HJNO Jan/Feb 2024

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS I  JAN / FEB 2024 53 Melissa Brunvoll Marketing Director Assisted Living and Nursing Care Lambeth House ice. Those with heart failure should also be mindful of their weight. A gain or loss of 2 pounds from the previous day can be cause for alarm. By watching sodium and fluid intake, seniors can greatly reduce their risk of hospitalization from a heart failure flare-up. Another important aspect of maintain- ing heart health is to manage stress. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) says research suggests that stress can contribute to high blood pressure and other heart disease risk factors. They say seniors need to learn how to manage stress, relax, and cope with their problems to improve both their physical and mental health. Some of the strategies they rec- ommend include talking to a professional counselor, practicing meditation, and par- ticipating in a stress management pro- gram. The NHLBI also warns against trying to cope with stress in unhealthy ways such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and overeat- ing, which are all actually contributing fac- tors that can lead to heart failure and heart disease. The American Heart Association’s mission is “to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.” Although February is the national American Heart Month, spreading the word on how to live a heart healthy lifestyle needs to be practiced yearlong. Dialogue between physicians and their patients on what preventative measures can be taken is of the utmost importance. The AHA provides many resources for patients on their website, heart.org , to help them self-monitor their symptoms and aid in reporting these changes to their healthcare team. Although 6 million people are affected by heart failure every year, with the proper tools, seniors can live longer, healthier lives thanks to the AHA’s resources, awareness campaigns, and guidance. n REFERENCES 1 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. “February is American Heart Month.” Last up- dated Jan. 9, 2023. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/ education/american-heart-month 2 American Heart Association. https://www.heart. org/ 3 WebMD. “What Happens to Your Heart as You Age?” Reviewed by C. Nicole Swiner, MD April 7, 2023. https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/ what-happens-to-your-heart-as-you-age 4 National Institute on Aging. “Heart Health and Aging.” Reviewed June 1, 2018. https://www.nia . nih.gov/health/heart-health/heart-health-and- aging#:~:text=Adults%20age%2065%20and%20 older,risk%20of%20developing%20cardiovascu- lar%20diseaseg 5 Harvard Health Publishing. “Don’t delay if heart failure symptoms worsen.” Aug. 14, 2021. https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_ article/dont-delay-if-heart-failure-symptoms- worsen#:~:text=Warning%20signs%20of%20 worsening%20heart%20failure,-If%20you%20 have&text=Sudden%20weight%20gain%20 (2%E2%80%933,breath%20not%20related%20 to%20exercise 6 National Institute on Aging. “Healthy Meal Plan- ning: Tips for Older Adults.” Reviewed Nov. 23, 2021. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/healthy- eating-nutrition-and-diet/healthy-meal-plan- ning-tips-older-adults 7 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. “Man- aging Stress.” Last updated March 24, 2022. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/heart-healthy- living/manage-stress include bowling, dancing, and gardening. All of these forms of physical activity can help seniors stay heart healthy, or if they are diagnosed with heart disease or heart failure, keep it at bay. Tantamount to exercise, maintaining a healthy diet is also a very important fac- tor in staying heart healthy. Nutritionists recommend that older adults have a lot of variety in their diet and choose foods with little to no added sugar, saturated fats, and sodium. Ensuring they get enough protein and fruits and vegetables throughout the day is also a top priority for seniors look- ing to reduce their risk of heart disease. One trick the NIA recommends for older adults to control their sodium intake is to season their foods with fresh herbs and citrus, such as lemon juice, in lieu of salt. According to Harvard, seniors should aim for no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodi- um. They also warn to limit the use of pre- pared foods, which are often packed with a sneaky amount of sodium. Going hand-in-hand with a healthy diet, seniors living with heart failure need to be mindful of their fluid intake. Fluid re- tention causes the heart to have to work harder to circulate blood throughout the body. If someone has been diagnosed with heart disease or heart failure, they should aim to limit their fluid intake to 8 cups per day. Patients should be reminded that fluids include anything you drink, includ- ing water, tea, coffee, alcohol, and even