The risk of stroke, particularly for older adults, can increase as a result of certain behaviors, health factors, habits, lifestyles, and more. By addressing lifestyle choices, health conditions, etc., your aging loved one can reduce their chance of having a stroke. Surely, most adult children would do all they can to prevent their retirement age loved one from developing a potentially fatal health condition. In pursuit of that, we are going to introduce you to some of the most common causes of strokes in older adults. You may wish to share these with your loved one if they fall within the population that is at greater risk for a stroke.
Certain Health Conditions
At increased risk for stroke are individuals with the following conditions:
- Diabetes
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Chronic heart failure
- Cardiovascular disease
To reduce risk, discuss medications with your loved one’s physician.
Hormones
Postmenopausal women, in some cases, to replace no longer manufactured hormones, may take progesterone and estrogen. A wide variety of symptoms can be caused by reduced hormone levels including sleep pattern disturbances, night sweats, hot flashes, and more. However, the synthetic hormones may increase the risk of stroke in women taking them. At even greater risk are women who also have diabetes, hypertension, or who smoke.
Inactivity
The risk of having a stroke is increased when a person is physically inactive and/or overweight. Physical activity participation and a healthy diet should be encouraged. Exercise programs in retirement communities, healthy meals served three times a day, and more go a long way in helping your loved one avoid undesirable health conditions.
Atrial Fibrillation
Retirement age adults with Afib (atrial fibrillation), compared to adults with normal heartbeats, are five times more at risk for a stroke. What is Afib? Here, at an abnormally rapid rate, your heart beats out of rhythm. Because of the development of this erratic rhythm, clots may form when blood pools in the heart. After leaving the heart, the clot can flow to the head/brain. When this happens, an obstruction is caused in the smaller blood vessels causing the death of cells and, eventually, a stroke.
Smoking
More strokes are caused by smoking than by anything else. Compared to non-smokers, the risk is twice as high for a smoker that they will have a stroke (this comes to us courtesy of the National Stroke Association). The risk of a stroke significantly decreases once your loved one stops smoking.
Hidden Meadows On The Ridge Offers Nutritious Meals to Help Your Loved One Avoid a Stroke
Offering senior personal care, senior respite care, and SHINE® Memory Care, Hidden Meadows On The Ridge offers premier retirement living.
Our Sensations Dining Program not only provides three nutritious and delicious, chef-prepared meals per day, but we can also take into consideration any dietary restrictions preferred. Our meals include a diverse range of international cuisines and menu choices and are made with the freshest ingredients. In a fine dining atmosphere, our caring team serves up meals to rival any five-star restaurant.
