s okay to be feeling that way considering the circumstances. Educate them on how they can improve their mood and remind them that those feelings usually go away a few weeks after a heart attack.

Quit nasty habits like binge drinking and smoking

It goes without saying, but after a heart attack, try to encourage your loved ones to quit smoking and binge drinking. Both habits are directly linked to heart problems and should be avoided by anyone with a history of heart attacks.

Eat a healthy diet

Elder home care services professionals and doctors agree - a healthy diet is one of the most important things you can incorporate into your life after a heart attack. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains should be major staples in your diet. Try to avoid extra sugars and junk food.