Heart Disease: The Number One Killer of Older Americans
A recent question was posed to the medical community or whether or not they were focused too much on the prevention and treatment of the wrong disease in elderly citizens. Cancer is considered the top health threat for older Americans, being closely followed by memory loss. It 
was also found around the country that these diseases held the top two spots when it came to worrisome issues for elderly people. However, if you are worried about these issues for your elderly loved on in the Santa Clarita area, there are some other concerns you should be aware of.
The fact is that Cancer nor Alzheimer’s disease is considered the biggest threat to Americans. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, heart disease holds the top position, killing over 600,000 people each year.
Understanding the Heart Disease Threat
Cardiovascular disease typically shows up during a person’s last few decades of life. This is mainly due to the fact that the blood vessels become stiffer, the smooth muscle cells begin to migrate, collagen accumulates and the circulatory systems biology begins to transform.
Even with these inevitable changes in an elderly individual’s cardiovascular system, patients are still living longer. However, this is highly dependent on their lifestyle, as well as the treatment they receive for their heart issues.
If you have a senior loved one, it is important to be aware of the risk factors associated with heart disease and what you can do to help prevent the issue from becoming more serious. One method is to enlist the services of a professional in-home care provider in the Santa Clarita area.
Risk Factors for Heart Disease
There are a number of risk factors associated with heart disease, there are some that are controllable, while others are not. Some of the uncontrollable factors include: women who are postmenopausal; a family history of heart disease; older age; being male; and race. However, there are also environmental and lifestyle changes that can be altered in order to reduce the risks of developing heart disease, such as: quitting smoking; reducing your bad cholesterol levels; controlling hypertension; becoming more physically active; losing weight; controlling your diabetes; and controlling your anger and stress.
As a person ages, there are some factors they cannot control; however, when you take time to recognize the risk factors of the number one health related killer of senior citizens in America, you can reduce the risk that you face.
If you need help ensuring your elderly loved one is fighting the risk factors of heart disease, let Comfort Keepers in Santa Clarita help. These in home care providers will help them understand what they can and cannot do in terms of their health, helping them to live the most productive and healthiest life possible.
Comfort Keepers
23900 Lyons Avenue
Santa Clarita, CA 91321
661-287-4200
