Cardiovascular illness accounts for more deaths in the United States than any other illness or accident. And the elderly are the people that feel this the most. As we age, it is natural that our immune systems get a little weaker, and things that were minor issues when we were younger–even if they were unknown issues–could have a serious negative impact on us. Heart health is one of the biggest areas of concern here.
According to new research, improving heart health across the country has the potential to not only help elderly people have a higher quality of life in the future, but to reduce costs when it comes to Medicare and Medicaid. An estimate coming from the American Heart Association says that at least $41 billion could be saved if seven heart healthy habits were heavily pushed across the country. This certainly seems like a lot of money, but if you look at how much is spent when it comes to treating this prevalent issue, it is a completely plausible estimate.
These seven habits include quitting smoking, increasing physical activity, improving diet, lowering body mass index, lowering blood pressure, lowering bad cholesterol levels, and maintaining healthy glucose numbers. These seven points cover a lot of territory, ranging from the potential for a heart attack or stroke to diabetes, but if a serious attempt is made at addressing these issues by everyone, then it makes sense that health would improve and the costs of healthcare would decrease. Furthermore, it also would ensure that many senior citizens would not need any sort of elder care until much later in life. In this instance, the government isn’t the only one saving money; individuals are saving money by not needing to pay an in-home caregiver out of pocket, too.
If you have an older loved one, talk to them about these seven things and how making small changes in lifestyle can help them to have a better and healthier life. In some cases, changes are noticeable within just a few days. Help them to live a healthier life now so that they are not dependent on senior care to a higher level than is absolutely necessary. Senior care is definitely a good thing, especially when it helps individuals to get more out of their life and have more independence, too. But if it can be avoided because of good health, than this is by far the superior choice. It’s one of those things that you don’t want to ever need, but when it is needed, you want the highest quality possible for your family.
Also, you can make these changes in your own life, too. If you have unhealthy habits, or if you don’t know what some of your levels are, such as cholesterol or glucose, then get the information that you need now. It’s far better to know this know and make the changes right away, than it is to wait until your health problems are irreversible. Who know? Making healthy choices now might just help you to live a healthier, longer, and happier, life.
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