Baby boomers who want to have an active adult lifestyle need to understand how to maintain a healthy vascular system as they become seniors. The number of vascular disease cases is expected to rise dramatically as 87 million people are expected to be 55 and older by 2015. Vascular disease typically affects those in their senior years.
The vascular system is made up of arteries and veins that carry oxygen-rich blood throughout the body to vital organs, the brain, and legs. As aging occurs, arteries tend to thicken with a build-up of plaque and cholesterol, get stiffer, and narrow. When blood flow is restricted, vascular diseases can lead to stroke; peripheral arterial disease can lead to problems walking and in the most advanced cases, foot ulcers, gangrene and possible amputation; and abdominal aortic aneurysm can result in death if not treated early.
Know what you can do to protect your vascular health!
The following five practices can have a very positive impact on your vascular health:
1. Stop smoking
2. Eat a healthy, low fat diet
3. Maintain good cholesterol levels
4. Take care of your blood pressure to keep it in a normal range
5. Exercise regularly -- even a moderate walking program can be effective
This is Tracy with the Find the AAAnswers Coalition. In addition to the health tips mentioned in this post, it's also important for baby boomers to know the risk factors associated with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), a vascular disease that can strike with no warning signs and can be fatal if left undetected. A simple and non-invasive ultrasound can detect an AAA, so I encourage you to talk to your doctor or visit www.FindtheAAAnswers.org to learn more.
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