Seniors who experience a heart attack don’t always display the obvious symptoms, such as sweating or chest pain, which is why so many aging adults have heart attacks without even knowing it. Here are some of the silent signs of a heart attack that family caregivers should be aware of.
Shortness of Breath
If climbing the stairs becomes an issue for your elderly loved one, don’t dismiss this as a sign of old age and weak bone strength, especially if climbing the stairs has never been a problem for him or her. Seniors who express fatigue or shortness of breath could be experiencing a heart attack. Shortness of breath is a silent sign that something could be wrong with your loved one’s cardiovascular health. The heart has a significant role in transporting oxygen to the body and removing carbon dioxide from tissues, but when the airways are blocked and oxygen cannot reach the heart, your loved one may experience shortness of breath, which can lead to a heart attack.
Seniors who need help boosting their cardiovascular health can benefit from the assistance of a professional caregiver. If you’re the primary caregiver for a senior family member and are looking for professional home care, Tucson Home Care Assistance should be your top choice. Our dedicated and compassionate caregivers are committed to helping older adults manage their health and enjoy a higher quality of life in the golden years.
Jaw and Neck Pain
If your loved one complains about tightness in the throat, take him or her to the doctor as soon as possible. This type of pain, along with jaw and neck soreness, could be a silent sign of a heart attack. Older adults living with diabetes and other health conditions may experience jaw or neck pain and think these subtle feelings of discomfort are normal, but they aren’t. Many illnesses prevent seniors from feeling typical symptoms of a heart attack, such as chest pain, which means jaw pain, neck discomfort, and a sore throat are the silent signs family caregivers need to pay close attention to.
Upset Stomach
The stomach becomes upset when a clot forms and blocks the flow of blood to the heart, resulting in cramping or pain in the chest. However, the pain can also spread to the upper abdomen. The pain is coming from the heart, but it may feel like it’s in the stomach area, not the chest. Signs family caregivers should look for include queasiness or vomiting. If your parent is experiencing these issues alongside stomach pain, get him or her to the doctor immediately because he or she could be having a heart attack.
When recovering from a heart attack or another serious health condition, your loved one may need assistance at home. Though you may be researching multiple agencies that provide home care, Tucson, Arizona, Home Care Assistance has much to offer your family and your elderly loved one. We are leaders in the senior home care industry, offering proprietary programs like our holistic Balanced Care Method and around-the-clock assistance from reliable, experienced caregivers. Trust Home Care Assistance to help your loved one enjoy a happier and healthier life in the golden years.
Constant Coughing
Pay close attention to this sign, especially if your loved one has heart disease. A constant cough that produces pink or white mucus could be a silent sign of heart failure, which may be due to the heart’s inability to keep up with the demands of the body, causing blood leakage in the lungs. Take your loved one to the doctor immediately to find out what is causing the coughing to occur.
Family caregivers may not be able to effectively provide care for their loved ones following a heart attack. If you’re the primary family caregiver for a senior loved one living in Tucson, live-in care is available if your loved one’s health has become too difficult to manage without professional expertise. At Home Care Assistance, we take measures to help seniors prevent illness and injury by assisting with exercise and mobility, preparing nutritious meals, helping with bathing and other personal hygiene tasks, and much more. To schedule a free in-home consultation, call us at (520) 276-6555 today.