Not all, but the vast majority of seniors can improve their heart health by making a few modest changes in their lifestyle. In this blog article, we will give you some tips for improving heart health—and not just for seniors.

Quit smoking

If you smoke cigarettes, quit. It’s good for your body including your heart and lungs to quit smoking at every age. If you need some help with that, ask your family doctor. There are lots of things available that may help you quit including prescription medications that block nicotine receptors, nicotine replacement therapy with gum or lozenges, support groups, and counselling. It’s never too late to quit.

Eat Better

By eating better, we mean eat more fruits and vegetables, and less meat and processed foods like bread and ice cream. If you eat a more plant-based diet, your body will work better, you will feel better, and if you’re overweight, you will lose weight. Reach for an orange instead of a Mars bar.

Exercise

You don’t have to run marathons to benefit from exercise. A stroll in the park beats sitting in a chair. Your heart is a muscle and needs exercise to stay in top shape. Even seniors can significantly increase their levels of fitness. Do whatever exercise appeals to you. Walk, run, swim, play golf, or go fishing. Any exercise is better than no exercise. Exercise is not only good for your heart, but it also helps to prevent bone density loss or even reverse it.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

By this we mean being underweight is not good, and being overweight is not good either. Try to get to a normal, average weight for your height and sex, and ask your doctor if you don’t know what that is. Eating better (see above) is the first step to improving your weight. When you are a normal weight for you, everything in your body will work better and feel better including your heart.

You are never too old to improve your heart health and your fitness. If you are not sure where to start, talk to your family doctor.

The Hamlets at Penticton is a supportive, long-term care and assisted-living community in the beautiful Okanagan area of BC. In a compassionate environment based on the tenets of Christianity, The Hamlets of Penticton offers security and independence for seniors in their retirement years.