Signs of Heart Disease to Watch for in the Elderly
When thinking about your elderly loved one and their health, you must pay attention to their heart health.
Do they often complain of palpitations? Do you notice your elderly loved one grabbing at their chest or complaining of chest pain? If so, these are just some of the signs of heart disease that you should watch for. Your elderly loved one could have coronary heart disease or another heart-related disease. They could also have an increased risk of having a heart attack.
Senior Care in Lake Bluff IL: Signs of Heart Disease
Chest Pains
If your elderly loved one has chest pains, this could mean they have heart health issues or even heart disease. With this being said, chest pain isn’t always recognized or described as pain. They might complain of pressure, heaviness, aching, squeezing, or tightening feelings. Your elderly loved one might even think the chest pain feels like heartburn. If you or an elder care provider notice that your elderly loved one is having these symptoms, they should get emergency medical care.
Shoulder or Upper Back Pain
Your elderly loved one may also experience severe pain in their shoulder or upper back. If they don’t usually have these symptoms, this is something that they should have checked out. Some people who have heart disease don’t feel the pain in their chest. It is felt more in their shoulder blade, the top of their shoulder, or their upper back.
Shortness of Breath
Has your elderly loved one been complaining of shortness of breath? Even if they don’t complain of this symptom, it is something that you or an elder care provider might notice. For instance, does your elderly loved one have a tougher time getting across their health or up and down stairs without losing their breath? Do they have a tough time walking out to their mailbox without having to stop because they are short of breath? If these things are happening, your elderly loved one might have heart disease. This should be checked out by their doctor.
Heartbeat Issues
Has your elderly loved one noticed they have heart palpitations? Do they say their heart is racing faster than it normally does? Are they have irregular heartbeats? If any of these things are noticed in your elderly loved one, it could mean they have heart disease.
Conclusion
These are some of the signs of heart disease to watch for in the elderly. If you or an elder care provider notice any of these things in your elderly loved one, be sure to get them to a doctor. If heart disease is left untreated, it could lead to a heart attack.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Senior Care in Lake Bluff, IL, call the caring staff at LifeCare Home Health & In-Home Services. Call (888) 606-4199 LifeCare serves all of the Chicago Metro Area.
Sources
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