When you hear the term high cholesterol, you probably associate it with an increased risk of heart disease. While this is typically more of a concern for younger people, it doesn’t mean the elderly don’t have to worry about high cholesterol.
Before we look at how we can it can be treated and possibly prevented, it helps to understand what it is and how it works. Cholesterol isn’t just determined by the food we eat, nor is it something we simply come down with, like a cold or the flu. It’s more about the combination of how our bodies react to our diet and lifestyle choices.
What exactly is cholesterol?
There are two main types of high cholesterol: low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). LDL is what carries cholesterol to all the cells in your body, including the arteries in your heart. LDL is commonly known as “bad” cholesterol, since it can build up in your arteries if you have too much in your system. When your LDL levels are high, it puts you at greater risk to develop heart disease.
HDL carries cholesterol away from your cells. It is often called “good” cholesterol since it can help clear cholesterol from your artery walls. The “bad” cholesterol is then removed from the body through the liver. So when you hear people talk about high cholesterol, they really mean LDL levels specifically.
What do the numbers mean?
When you receive your cholesterol levels, you’ll get your total cholesterol level, your LDL level, and your HDL level. The following levels are considered healthy in most adults:
- Total blood cholesterol level less than 200mg/dL
- LDL cholesterol level less than 100mg/dL
- HDL cholesterol level greater than 40mg/dL for men, 50mg/dL for women
What are the risks of high cholesterol for seniors?
When you have a buildup of cholesterol in your arteries, this is called plaque. Plaque can cause several different conditions:
– Hardening of the arteries, which can restrict or block blood flow to the heart.
– Coronary heart disease, in which the arteries of the heart become blocked and prevent oxygen from reaching it.
– Angina, which is chest pain that occurs when the heart doesn’t receive enough oxygen-rich blood.
– Heart attack, which can occur when plaque causes a blood clot to form and blocks blood flow to the heart.
What seniors can do to prevent high cholesterol
In short, you need to make smart lifestyle choices. Your diet is a great place to start. You can add more omega-3 fatty acids to your diet, which can be found in fish, such as salmon, mackerel and herring, or in nuts and seeds including walnuts, almonds, and ground flaxseeds.
You should also increase your intake of soluble fibre, which can lower your LDL levels. You can find soluble fibre in foods like oats and oat bran, fruits, beans, lentils, and vegetables. You can also add whey protein to your diet, as it has been shown to lower both LDL and total cholesterol. You can get whey protein from dairy, or by adding the powdered supplement to things like smoothies.
The other factor you can control is your activity level. Weight plays a big role in your cholesterol levels, so regular exercise is very important. Find an activity that works for you and stick to it. Whether it’s a daily walk, an exercise class, or lifting some light weights, it all works to keep your weight down.
It’s important to remember that each individual is different, and treatments for high cholesterol are customized. Perhaps the most important factor to consider is what other medications the patient is currently on. For example, cholesterol drugs might interfere with other medications, so your doctor will consider all the possible reactions and determine the best treatment method.
At Bria Communities, we always have the health of our residents in mind. Our meal plans are carefully planned and designed to meet the nutritional needs of seniors. If residents have particular concerns about cholesterol, we’re happy to work with them to ensure they have low cholesterol meal options. We also encourage all our residents to stay active and healthy. We offer a number of fitness programs to our residents and encourage them to use the fitness facilities at their leisure. Our residents often organize their own physical activities, such as walking groups.
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