Could a Walk Every Day Lower the Heart Disease Risk for Your Mom?

When heart disease is diagnosed, your mom’s doctor will likely prescribe heart medications. She’s also going to be told to get plenty of exercise and stick to a low-fat, low-sodium diet. Caregivers can help your mom manage these changes.

 

Elderly Care in Zionsville IN: Senior Heart Disease Risk

Elderly Care in Zionsville IN: Senior Heart Disease Risk

 

The Women’s Health Initiative gathered 89,270 women between the ages of 50 and 79 in a study on heart failure rates and walking. The study went on for 10 years. Women who walked at least 40 minutes per walk at least twice a week and kept a steady pace had lower incidents of heart failure.

 

How Do You Make Sure Your Mom is Walking Fast Enough?

For the optimal health benefits, your mom needs to walk at a steady pace. The recommendation is five METs per hour. MET stands for Metabolic Equivalent of Task. It’s a measurement to calculate energy used when exercising.

To reach five METs, your mom needs to reach a point where she is exerting five times the energy she does when resting. Walking at a rate of three miles per hour is about 3.3 METs. Your mom should aim for a pace of five miles per hour or better.

 

The Best Ways to Get Your Mom Walking

-If your mom is fearful of walking in her neighborhood due to loose dogs or traffic, find a local nature trail or hiking paths. She may not want to go alone. You could see if there are walking groups in her area. A caregiver could help out by joining her on walks.

 

-Your mom might not live in an area suitable for walking. A busy city may have sidewalks that are too crowded to keep up a steady pace. If there’s a spacious park, that’s the best place for her to walk. If she really can’t leave the house, invest in a treadmill or elliptical machine.

 

-When she does go for a walk outside, she should bring some water and a phone. She’ll stay hydrated along the way and have a phone if anything happens. She should start out slow and increase the amount of time she walks. Talk to her doctor to discuss the best plan for increasing her activity level.

 

If your mom is diagnosed with a heart condition, she’ll need to pay close attention to diet, exercise, and prescribed medications. She may need help sticking to a new daily routine. Caregivers provide a range of home care services. From transportation to medication reminders, your mom’s needs are covered. Call now to learn more about rates.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering Elderly Care in Zionsville, IN, please call the caring staff at Home Services Unlimited. Serving Greater Indianapolis Area. Call for Immediate Info & Assistance: (317) 471-0760

 

Sources:

Onlinejacc.org
Health.harvard.edu

Etelka Froymovich, RN, MHA
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