Hypertension or commonly known as high blood pressure is a chronic health problem of a person’sblood pressure because in this condition, its force becomes too strong for your arteries. This is of course with the lifestyle triggers that primarily affect one’s blood pressure. This can be potentially dangerous and fatal especially for seniors.

The National Center for Biotechnology clearly defines in Management of hypertension in the elderly patient that it is a “multifactorial disorder”. This makes the blood pressure sensitive to different things. UC-Cares Home Health Services LLC, a trusted source of home health services in Great Plains Way, Bolingbrook, IL, shares to you today what practically affects your elderly loved ones’ blood pressure and how you can help managing hypertension to avoid stroke.

Sodium& Salt

First things first, you have to know that one active ingredient that high blood pressure is commonly sensitive to is sodium. Sodium is a primary element in table salt which is of prominent use worldwide and is important in small amounts. And if your elders’ diet is not controlled, in a sense that they still eat like packaged foods and basically, too much of anything can make you sick, too much salt heightens your blood pressure, then damages your heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and so on.

Unfortunately, the older demographic has a relative target blood pressure because there has been only a few blood pressure studies that takes in this age group. It is best to consult your doctor or let your in-home caregiver take the current status of your blood pressure for appropriate food measurements. Sadly, they have to avoid foods like deli meat, pizza, pickles, canned soups and tomato products which are all considered to be salt bombs.

Fructose: The Bad Sugar

Then again, having too much sugar can cause weight gain and obesity. High blood pressure is often more common in people who are obese or overweight. Let’s dig deeper, when you eat sugary foods, your pancreas is immediately signaled to release the “sugar regulator” hormone, insulin—the so-called “key” that unlocks the cells and allows sugar to enter it and be used for energy. Hence, the more sugar, the more insulin is released.

Problems arise if your body’s production of insulin is not enough or your cells somehow become resistant to your own insulin, you may develop hyperglycemia or high blood sugar. If your blood sugar stays in high levels for a long period of time, long-term complications also occur like diabetes which entails debilitating effects to your legs, eyes, and so on.

Saturated and Trans Fat

Chicken skin sounds crunch and yummy yet so high in saturated fat and so are full-fat dairy products, red meat, and butter. Then again, packaged and prepared foods are having consistently reported high levels of trans fat—the world’s most dangerous fat. Also, packaged foods contain hydrogenated oil which increases its shelf life.

So what? Saturated and trans fat are your enemies because it can increase the bad cholesterol (LDL) in your body that could make your hypertension worse and this is what we do not want to happen. Yes, these kind of fats are almost everywhere but that’s the good news, just almost. You cannot find these fats in fruits, vegetables, meat, water, and so on.

Caffeine

Anything that has caffeine like coffee amplifies once in contact with caffeine. Seniors love having cups of Joe in the morning and that is not really good for older people with hypertension. You have to make sure that your elderly loved ones are given the right kind of drinks for every meal. Try water instead!

Alcohol

Alright, alright, before you could think of enraging because it already seems that everything you want is on this list, but hey, you have to know that small to moderate amounts of alcohol can lower your blood pressure. Too much of it, like having more than three drinks in one sitting can also cause high blood pressure.

If you reread the entire list, the key is balance; but at this point of your elderly loved ones age, they might not be able to do so; hence, UC-Cares Home Health Services LLC! We provide the finesthome health services in Great Plains Way, Bolingbrook, IL! Call us today for more information and assistance a.s.a.p.!