Heart health: For aging parents

The risk of high blood pressure, type II diabetes, and high cholesterol
increases with age. As a result, the risk of heart disease and stroke also increases.

Of every 100 people who are hospitalized for stroke, 50 will return
home, 20 will die, 15 will require long-term care, and 10 will go to an in-patient
rehabilitation program.

It is important to ensure aging parents and loved ones are working
with their physicians to control their heart and stroke risk factors.

Among Canadians 65 and over:

– Almost three-quarters of men (72 per cent) and two-thirds of women
(63 per cent) are overweight or obese.

– Sixty-one percent of men and 78 per cent of women have high cholesterol.

– Over a third of men (37 per cent) and almost half of women (47 per
cent) report they have been diagnosed with high blood pressure (hypertension).
But many people with high blood pressure are either unaware of their condition
(undiagnosed) or don’t have their blood pressure in a healthy range.

– Over half (54 per cent) are physically inactive.

– Almost 14 per cent have been diagnosed with diabetes.

<strngSources

Stroke outcomes: Mayo NE et al. Disability Rehabil 1999;21:258-268

Cholesterol: Canadian Heart Health Survey, Canadians and Heart Health, Reducing
the risk. Health Canada 1995

Overweight: Tjepkema M. Measured Obesity. Adult obesity in Canada: Measured
height and weight. Nutrition: Findings from the Canadian Community Health Survey.
Statistics Canada.

Hypertension, inactivity, diabetes: Statistics Canada, Health Indicators June
2004, www.statcan.ca (taken
from 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey)

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