Just because your aging parent has had a heart attack or has a weak heart doesn’t mean that they can’t benefit from exercise. In fact, you will find that exercising regularly benefits older adults with heart disease and those with a high risk of developing the condition. Exercising can help to improve blood circulation, strengthen the cardiovascular system, lower cholesterol levels and keep blood pressure levels in check.
In this article, we share with you some exercises for heart disease your aging parent can try out!
Before You Start
Before getting started, it’s always best to talk to your loved one’s doctor or healthcare provider and ask them the following questions:
- What type of exercises can I or my loved one do, and what should be avoided?
- How much exercise should I aim for in a week?
- Do I have to adjust when I take my medications when I exercise?
Depending on your loved one’s condition, their doctor may alter their medication regime or recommend a specific type of physical exercise for them to follow.
Types of Exercises for Heart Disease
Below are some recommended types of exercises for older adults with heart disease:
- Aerobic Activity
Whether your loved one prefers to brisk walk, jog or swim, they can benefit from doing this regularly. Water aerobics is a great choice for older adults who also have musculoskeletal conditions that make jogging or running hard on the joints. Before starting, always take some time to warm up, and at the end of the activity, cooling down is a must.
- Resistance Training
On the other hand, resistance weight training can help older adults to improve their muscle strength. However, keep in mind that this does not directly strengthen the heart as aerobic activity does. Of course, the training regime should be customized to your loved one’s needs and abilities. Some examples of resistance training include lunges, bicep curls, and making use of a resistance band or dumbbells to train.
- Stretching
Flexibility workouts can include stretching, tai chi, and yoga. Though they don’t directly contribute to heart health, they can help to keep the body more flexible, which can go a long way in improving cramps, joint pain, and other musculoskeletal issues. The best part is that these exercises can be easily done from home and you do not require a lot of equipment to start.
Our Residents at Discovery Village At The West End Can Benefit from Personalized Health & Fitness Programs
When your loved one makes the move to Discovery Village At The West End, they will find a range of bespoke health & wellness programs designed to suit their needs. Besides taking into consideration physical and medical health, we also offer programs such as spiritual gatherings and educational seminars to promote social, emotional, mental, and intellectual health. Feel free to find out more about our senior assisted living, respite care, active independent living, and memory care programs today!
