WEBVTT 00:00:00.869 --> 00:00:04.629 I'm going to start with a strong statement. Stress 00:00:04.629 --> 00:00:07.969 is not just in your head. It shows up in your 00:00:07.969 --> 00:00:10.890 body and it shows up in your heart. Today I'm 00:00:10.890 --> 00:00:13.349 going to talk with you about how stress affects 00:00:13.349 --> 00:00:15.789 the aging heart and why this matters so much 00:00:15.789 --> 00:00:18.789 as we get older. Here's what I'm talking about. 00:00:19.100 --> 00:00:21.399 By the end of this episode, you'll understand 00:00:21.399 --> 00:00:24.719 what stress actually does inside your body, why 00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:27.879 older adults feel it differently, and some simple 00:00:27.879 --> 00:00:30.600 and realistic ways to protect your heart without 00:00:30.600 --> 00:00:33.399 adding more pressure to your life. And if we 00:00:33.399 --> 00:00:36.219 haven't met before, I'm Robin Schiltz. I'm a 00:00:36.219 --> 00:00:38.560 senior home safety specialist and I've spent 00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:41.119 years working with older adults and families 00:00:41.119 --> 00:00:43.619 who are trying to stay healthy, independent, 00:00:43.880 --> 00:00:47.240 and safe at home. I've seen firsthand how stress 00:00:47.240 --> 00:00:50.579 quietly impacts heart health, often without people 00:00:50.579 --> 00:00:55.060 realizing it. So let's get into it. First of 00:00:55.060 --> 00:00:58.679 all, stress is not always bad. A little stress 00:00:58.679 --> 00:01:02.039 can help you react, focus, and get things done. 00:01:02.659 --> 00:01:06.109 The problem is chronic stress. That's the kind 00:01:06.109 --> 00:01:09.170 that sticks around day after day. The kind that 00:01:09.170 --> 00:01:11.969 comes from worry, caregiving, health changes, 00:01:12.209 --> 00:01:15.129 money concerns, or just feeling overwhelmed by 00:01:15.129 --> 00:01:18.250 life. When you feel stressed, your body goes 00:01:18.250 --> 00:01:21.670 into fight or flight mode. Your heart beats faster, 00:01:21.950 --> 00:01:24.530 your blood pressure goes up. Stress hormones 00:01:24.530 --> 00:01:27.430 like cortisol and adrenaline flood your system. 00:01:28.109 --> 00:01:30.810 That's helpful in short bursts, but when this 00:01:30.810 --> 00:01:33.890 happens over and over, your heart never really 00:01:33.890 --> 00:01:37.379 gets a break. As we age, the heart and blood 00:01:37.379 --> 00:01:41.159 vessels naturally become less flexible. The arteries 00:01:41.159 --> 00:01:44.140 stiffen up a bit, the heart muscle works harder 00:01:44.140 --> 00:01:47.939 to pump blood, so when stress adds extra strain, 00:01:48.379 --> 00:01:52.760 the aging heart feels it more intensely. Older 00:01:52.760 --> 00:01:55.900 adults under long -term stress often have higher 00:01:55.900 --> 00:01:59.140 blood pressure. They may experience irregular 00:01:59.140 --> 00:02:03.879 heartbeats. Some notice chest tightness or shortness 00:02:03.879 --> 00:02:06.980 of breath. Others feel exhausted all the time 00:02:06.980 --> 00:02:11.460 and can't explain why. Stress also affects inflammation 00:02:11.460 --> 00:02:14.780 in the body. Chronic stress keeps inflammation 00:02:14.780 --> 00:02:18.199 turned on. Inflammation plays a role in heart 00:02:18.199 --> 00:02:21.539 disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems. 00:02:21.949 --> 00:02:25.370 So stress is not just an emotional issue, it's 00:02:25.370 --> 00:02:29.189 also a physical one. Sleep is another big piece 00:02:29.189 --> 00:02:32.169 of this puzzle. Stress makes it harder to fall 00:02:32.169 --> 00:02:35.810 asleep and stay asleep. Poor sleep raises your 00:02:35.810 --> 00:02:37.949 blood pressure and makes the heart work harder 00:02:37.949 --> 00:02:42.710 the next day. So it becomes a cycle. Stress disrupts 00:02:42.710 --> 00:02:45.449 sleep, poor sleep increases stress, and the heart 00:02:45.449 --> 00:02:48.629 is caught right in the middle. I want to pause 00:02:48.629 --> 00:02:51.900 here and say something important. Feeling stress 00:02:51.900 --> 00:02:54.280 does not mean you are doing something wrong. 00:02:54.840 --> 00:02:57.319 Many older adults are dealing with major life 00:02:57.319 --> 00:03:01.159 changes. Things like retirement, loss of a spouse, 00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:05.659 health issues, becoming a caregiver, losing independence 00:03:05.659 --> 00:03:09.319 in small but meaningful ways. That's a lot for 00:03:09.319 --> 00:03:12.919 one heart to carry. Caregivers, I'm talking to 00:03:12.919 --> 00:03:15.879 you too. I've worked with many adult children 00:03:15.879 --> 00:03:18.539 and spouses who are under constant stress while 00:03:18.539 --> 00:03:21.780 caring for someone they love. That ongoing tension 00:03:21.780 --> 00:03:24.719 can quietly wear down your heart health as well. 00:03:25.560 --> 00:03:28.699 Stress also influences habits that affect the 00:03:28.699 --> 00:03:31.479 heart. When people are stressed, they probably 00:03:31.479 --> 00:03:34.280 move a little less. They may eat for comfort. 00:03:34.539 --> 00:03:36.840 They might isolate themselves a little more. 00:03:37.439 --> 00:03:40.180 These changes are understandable, but over time, 00:03:40.280 --> 00:03:43.979 they also increase heart risk. So now let's talk 00:03:43.979 --> 00:03:46.000 about what actually helps, because I don't want 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:49.280 this to be like an overwhelming episode. The 00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:52.639 goal here is not to eliminate stress completely 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:55.819 because that's not realistic. The goal is to 00:03:55.819 --> 00:03:58.800 reduce the load and give your heart more moments 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:02.400 of calm. One of the simplest things you can do 00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:06.419 is to slow your breathing. Taking deep, slow 00:04:06.419 --> 00:04:09.159 breaths sends a signal to your nervous system 00:04:09.159 --> 00:04:13.060 that you are safe. Even five minutes a few times 00:04:13.060 --> 00:04:15.460 a day can lower your heart rate and your blood 00:04:15.460 --> 00:04:18.939 pressure. You really don't need to follow a fancy 00:04:18.939 --> 00:04:22.220 app. Just breathe in slowly through your nose 00:04:22.220 --> 00:04:26.000 and out through your mouth. Movement matters 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:28.819 too, but it doesn't have to be intense movement. 00:04:29.540 --> 00:04:32.980 Gentle walking, stretching, chair exercises, 00:04:33.459 --> 00:04:36.279 they all help to release stress hormones and 00:04:36.279 --> 00:04:40.240 support circulation. Consistency matters more 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:43.519 than intensity, too. A little movement every 00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:47.740 day is better than nothing. Connection is a powerful 00:04:47.740 --> 00:04:50.660 medicine for the heart. Talking with someone 00:04:50.660 --> 00:04:54.740 you trust reduces stress. Loneliness increases 00:04:54.740 --> 00:04:57.980 heart risk, but social connection protects it. 00:04:58.399 --> 00:05:01.779 So a phone call, a short visit, even a friendly 00:05:01.779 --> 00:05:05.680 chat can make a difference. Routine also helps 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:08.920 to calm the heart. Predictable daily rhythms 00:05:08.920 --> 00:05:12.740 reduce anxiety. Simple routines around meals, 00:05:13.079 --> 00:05:15.600 sleep, and activity give the nervous system a 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:18.819 sense of stability. Another thing I want you 00:05:18.819 --> 00:05:21.639 to think about is the environment. A cluttered, 00:05:21.779 --> 00:05:25.060 noisy, or unsafe home increases stress without 00:05:25.060 --> 00:05:28.180 you realizing it. When the home feels calmer 00:05:28.180 --> 00:05:31.500 and safer, the body relaxes. That's one reason 00:05:31.500 --> 00:05:34.759 home safety and organization are so closely tied 00:05:34.759 --> 00:05:38.149 to heart health. And please don't ignore emotional 00:05:38.149 --> 00:05:41.910 stress. Feelings of worry, grief, and fear deserve 00:05:41.910 --> 00:05:45.029 attention. Talking with a healthcare provider, 00:05:45.430 --> 00:05:48.550 counselor, or trusted professional is not a weakness. 00:05:49.069 --> 00:05:52.689 It's a way to protect your heart. If you notice 00:05:52.689 --> 00:05:56.290 ongoing chest discomfort, dizziness, unusual 00:05:56.290 --> 00:05:59.670 fatigue, or changes in heart rhythm, don't brush 00:05:59.670 --> 00:06:03.430 them off as just stress. Stress can worsen heart 00:06:03.430 --> 00:06:06.449 conditions, but symptoms always deserve medical 00:06:06.449 --> 00:06:09.949 attention. So here's the takeaway I want to leave 00:06:09.949 --> 00:06:13.370 you with today. Stress and heart health are deeply 00:06:13.370 --> 00:06:17.269 connected, especially as we age. Reducing stress 00:06:17.269 --> 00:06:19.990 is not about doing more. It's about doing things 00:06:19.990 --> 00:06:24.269 differently, slower, gentler, and more intentionally. 00:06:25.170 --> 00:06:28.250 Your heart has carried you a long way. It deserves 00:06:28.250 --> 00:06:32.240 care, compassion, and rest. So thanks for joining 00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:34.920 me today. Please share this episode with someone 00:06:34.920 --> 00:06:37.100 you care about who could use the information 00:06:37.100 --> 00:06:40.360 to make their life safer. You'll find more resources 00:06:40.360 --> 00:06:43.079 for seniors and caregivers on our website at 00:06:43.079 --> 00:06:46.240 seniorsafetyadvice .com. And if you're searching 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:48.980 for an aging in place specialist, please visit 00:06:48.980 --> 00:06:52.600 our sister website at aginginplacedirectory .com. 00:06:53.600 --> 00:06:55.860 And don't forget, if you haven't subscribed to 00:06:55.860 --> 00:06:58.980 our YouTube channel or to this podcast yet, go 00:06:58.980 --> 00:07:01.819 ahead and do that right now. Then come back tomorrow 00:07:01.819 --> 00:07:04.819 for another Daily Moment of guidance and encouragement, 00:07:05.480 --> 00:07:08.519 right here on the Senior Safety Advice Podcast. 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:12.040 Until next time, thank you for listening. Take 00:07:12.040 --> 00:07:13.420 care. Bye!