Page 50 - February 2023 Issue.indd

Try to be more physically active. Talk cholesterol in your blood with a blood • Reduced ability to exercise
with your doctor about the type of test. You must be fasting overnight or be physically active
activities that would be best for you. If or for eight hours before this blood • Problems doing your

possible, aim to get at least 150 minutes test. This will tell you your overall or
normal activities
of physical activity each week. Every total cholesterol level as well as LDL
day is best. It doesn’t have to be done (“bad” cholesterol), HDL (“healthy” Problems with arrhythmia are much
all at once. cholesterol), and triglycerides (another more common in older adults than
type of fat in the blood that puts you at younger people. Arrhythmia needs
Start by doing activities you enjoy— risk for heart problems). to be treated. See a doctor if you feel
brisk walking, dancing, bowling, a fluttering in your chest or have the

bicycling, or gardening, for example. Don’t drink a lot of alcohol. Men
feeling that your heart is skipping a beat
Avoid spending hours every day sitting. should not have more than two drinks
or beating too hard, especially if you are
a day and women only one. weaker than usual, dizzy, tired, or get
If you smoke, quit. Smoking is the
short of breath when active.
leading cause of preventable death. Manage stress. Learn how to manage
Smoking adds to the damage to stress, relax, and cope with problems to If you have any signs of heart disease,
artery walls. It’s never too late to get improve physical and emotional health.
your doctor may send you to a

some benefit from quitting smoking. Consider activities such as a stress
cardiologist, a doctor who specializes
Quitting, even in later life, can lower management program, meditation, in the heart.
your risk of heart disease, stroke, and physical activity, and talking things out
cancer over time. with friends or family. Medical Tests for Heart Disease
Your doctor will check your blood
Follow a heart-healthy diet. Choose Signs of Heart Disease pressure and do a fasting blood test
foods that are low in saturated fats, Early heart disease often doesn’t have

to check your cholesterol, a type of
added sugars, and salt. As we get older, symptoms or the symptoms may be
fatty substance that can contribute

we become more sensitive to salt, barely noticeable. That’s why regular to plaques in your arteries. He or she
which can cause swelling in the legs checkups with your doctor are
and feet. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, important.
and foods high in fiber, like those
made from whole grains. Get more Contact your doctor right away if
information on healthy eating from you feel any chest pain, pressure, or
NIA. You also can find information discomfort. However, chest pain is
on the Dietary Approaches to Stop a less common sign of heart disease
Hypertension (DASH) eating plan and as it progresses, so be aware of other
the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s symptoms. Tell your doctor if you have:
Food Patterns. • Pain, numbness, and/or
tingling in the shoulders,
Keep a healthy weight. Balancing the arms, neck, jaw, or back
calories you eat and drink with the ĂŝůLJ ĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ
calories burned by being physically • Shortness of breath when active, RN on Call
active helps to maintain a healthy at rest, or while lying fl at ,ŽŵĞ ŽŽŬĞĚ DĞĂůƐ͕
weight. Some ways you can maintain a • Chest pain during ^ŶĂĐŬƐ Θ ĞǀĞƌĂŐĞƐ
healthy weight include limiting portion physical activity that gets >ĂƵŶĚƌLJ Θ ,ŽƵƐĞŬĞĞƉŝŶŐ
size and being physically active. Learn better when you rest >ŝĐĞŶƐĞĚ ƚŽ WƌŽǀŝĚĞ
more about how to maintain a healthy ĂƌĞ ĨŽƌ >ĞǀĞůƐ ϭ͕Ϯ͕ϯ
• Lightheadedness
weight from NIA. DĞŵŽƌLJ ĂƌĞ
• Dizziness ^ƉĞĐŝĂů ŝĞƚ Θ ŝŶŝŶŐ ƐƐŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ
Keep your diabetes, high blood pressure,
• Confusion WŽƐƚͲƌĞŚĂďŝůŝƚĂƟŽŶ WĂƌƚŶĞƌƐŚŝƉƐ
and/or high cholesterol under control. ǁŝƚŚ ŽĐƚŽƌƐ ĂŶĚ dŚĞƌĂƉŝƐƚƐ
Follow your doctor’s advice to manage • Headaches ĂŶĚ ŵƵĐŚ ŵŽƌĞ͘͘͘
these conditions, and take medications • Cold sweats
as directed. www.arcadia-living.com
• Nausea/vomiting

Cholesterol • Tiredness or fatigue
High blood cholesterol levels can lead
• Swelling in the ankles, feet,
to plaque buildup in your arteries. legs, stomach, and/or neck
Your doctor can check the level of Come Home to Arcadia

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