Heart Health Month and Falls

February 2024 – February is heart health month! It’s an opportunity to refresh your knowledge on how you can make small changes every day to avoid a heart attack or stroke. This may be adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet or moving more throughout your day.

How can you take this opportunity to improve your heart health while also helping to avoid falls? First, it’s important to acknowledge any fears you may have of falling. People who have fallen in the past or have been told they are at high risk for falls may avoid the movement that will improve their heart health and actually will help to improve balance and stamina which reduces the risk of falls. Even short bursts of activity can reduce blood pressure and improve muscle mass. While we are all encouraged to get 150 minutes of aerobic activity per week, small changes to start make a big difference. Start by removing hazards in your home (loose floor coverings and clutter), making sure you have well fitting shoes, and do it during well-lit times of day.

Those with existing heart conditions may be on medications that can cause an increased risk of falls. Medications, changes in blood pressure, and frailty can impact more than 60% of adults with heart disease. Medicines used for your blood pressure, depression, anxiety, or abnormal heart rhythms can cause changes in blood pressure when you go from laying to sitting to standing. Remember to go from sitting to standing slowly while holding onto a stable surface. Any feelings of being faint or dizziness should prompt you to sit and talk to your provider. Staying well hydrated helps to avoid many side effects of these medications and reduces the risk of falls with activity.

Small changes lead to big wins, whether we’re talking about our heart or falls. Get started safely!