Everyone knows that a strong heart is one of the most important elements of good health. And as we age, we need to take special care to keep the heart in top shape.
“Hypertension and high cholesterol are just two examples of complications that take their toll on the heart,” says Anthony J. Perry, MD, a geriatrician at Rush University Medical Center. “That’s why it’s so important to keep the heart healthy by staying active, eating well and keeping yourself at a healthy weight,” he says. “If you are taking medication to lower your blood pressure and/or cholesterol, remember to take your medication every day as directed and keep an eye on your symptoms, so that you can share them with your doctor. The patient and the doctor must become a team in maintaining heart health.”
Perry offers these tips for keeping your heart as young as possible:
- Eat healthfully and moderately. By eating well you can maintain a healthful weight and lower your cholesterol, while providing good nutrition to keep your heart strong. A healthful eating plan includes eating moderate portion sizes, limiting the amount of saturated fats and cholesterol you take in, limiting the amount of salt in your diet and increasing fiber. You can easily add fiber to your diet by increasing your servings of fruits and vegetables, and eating more whole grains.
- Be physically active. Get some physical activity every day or most days of the week. A great way to do this is by taking a brisk walk every day. Make sure you take your walk in a safe and obstacle-free environment. Work with your physician to create a plan to get 30 minutes of steady, refreshing exercise a day.
- Lower your weight or maintain a healthful weight. You’ll be on your way if you stay active and eat a healthful diet. If you need to lose a significant amount of weight—or have not been active for some time—talk with your doctor about creating a plan for healthy weight loss.
- Keep up with vaccinations. Vaccinations are not just for kids! Adults may need certain vaccines because of age, risk profile or health status. And if you have certain heart conditions, the importance of staying current on your vaccinations is increased. Talk with your doctor to find out if you should receive any vaccinations.
“If you already have heart disease you need to work in close partnership with your doctor to stay as healthy as possible,” Perry says. “You’ll need to take your medications consistently, avoid salt and, in many cases, lower your body weight.” This is particularly important for people with heart failure, which means the heart is not meeting the needs of your body. Heart failure is one of the most common ailments of the aging heart.
“People with heart failure need to maintain a close working relationship with their physician,” explains Perry. “For example, weighing yourself daily and keeping a logbook of your weight can be very helpful for your physician. If you gain or lose five or more pounds in a week this may signal a change in fluid levels that could be an early sign of a change in heart status. Letting your doctor know about such changes by phone or bringing your logbook with your weight measurements to your visits is a good example of how you can partner with your doctor to create better health for yourself.”
Whatever your age, keeping your heart healthy is well worth it, because a strong heart is ultimately what keeps us young and vital.
For more information:
Rush’s spring wellness program for older adults
Anne Byron Waud Patient and
Family Resource Center for Healthy Aging
Geriatric Services at Rush
Find a geriatrician at Rush
