What Might Contribute to High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure doesn’t usually show up for no reason at all. There are usually at least one or more contributing factors that keep your senior’s blood pressure higher than it really should be. Addressing some of these factors can bring her pressure back down.
Having a Family History of Blood Pressure Issues
Elder Care Healdsburg CA – What Might Contribute to High Blood Pressure?
So many health issues are hereditary, so if your senior has a family member in the past who had high blood pressure she’s more likely to develop it herself. There are a lot of other factors, too. Plenty of people develop high blood pressure when no one else in their family has it. But there are reasons that your senior’s doctor asks about family history with certain health issues.
Related Health Issues
There are a lot of health issues that go hand in hand. Things like a history of being a smoker can be an indicator that your senior may be more likely to develop high blood pressure. Having kidney issues or trouble with blood sugar could also indicate potential to develop high blood pressure. Just like family history, these aren’t a guarantee, but they can contribute.
Having a Poor Diet
Your senior’s diet matters, too. Eating a diet that is heavy in processed foods, high in salt, or high in sugar can all have an impact on your senior’s health. Food is considered medicine in many parts of the world for a reason and it’s why your elderly family member’s doctor focuses so often on what she eats. If your senior does have high blood pressure, her doctor is likely to recommend some changes to her diet.
Being Overweight or Being Sedentary
Carrying extra pounds or being inactive most of the time can cause health issues like high blood pressure, too. Your senior’s circulatory system may be working harder than it should have to in order to keep blood pumping through her entire body. Losing even a small percentage of her body weight can take some of that strain off your senior’s system and help her blood pressure to come down. Talk to her doctor before your elderly family member tries to start any type of exercise program.
Lots of these changes are small, but they can still be difficult. Your elderly family member might benefit from having help from elder care providers to do things like help her to prepare healthy meals and be there when she’s moving more.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Elder Care Services in Healdsburg CA, call At Your Service Home Care. Call today! (707) 573-1003
She became a discharge planner and immediately fell in love with the concept of home care and the autonomous clinical practice it affords nurses. Dr. Lucy was hooked and has been a strong supporter of home care ever since.Believing people need advocates in healthcare systems, she has championed that cause across the acute care and post-acute care setting.
Dr. Lucy has worked in every aspect of home care from Medicare Certified, DME, Infusion, Hospice and finally Private Duty/Private Pay services. She also works as a home care consultant across the country and as a legal nurse consultant for the home care industry.
Having worked in all areas of home care, Dr. Lucy has a well-rounded perspective of the challenges facing patients, families and the home care industry, and as a provider she advocates for patients through the maze of health care services. Dr. Lucy celebrated over 37 years as a nurse and patient advocate.
Dr. Lucy has a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing from Lewis University, Romeoville, Illinois.In 1994, she received her Masters of Science in Health Service Administration from St. Mary's University, Moraga, California. Dr. Lucy received her Doctor of Nursing Practice awarded in 2016, graduating with Distinction and a 4.0 GPA.
She did her doctoral work on the global dementia crisis, aging and prevention strategies for healthy living. Developed dementia and Alzheimer's disease plans for aging patients leaving the hospital setting or entering long-term care or home health and hospice environments. She also developed a specialized program for those at risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
In 1992, Dr. Lucy was designated CAHSAH Certified Home Care Administrator in the inaugural offering of this designation through the California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH).
She is the founder and CEO of Creative Solutions Home Care Consulting Services and At Your Service Nursing & Home Care, a concierge nursing & home care agency that provides the services she believes are essential for seniors to age in place.She offers a higher level of care allowing people to be in their own homes with an emphasis on independence, safety, and quality of life.
Dr. Lucy is the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) and sits on the Board of Directors for California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH).
She has served on the boards for both state and national board associations, and is currently on the following boards and committees: Board of Directors, California State Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH), 2002-present, National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC's) Private Duty Home Care Association Director, and multiple state and national home care committees.
Dr. Lucy goes to Washington, DC, several times a year to advocate for senior services and home care issues. She was past Commissioner for the Sonoma Commission on Human Rights.She is past chair of the local Senior Advocacy Services.
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