<!–[CDATA[Educating yourself about cholesterol is an important part of maintaining good health. While people can suffer from the effects of high cholesterol at any age, the condition tends to worsen as we grow older. Caregivers need to have an understanding of this potentially dangerous condition for their own health and that of their senior loved one.
September is National Cholesterol Education Month. It’s the perfect time to have your cholesterol level checked and begin making the necessary changes to lower it, if it’s too high.
This is also a good time to review what we already know about cholesterol and learn more about current research concerning this often misunderstood substance.
Let’s start by taking a look at what cholesterol is and the role it plays in the body.
What is Cholesterol?
Briefly put, cholesterol is a fatty substance that’s found in every cell in the human body. Cholesterol plays an important role in the manufacture of certain hormones, as well as in making Vitamin D. It also aids in the digestive process. Some cholesterol is necessary for good health.
There are two types of cholesterol–low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The LDL variety is often called ‘bad cholesterol,’ while HDL is often called ‘good cholesterol.’ The body needs to maintain a certain level of both kinds in order to function optimally.
What is High Cholesterol?
Unfortunately, many foods common in a western diet contain high amounts of cholesterol. When you add the cholesterol that’s contained in these foods to the body’s natural supply, the total amount of LDL cholesterol can build up in the arterial walls, blocking the flow of blood and possibly leading to heart disease.
Your level of HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol also plays a role in the amount of LDL cholesterol in your body. This is because HDL cholesterol carries ‘bad’ cholesterol to the liver, where it’s eventually eliminated from the body. A balance between LDL and HDL is necessary for optimum health and the prevention of heart disease.
The more LDL cholesterol you have in your body, the greater your risk for heart disease. Similarly, high levels of HDL cholesterol tend to lower this risk because of its ability to eliminate ‘bad’ cholesterol from the body.
And the problem with high cholesterol is that, by itself, it does not present any symptoms. The only way to know there’s a problem with your cholesterol is to have a blood test. Experts say older adults should have their cholesterol checked yearly.
How Seniors Can Manage Their Cholesterol
The best source of any health information is your doctor. They will likely share a ways you can maintain a healthy balance of good and bad cholesterol including:
- Proper diet. A healthy diet of whole grains combined with fresh fruits and vegetables will go a long way toward lowering cholesterol, as will staying away from foods that are high in fat
- Exercise. Along with a healthy diet, a moderate amount of low impact cardio work will help older adults lower their levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol
- Smoking cessation. Quit smoking if you are a smoker. Also avoid second hand smoke which can be nearly as damaging.
- Prescription drugs. Usually used as a last resort, your doctor can prescribe medications to help lower older adults’ levels of cholesterol.
How We Can Help
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