In modern society, as human life expectancy increases, the issue of health care for the elderly is also increasingly concerned, especially high blood pressure. If high blood pressure is not controlled, it can lead to many dangerous complications such as stroke, heart failure, myocardial infarction or kidney failure. However, we can prevent and control it effectively through proper care.
How should we care for our grandparents to help them maintain healthy blood pressure?
Here are 6 ways you can apply:
1. Accompany your grandparents in monitoring blood pressure daily
One of the first and most important steps to control blood pressure is to measure and monitor blood pressure regularly. For the elderly, this can be difficult due to weak eyes, shaky hands or forgetfulness.
Therefore, children and grandchildren need to be proactive:
- Equip a simple, easy-to-use electronic blood pressure monitor, place it in a fixed place in the house.
- Instruct grandparents on how to measure correctly, or directly measure for them every morning and evening.
- Record blood pressure readings in a logbook, create a habit of regular checking and evaluation.
- Immediately notify the doctor if blood pressure exceeds the allowable limit or shows abnormal signs such as dizziness, headache, chest tightness, etc.
The close supervision and initiative of relatives will help grandparents feel secure and control blood pressure well every day.
2. Build a suitable and healthy diet
Nutrition plays an extremely important role in controlling blood pressure. The elderly often tend to eat salty foods, like rich dishes or sweets, but this causes blood pressure to increase rapidly.
Therefore, taking care of grandparents needs to start from the kitchen:
- Cook bland food, reduce salt, limit the use of fish sauce, seasoning powder, and seasoning powder.
- Increase green vegetables, fresh fruits, providing fiber, potassium, magnesium and vitamins.
- Reduce foods containing a lot of bad fats, such as red meat, fried foods, processed foods.
- Encourage eating fish, tofu, oats, low-fat milk, etc.
- Limit alcohol, soft drinks, strong tea and coffee if not really necessary.
- Divide meals into many small meals a day, avoid eating too much.
In particular, children and grandchildren should eat with grandparents, to easily adjust eating habits and help grandparents not feel isolated in a separate nutritional regimen.
3. Create conditions for grandparents to exercise gently every day
Exercise is an effective way to improve blood circulation, reduce blood pressure and increase resistance. However, many elderly people are often afraid to exercise due to fear of fatigue or falling.
To take good care of grandparents, relatives should:
- Encourage gentle activities, such as walking around the house, morning exercises, gardening.
- Join your grandparents in exercise sessions to increase connection and motivation.
- Sign up for a yoga, qigong, or health class if possible.
- Avoid letting your grandparents lie down too much or move too little, as this can easily cause poor circulation and abnormal blood pressure fluctuations.
The ideal time for the elderly to exercise is 30 minutes a day, depending on their physical condition. It is important to maintain regularity and not overdo it.
4. Help your grandparents take medication correctly and in the right dose
Many elderly people with high blood pressure need to take medication for life. However, there are many cases where grandparents forget to take medication, do not take it on time, or stop taking it on their own when they feel well.
Children and grandchildren need support:
- Remind them to take medication on time, you can use a daily pill box.
- Explain in detail the effects of the medication and the consequences of not taking it regularly.
- Note the dosage and time of taking it clearly, and stick it in a visible place.
- Take your grandparent for regular check-ups, bring your blood pressure book so that the doctor can adjust the dose.
- Do not let your grandparent take drugs of unknown origin, oral drugs or unverified folk remedies.
Adherence to treatment is a prerequisite to stabilize blood pressure and prevent complications.
5. Take care of sleep and mental health
Stress and insomnia are two factors that cause high blood pressure, especially in the elderly. Therefore, to provide comprehensive care, relatives need to pay attention to their grandparent’s mental life:
- Create a quiet, clean, airy sleeping space, avoiding strong light and noise.
- Help your grandparent relax before going to bed, such as listening to soft music, reading books, and taking deep breaths.
- Limit your grandparent from sleeping too much during the day, causing insomnia at night.
- Chat regularly, share funny stories, and good memories.
- Do not leave your grandparents alone for too long, this can easily lead to depression and anxiety. Relatives are the most valuable spiritual medicine to help grandparents live happily and healthily every day.
6. Build a moderate lifestyle and a safe living environment
Finally, to maintain stable blood pressure, caregivers need to pay attention to surrounding factors such as:
- Keep the living environment clean, quiet, avoid dust and noise.
- Turn off the TV and phone when not needed, avoid stimulating the nerves.
- Eliminate risk factors such as cigarette smoke, both direct and passive.
- Arrange scientific living hours (eat, sleep and rest on time every day).
- Encourage grandparents to participate in community activities, such as senior clubs, temple festivals, neighborhood meetings, etc. to maintain happiness and integration.
A friendly living environment and moderate living habits will greatly support stable blood pressure control.
Taking care of grandparents to maintain healthy blood pressure levels does not require complicated medical techniques, but starts with small but regular daily tasks: reminding them to measure blood pressure, preparing light meals, taking grandparents for walks, listening and talking regularly, making sure to take medicine on time… These actions not only help stabilize blood pressure but also show love, gratitude and connection between generations in the family. With dedicated care from relatives, grandparents not only have better health but also live happier, healthier and longer, which is also a great happiness for every family.
