Honoring American Heart Month in Scottsdale

February is recognized as American Heart Month. Marking the perfect time to highlight heart changes that occur as you age, common heart problems, and ways to help prevent heart disease.

Heart Changes as you Age

A lot of changes in your heart and blood vessels will occur as part of the natural process of aging. That being said, there are other changes that are worsened by factors you can control. If left untreated, they can lead to heart disease.

The heart is the natural pacemaker system. Some of the pathways to and from the heart may develop fat deposits. This can lead to a slightly slower heart rate. The heart may also slightly increase in size. This is due to the heart wall thickening; the amount of blood the chamber can hold may decrease, causing the heart to fill more slowly. Another common change includes heart valves stiffening, which can lead to heart murmurs. Heart changes such as those can cause the ECG of a healthy older adult to be slightly different from that of a healthy young adult. Abnormal rhythms are more prevalent in older adults and can be caused by several types of heart disease.

Common Heart Problems

• Angina – chest pain caused by temporarily reduced blood flow to the heart.
• Abnormal heart rhythms
• Congestive heart failure – very common in older adults, occurs 10 times more often in adults over 75 than younger adults
• High blood pressure – older adults on blood pressure medication should consult with their doctor to find the best way to manage it. Try to avoid overcompensating and your blood pressure dropping too low.
• Heart valve disease – Aortic stenosis is the most common and is the narrowing of the aortic valve.
• Strokes – can occur if blood flow to the brain is disrupted.

Preventing Heart Disease

There are several methods to help reduce your risk of developing heart disease. Start with eating a heart-healthy diet. This includes consuming reduced amounts of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol. One activity to reduce or stop is smoking. You should also start exercising regularly. It is recommended that you get 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. This can help prevent obesity, maintain your physical abilities, and reduce stress. You should also schedule regular heart check-ups with your doctor. It is recommended that you check your blood pressure every year and your cholesterol every five years.

Local Resources

Abrazo Health – They provide AngioScreen, a comprehensive heart and vascular screening that takes only 10 minutes.

Arizona Heart Foundation – They offer complimentary cardiovascular screenings in both Phoenix and Tucson.

Griswold Can Help

If you or a loved one is dealing with heart health issues in Scottsdale or nearby, Griswold is ready to help. While we don’t offer medical care, our in-home services include personal care, homemaking, and companionship provided by our experienced Caregivers. Our mission is to ensure you feel safe and supported. Whether you require just a few hours of care each week with respite care or full-time assistance with live-in care, we are here for you. Contact us today to explore how we can develop a care plan tailored to your needs. In many cases, we can have a caregiver in your home within 24 hours.