Natural Ways for Aging Adults to Reduce Blood Pressure

Helping your elderly loved one control his or her blood pressure lowers the risk of serious illnesses such as heart disease and stroke. Though high blood pressure, or hypertension, can be controlled with medications, lifestyle changes can also have a big impact on your loved one’s blood pressure. You can try basic diet fixes and exercise routines in order to regulate blood pressure. Here are some tips for helping seniors make small lifestyle changes that can control blood pressure naturally. 

Eat Greens & Beans

Studies show leafy greens, including spinach and arugula, and legumes, such as soy, kidney, navy, garbanzo, and pinto beans, are rich in potassium, magnesium, folate, and fiber, which can control high blood pressure. Incorporating a small spinach and garbanzo bean salad into dinner plans will satisfy your loved one’s palate and control his or her blood pressure. 

If you’re a family caregiver and you find it challenging to have the time to shop for the healthiest foods for your loved one, consider hiring a professional caregiver to take over your duties for an hour or two a day or a few days a month. Some seniors need occasional assistance at home, and oftentimes the family members who take care of them need time away to run errands, take a nap, go to work, or take a vacation. Dallas respite care experts from Home Care Assistance are available on an as-needed basis, giving your family peace of mind that your loved one will remain safe and comfortable while you relax or focus on other important responsibilities. 

Increase Potassium

Encourage your loved one to include a banana in his or her morning breakfast. Similar to greens and beans, bananas have high amounts of potassium and can serve as an easy and delicious way to decrease blood pressure. 

Encourage Light Cardio

Light cardio exercises are important for maintaining heart health. Low-impact exercises, such as walking and swimming, can raise the heart rate and, as a result, lower high blood pressure. 

Even seniors who have mobility issues or health challenges can still get the benefits of exercise, especially with the help of trained professional caregivers. Dallas senior care professionals can be a wonderful boon to seniors. Whether they require around-the-clock supervision or just need assistance with exercise and household tasks a few days a week, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life with the help of trusted in-home caregivers.

Reduce Salt & Increase the Use of Herbs

Excessive use of salt is one of the main culprits in chronic high blood pressure. While salt adds flavor, using fresh herbs like parsley, basil, thyme, marjoram, oregano, and rosemary is an easy way to keep food flavorful and heart-healthy. 

Try Relaxation Breathing or Meditation

Deep breathing and meditation can relax the body and mind, decreasing stress. Practicing meditation and breathing exercises regularly is known to reduce chronic high blood pressure and boost overall heart health. 

Give Up Smoking & Cut Back on Alcohol & Caffeine

Beyond blood pressure concerns, giving up smoking has numerous documented health benefits, while reducing alcohol and caffeine intake can also lower blood pressure. Although an occasional glass of red wine has some heart benefits, many other forms of alcohol are high in sodium, a nutrient that, in high quantities, aggravates high blood pressure. 

Many seniors who find it challenging to manage their blood pressure on their own find that a professional caregiver can provide the reinforcement and direction they need to make lasting lifestyle changes. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of elder care. Dallas families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia. If you need professional care for your loved one, reach out to one of our Care Managers today at [hca_phone].