Stroke Prevention during American Heart Month


With February recognized as American Heart Health Month, senior care providers may be on especially high alert for preventing some of the most serious cardiovascular conditions facing older adults, and that includes stroke. There are a number of ways for caregivers to help the elderly reduce their risk of a stroke, and many of them are easy to implement.

The best thing seniors can do to lower their risk of a stroke is to manage their blood pressure, according to Mayo Clinic. Care providers can help in various ways, including assisting elderly individuals with medication management, which can help lower blood pressure,  and encourage them to stay physically active.

Meal preparation is another cornerstone of heart health, as a diet that’s full of fruits and vegetables is critical to preventing the deathly incidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s also important for seniors, or people of any age, to limit their intake of saturated fats and cholesterol. A healthy diet will help seniors stay at an ideal body weight, which is often one of the greatest risk factors for strokes.

Strokes are responsible for an estimated 130,000 deaths in the United States each year, according to the CDC. Furthermore, around 795,000 people suffer a stroke, around 610,000 of which are the first incident.