February is American Heart Month, recognized each year by the American Heart Association as an opportunity to raise awareness about cardiovascular health. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, and older adults face disproportionately higher risk — making this a particularly relevant topic for the seniors and families we serve.
This post is not medical advice. Every person’s cardiovascular health situation is different, and the conversations and steps outlined here are starting points for discussions with your physician, not substitutes for them.
Know Your Personal Risk Factors
Heart disease does not develop the same way in every person, and understanding your individual risk profile is the most important first step toward protecting your cardiovascular health.
Start by talking to your doctor about your family history. A parent or sibling with heart disease, high blood pressure, or a history of stroke meaningfully increases your own risk and should be part of any cardiovascular health conversation with your physician.
It is also important to understand that heart disease does not affect all demographics equally. Certain groups — including Black Americans, people with diabetes, and postmenopausal women — face higher rates of cardiovascular disease, and in some cases the condition is caught later in its progression because symptoms can present differently or be attributed to other causes. If you belong to a higher-risk group, ask your doctor specifically about what to watch for and how frequently you should be screened.
Questions worth raising with your physician:
- What is my current blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, and what do those numbers mean for my heart health?
- Given my family history, are there specific warning signs I should be monitoring?
- Are there lifestyle changes — diet, activity level, sleep — that would meaningfully reduce my risk?
- How often should I be having cardiovascular health checked at my age?
Physical Activity and Heart Health
Regular physical activity is one of the most well-supported ways to reduce cardiovascular risk, and it does not require an intense exercise regimen to make a difference. The American Heart Association recommends that adults aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week — or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity — along with muscle-strengthening activities at least two days per week.
For older adults, the key is finding activities that are enjoyable, sustainable, and appropriate for current physical condition. Moderate-intensity activities that many seniors enjoy include:
- Walking at a brisk pace
- Swimming or water aerobics
- Gardening and yard work
- Dancing
- Cycling on a stationary or low-resistance bike
- Chair-based exercise classes
If mobility limitations make some of these difficult, talk to your doctor or a physical therapist about what level and type of activity is appropriate for your situation. Even modest increases in regular movement have documented cardiovascular benefits, and starting from where you are is always better than waiting for ideal conditions.
Recognize the Warning Signs of a Heart Attack
Knowing the symptoms of a heart attack — and knowing when to act — is potentially lifesaving. This is particularly important for older adults and their caregivers, who are more likely to be in a situation where they need to respond quickly.
Classic heart attack symptoms include:
- Chest pain, pressure, squeezing, or discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes or comes and goes
- Pain or discomfort spreading to the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back
- Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort
- Breaking out in a cold sweat
- Nausea or lightheadedness
It is important to know that heart attack symptoms can present differently in women than in men. Women are more likely to experience the less recognized symptoms — shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and back or jaw pain — sometimes without the chest pain that is most commonly associated with a heart attack. These symptoms are just as serious and warrant the same immediate response.
If you or someone nearby is experiencing these symptoms, call 911 immediately. Do not drive yourself to the hospital. Do not wait to see if symptoms improve on their own.
Heart Health as Part of Daily Home Care
For older adults managing cardiovascular conditions at home — whether that means monitoring blood pressure, adhering to a heart-healthy diet, or maintaining a regular activity routine — consistency matters. Having support in place can make a significant difference in how well those daily habits are maintained.
A professional in-home caregiver can help with medication reminders, meal preparation that aligns with dietary restrictions, accompanying clients on daily walks, and noticing changes in condition that warrant a call to a physician. If you’re thinking about what that kind of support looks like for a loved one in Louisville, our home care services are designed to support exactly this kind of day-to-day health management at home.
Take good care of your heart this month — and all year.
Written by Brigid Coffey
