Caring for the Heart: February is Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Week in Canada
Much of the western world looks at February as a month of love. In Canada, it is also a time to look closely at your health, particularly if you or your elderly loved one has congenital heart disease. For years, we have set aside the week of February 7th-14th as Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Week. This opportunity to raise awareness for patients and families is the perfect opportunity to take inventory of your aging loved one’s overall health.
Many families may not realize how congenital heart disease affects adults. This defect is present at birth and affects the heart’s structure. It requires regular care to ensure patients have the quality of life they seek. As your senior grows older, it may be more challenging to keep up with the body’s changes. A personal support worker makes it possible to have the peace of mind you seek for your parents.
The Basics of Congenital Heart Disease in Adults
Understanding congenital heart disease (CHD) is a step in the right direction to aid aging seniors in living life fully. While some forms of CHD are mild, others are not. The proper treatment and support give patients the best opportunities to thrive. Each case is different, but the fundamental issues are the same:
- There are two main types of CHD. It is possible to have cyanotic congenital heart disease and acyanotic CHD. Cyanotic are heart defects that reduce the amount of oxygen that the body receives. Acyanotic refers to the abnormal pumping of blood throughout the body.
- The defects were there at birth. The term congenital refers to being present at birth. This means Mom or Dad may have lived their entire lives with something amiss with their heart. Now is the perfect time to enhance their care to ensure a better quality of life as they grow older.
- Symptoms vary and are generally noticed in adulthood. Your dad may have just learned about his CHD. Common symptoms he may have experienced include irregular heart rhythms, blue skin, lips, and fingernails, shortness of breath, feeling tired quickly with activity, and swelling of body tissues or organs.
- Taking care of the body is vital. Adults with congenital heart disease need to stay as healthy as possible. Steps to better care include eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, and seeing your cardiologist regularly.
Quality Elder Care from Experienced Home Care Professionals
Help your parents live their life fully when you provide support through a home care worker from Home Instead Kitchener-Waterloo, ON. Our trained team aids you and your loved one with home care services tailored to your needs. We offer cooking for seniors to ensure they eat healthier. We also help them take their medications on time, light housekeeping, companionship, and even 24 hours care. Contact us today. Let’s discuss how our caring staff can help your senior continue living independently in their home.
Call us at (519) 571-1665 to schedule a no-obligation, in-home consultation. Learn more about the compassionate, quality senior care we deliver daily to families in Kitchener-Waterloo, Breslau, Conestogo, Elmira, St Jacobs, and surrounding areas.