In modern life, as life expectancy increases, the health of the elderly becomes more important than ever. One of the top concerns for the elderly is high blood pressure, a silent disease that can lead to many serious complications such as stroke, heart failure, and cerebrovascular accident. However, high blood pressure can be completely prevented effectively if there is proper companionship, care, and support from family members, especially children and grandchildren.
Here are 6 ways you can help your grandparents prevent high blood pressure:
1. Guide your grandparents to build a scientific diet
Nutrition plays a key role in controlling blood pressure. The elderly often have the habit of eating salty foods, like braised dishes, fish sauce, or fried foods, foods that contain a lot of salt and harmful fats.
To help your grandparents prevent high blood pressure, you should:
- Prepare meals with them that are light, low in salt, rich in green vegetables and fiber.
- Explain to them the harmful effects of eating salty foods, using specific examples to help them understand.
- Encourage them to replace salt with natural spices such as lemon, ginger, turmeric, onion, garlic.
- Limit canned foods, instant foods, soy sauce, and concentrated fish sauce.
- Instruct them to eat more fish, tofu, nuts, and low-sugar fruits.
- Drink enough water every day, limit soft drinks and strong coffee.
Cooking and eating with them not only helps maintain a healthy diet, but also creates a warm family bond.
2. Encourage them to exercise gently every day
Exercise is a natural medicine that helps regulate blood pressure, strengthens cardiovascular health, and reduces stress. However, many elderly people are reluctant to exercise due to poor health or lack of exercise companions.
You can:
- Walk with your grandparents every morning, even if it is only 15-30 minutes around the yard or park near your home.
- Do light exercises with your grandparents, such as rotating joints, deep breathing, yoga for the elderly.
- Encourage your grandparents to do light housework, such as wiping the table, watering plants, folding clothes.
- Join health classes or senior clubs with your grandparents if possible.
It is important that you motivate, encourage their spirit and maintain regularity in daily exercise, which helps prevent high blood pressure effectively.
3. Monitor blood pressure regularly
High blood pressure often has no obvious symptoms in the early stages, so regular blood pressure monitoring is very necessary, especially for people aged 60 and over.
As a relative, you can:
- Help your grandparents measure their blood pressure at home every week, using a simple electronic blood pressure monitor.
- Record the index in a notebook or health application on your phone, for easy monitoring.
- Recognize early signs such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, chest pain, etc. for timely treatment.
- Accompany your grandparents to regular check-ups, check their blood pressure and related indicators such as blood sugar, blood lipids.
Accompanying them in health check-ups will help them feel more secure and follow medical instructions better.
4. Support your grandparents in maintaining healthy living habits
A moderate lifestyle helps the elderly stabilize their blood pressure and prevent many other chronic diseases.
You can accompany them by:
- Helping your grandparents get enough sleep (7–8 hours/day), avoiding staying up late or sleeping at the wrong time.
- Remind your grandparents not to drink alcohol or smoke, and explain the harmful effects of stimulants.
- Create a cool, clean, quiet living environment, avoid stress and family conflicts.
- Maintain a stable daily routine (eat, sleep, exercise on time every day).
Living with your grandparents in a healthy way not only helps prevent high blood pressure but also sets a good example for the younger generation in the family.
5. Spiritual companionship, the most important medicine
Psychological factors play an extremely important role in preventing high blood pressure. The elderly are often prone to anxiety, boredom, loneliness, factors that cause high blood pressure.
You can:
- Chat with your grandparents every day, share daily stories, ask about their health, listen to their confidences.
- Take your grandparents to visit friends, neighbors, attend temple ceremonies or cultural and religious events.
- Create conditions for grandparents to play with their grandchildren, helping them feel loved and valued.
Avoid scolding or pressuring them, instead encourage them gently and positively.
Emotional care from children and grandchildren helps grandparents to be happy and optimistic, thereby reducing the risk of high blood pressure due to stress.
6. Participate with your grandparents in community activities or blood pressure prevention programs
If your neighborhood or ward organizes communication sessions, free blood pressure measurements, or health consultation programs for the elderly, you should:
- Participate with your grandparents in blood pressure measurements and health consultations.
- Help record information, ask the doctor about issues that your grandparents are not comfortable asking.
- Encourage your grandparents to share and learn from their peers.
- Maintain the habit of participating regularly, creating a bond and being proactive in disease prevention.
Participating in such activities will help your grandparents raise awareness and maintain more stable blood pressure health.
Preventing high blood pressure in the elderly is not too complicated or expensive. The important thing is the companionship, care and timely support from children and grandchildren in the smallest daily tasks: cooking healthy meals, walking together in the morning, measuring blood pressure, talking every night, reading the newspaper together, laughing together. Family love is the foundation that helps grandparents live happily, healthily and long.
