It was a miracle her husband was nearby when it happened.

Suzanne was pulling a bottle of coke from the fridge when she suddenly stopped short. Her left foot, planted between the fridge and its open door, refused to move back to where it belonged. The fridge door hung wide open as she stared in horror at her worn sneaker, attached to an immovable leg.

To make matters worse, her lips refused to form the words she wanted to say to alert her husband.

Thankfully, he took in her clumsy position and terrified expression and reached out to grab her unsteady hands. Her husband quickly pulled a chair over, and Suzanne sank into it weakly.

It was a miracle that he realized what was going on and dialed 911 immediately.

When the EMTs arrived, they immediately recognized a mini-stroke had occurred. At the Emergency Room, a medication that halts the progression of the stroke thankfully prevented the symptoms from progressing.

The Shock Factor

Looking back, there were signs.

Suzanne was diabetic and overweight, which resulted in her limiting her physical activity due to discomfort. She always drove to social events and usually placed steady supermarket and household orders online.

Although she wasn’t aware of it, her blood pressure was also high, another common risk of stroke and heart disease.

Heart Disease and Stroke are common and understandable fears for seniors and their caregivers. When they hit, it is usually with no warning and its symptoms and recovery are often extensive.

At the heels of February – which is American Heart Month – let’s explore the common signs and prevention tips for heart attacks and strokes.

The Risk Factors

It’s often unpleasant and sometimes practically difficult for aging individuals and their caregivers to remain consistent about physical checkups. However, it is an investment well worth it.

Aside from common risk factors usually detected at routine physical examinations, there are lifestyle factors that contribute to the risk levels as well.

Common risk factors include:

• ✦ Abundant alcohol use
• ✦ Tobacco smoking or vaping
• ✦ Diabetes
• ✦ Limited Physical Activity
• ✦ Overweight or obesity
• ✦ Heart problems like heart disease or irregular heartbeat
• ✦ High blood pressure or cholesterol

Prevention Tips

In line with the risk factors, here are some helpful tips to consider to decrease your or your loved one’s risk of these diseases.

• Routine physical exams
  As mentioned above, factors like high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes can be detected and treated by a doctor or nurse as necessary.
• Increased physical activity
  It may seem like an insurmountable challenge to increase exercising, especially when overweight. Finding a specific part of your loved one’s daily routine – such as a walk to work or a social event – when moving around can be implemented is a great way to be consistent.
  The recommended duration of exercise is 150 minutes per week, which amounts to just over 20 minutes a day. Here are some ideas of how it can be fit into a routine.

• ✦ Walking to and from your workplace or friend’s home daily.
• ✦ Walking up and down the supermarket aisles.
• ✦ Jogging in the park while listening to a specific music track you enjoy.

• Know your numbers
  If your loved one’s blood pressure was high at your last exam, purchase an inexpensive home device to routinely check in and ensure there are no spikes.
• Be careful to take your medications at all times

Especially if your aging loved one has a personal or family history of heart disease, do not skip any prescribed medications at any time.

• Adequate Sleep
  An often-underestimated part of overall health is the importance of sleeping enough. Getting enough sleep will strengthen every part of the body and decrease the risk of disease.
• An overall nutritious diet
  In the same vein, eating healthy will help strengthen all body systems and maintain healthy blood circulation.

Emergency Response Tips

If you notice any of the below symptoms – even if very mild – it is important to summon help immediately. A timely response to a heart attack or stroke can largely affect the long-term effects on your loved one.

• ✦ Dizziness, loss of balance, or trouble walking
• ✦ Seeing double or not seeing well with one or both eyes
• ✦ Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg. This is especially alarming when it is only present on one side of the body.
• ✦ Sudden severe headache
• ✦ Severe chest pain
• ✦ Loss of consciousness

Knowing what your physical health is at is very important and can provide the peace of mind of knowing you did your part to prevent disease. Equally vital is to educate family members and attendants to recognize when a situation calls for immediate emergency assistance.

If you’re looking for information about helping your loved one qualify for and maximize Medicaid benefits, Senior Planning Services can help. Contact us today to learn more.