Approximately one in six Australians report that they live with some form of cardiovascular disease. While heart disease is responsible for one in four deaths in Australia, many lifestyle changes can be made to improve heart health, even in people with a history of heart disease. At Home Support Services, our Caregivers understand what can be done to improve heart health at home and work with the people they care for to achieve this. We have put together our top five tips for things you can do or support your loved one with heart disease to do, to improve heart health.
Get regular exercise.
Exercise is a great way to improve your heart health. The heart is a muscle, so it needs exercise to work well. However, it is also important to do exercise at the level that is right for you. This means working with your doctor before starting an exercise program to work out what is appropriate. Once you have started you may be able to gradually build up how much exercise you do. Finding an exercise type you enjoy and making it part of your routine can be important in exercising consistently.
Eat healthily.
Ninety percent of Australians do not eat enough vegetables. It is important to eat at least five serves of vegetables each day as this decreases your risk of heart disease by 17%. This requires making sure that the right foods are in the house to start with so make sure they are on your shopping list. If you do not naturally eat a lot of vegetables, meal planning can be an important step to increasing your intake. If you are not someone who enjoys cooking, consider making meals in bulk so you have healthy meals ready to heat up.
Attend doctor’s appointments.
Attending doctor’s appointments as recommended allows your doctor to work with you and make sure there is a current plan in place to monitor and optimise your heart health. It is a good idea to make a list of questions you want to ask before you go so you do not forget. If you find the information the doctor gives you a lot to take in, ask them to write some of it down, or take a friend or family member with you to the appointment.
Take any medications as prescribed.
It can be tempting to skip taking medications, especially when you feel good. However, taking medications as prescribed is important to keeping your heart healthy. If you are wondering if you can reduce a medication, talk to your doctor first to find out what effect that might have. If you are having trouble remembering to take your medications, consider using a daily pill box or setting an alarm on your phone. A routine makes it easier to make sure you are taking the right amounts.
Reach out for help if needed.
If you have heart disease or are at risk for heart disease, and are struggling to do what you need to do to stay healthy, reach out for help. Your GP is always a good place to start but a dietitian, personal trainer, family member, or domestic care agency such as Home Support Services, can all be great sources of support for you.
Putting these five tips into play can not only help you keep your heart healthy but keep you generally healthy. Even if you have a history of heart disease, they can still help you to live well.
Support of a domestic care agency like Home Support Services, can bring enormous benefit and comfort to your quality of life while maintaining autonomy at home. Home Support Services has viable solutions when it comes to supporting independent living. For more information, get in touch with us today.
