Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. It’s especially prevalent in older adults. Given that, it’s important for older Americans to take preventative actions to lower their risk for cardiovascular disease. Below, you’ll learn more about this disease, how it can be prevented, and how Medicare can help you.
Cardiovascular disease is something we’ve all heard about. However, you may not understand how it really functions in a person’s body. Simply put, heart disease is a condition where plaque builds upon the walls of a person’s arteries. This makes it harder for blood to flow through the arteries. As this happens, blood clots can form, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
The best treatment for heart disease is addressing it before it becomes a serious issue. You can accomplish this in several different ways. First, you should work to get your blood pressure under control.
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease. You may be able to lower yours by changing your lifestyle. If you aren’t sure what your blood pressure is, consider visiting your doctor and getting it checked by using your Medicare coverage.
You can also reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease by keeping your cholesterol and triglyceride levels under control. If your body has too much cholesterol, your arteries can start to clog. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you have a healthy level of cholesterol in your body. You can reduce yours by changing your lifestyle and by taking medication.
Being overweight or obese is another factor that can increase your chances of suffering from cardiovascular disease. The reason for this is that extra weight is often linked to other risk factors like high cholesterol and blood pressure.
These risk factors have one important thing in common⎯each of them can be addressed by improving your diet and exercise habits. If you’re concerned about heart disease, now could be the perfect time to start that new diet or to prioritize that exercise routine you’ve been putting off. You don’t have to change all at once. Just get started, and you’ll have already taken the first step towards a healthier you.
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You can work to prevent cardiovascular disease with the help of your Medicare Part B coverage. Part B provides you with a free cardiovascular behavioral therapy visit once per year. This gives you the opportunity to discuss your risk factors and receive personalized health recommendations from a trained physician.
Your doctor may help you develop a weight loss plan, discuss aspirin use, and introduce you to other techniques you can use to lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. Medicare Part B also covers blood tests for cardiovascular screening once every five years. This is another tool you can use to prevent heart disease.
If you’d like additional guidance on how you can prevent heart disease with Medicare, consider reaching out to us. Fill out this form or give us a call to learn more about how we can help.
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