In addition to Valentine's Day, February marks American Heart Month, a great time to commit to managing your heart's health. While heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, the good news is that heart disease is often preventable when people make healthy choices and manage their health conditions.
As McLaren Homecare Group participates in American Heart Month, we recognize that many of our loved ones suffer from heart failure. Heart failure is one of the most common reasons for hospital admissions among those 65 years and older, but the condition is not just limited to seniors-anyone can develop heart failure, a serious and long-term (chronic) condition.
Although a serious condition, patients with heart failure are able to lead full, enjoyable lives when the condition is managed with medications and a healthy lifestyle.
McLaren Homecare Group acknowledges the difficulty that comes with managing a chronic condition, and we are here to help. Chronic diseases, including heart failure, are best managed at home through education, lifestyle change and health monitoring.
Our Chronic Care program is designed to monitor and educate patients so they can remain safely in the comfort of their home while learning to manage their diseases.
The majority of heart failure patients develop the chronic condition while already suffering from another heart condition. Conditions and lifestyle risk include:
"¢ Coronary heart disease
"¢ High blood pressure
"¢ Previous heart attack
"¢ Smoking
"¢ Obesity/Overweight
"¢ Diet high in fat and cholesterol
"¢ Physical inactivity
Learn more about McLaren Homecare Group's Specialty Programs, including Chronic Care, at mclaren.org/homecare and visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/mclarenhomecaregroup for tips every week during February on making positive lifestyle changes to best manage heart failure.
McLaren Homecare Group provides community-based home health care, palliative care, hospice, infusion services, pharmacy services, laboratory services and home medical supplies and equipment for the McLaren Health Care system. For more information, visit www.mclaren.org/homecare.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov) and American Heart Association (www.heart.org).