5 Ways to Help Aging Parents with High Blood Pressure

Thus, you may have an elderly parent with high blood pressure. If you want to take care of your loved one suffering from hypertension, the best way to do so is to make sure they eat a healthy diet, take their medication daily, manage their stress, and make other lifestyle changes. How can you help them do these things? Below is some experts’ advice on how to take care of aging parents living with High blood pressure.

Cope with the diagnosis

Hypertension is a long-standing condition that causes no symptoms. So a person with it may be in denial and feel that there is no problem. You should educate the person about the importance of these issues. It can be frustrating when the person denies their condition, but try to be patient with them.

Check for Symptoms

• Hypertension is a silent condition. But it can cause symptoms if not properly managed.
• Shortness of breath
• Flushing
• Chest pain
• Blood in the urine
• Headache
• Bloody nose
• Dizziness
• Visual change

The presence of these symptoms requires medical attention. So, watch for the presence of these symptoms whenever you encounter them.

Be supportive through medication!

Sometimes your senior parents may not understand the importance of taking medication, especially if they have no symptoms. They may think it’s not necessary to take medication regularly.

In such cases, you need to educate them about the importance of taking medications consistently and the drawbacks of skipping them. You can also offer to help them by reminding them of their medications. Also, make sure they understand what medications they need to take and when to take them.

It is also a good idea to mark their appointments in their as well as your calendar. It will help you remind them when they need to see their doctor.

Be careful about medication use!

As mentioned earlier, taking medications at the right time is essential to dealing with high blood pressure. Many elderlies tend to forget about them due to dementia. If you are concerned about your aging parent’s well-being, make sure they take their medications on time.

Positive Lifestyle Change Initiative

A healthy lifestyle is as essential as taking medication to manage hypertension. Here are some tips that can help your senior parents manage their condition:

Healthy Diet

They should eat a diet rich in fiber, including vegetables and fruit. It must also be rich in calcium, magnesium, and potassium. A heart-healthy diet, free of trans and saturated fats, helps manage high blood pressure and prevent cardiovascular complications.

Their sodium intake should be monitored. You can ask the doctor or dietitian about the amount of sodium that is healthy for them. Blood pressure management supplements can also help them.

If everyone in the house is on the same diet, it will be easier for your parents to adopt it. You might learn to read food labels to choose healthy foods when shopping. Whenever possible, choose fresh foods and groceries.

Reduce Alcohol and Smoking

If your hypertensive aging parents have an addiction to alcohol or smoking, it is essential to help them recover. Alcohol consumption should be in moderation. However, it is not recommendable to stop or drastically reduce the amount of alcohol or smoking. Gradually reducing the amount is the best way to go.

Keep a Healthy Weight

Obesity is a risk factor for high blood pressure and its associated complications. It is therefore essential that you monitor your parents’ weight regularly and note any changes. Know their healthy weight and encourage them to reach it. Losing weight can do wonders while managing blood pressure. For obese patients, a kilogram loss can help lower blood pressure by 1 mm Hg.

Tracking blood pressure

For any sufferer of high blood pressure, monitoring blood pressure is essential to avoid sudden peaks. You can do this by using blood pressure monitoring devices and visiting a doctor regularly.

Stress relief

Stress is a common occurrence for many people. Make sure your loved ones can manage their stress.

You can visit them daily or video call to see if they are following the same. It will encourage a sense of responsibility, making it easier to adhere to a routine. Assist in remaining patient and handling situations without stress. Going for walks or exercising with them will positively aid their treatment.

Aging parents living with High blood pressure with caring people and healthy relationships are more likely to stick with the lifestyle changes needed to manage hypertension. Be sure to demonstrate caring for them. Surprise them with gifts or plan a fun day with them. Being caring and emotionally supportive of all these little things will keep them happy and reduce their stress.