Elderly Problems: High Cholesterol

Elderly Problems: Fatty Foods and Cholesterol

By Boomeryearbook.com

Cholesterol is can be a problem for anyone, especially the fast food generation with poor exercise habits, but it is particularly troublesome when it is also an elderly problem. Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the cells of the body. Some cholesterol is good for you as it is needed for your body to function properly and uses cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help with digestion. However, there is a bad kind of cholesterol as well and this kind can cause heart disease as it can clog your veins and arteries.

Cholesterol becomes more of a problem, particularly an elderly problemas it causes heart disease through the slow progressive build up of plaque (cholesterol) on arteries and veins. This build up causes the arteries to narrow, which in turn leads to chest pain and in worse case scenarios the prevention of the heart from receiving sufficient oxygen and thus leading to cardiovascular attacks.

However, cholesterol is not just an elderly problem and regardless of age, it is important to keep cholesterol levels in the healthy, lower range. Cholesterol regulation and lowering can be accomplished by exercising, eating less saturated fat, restricting food high in cholesterol, and if you are overweight, shedding the excess pounds. A healthy cholesterol level will decrease your chances of getting heart disease, as well as other elderly problem, and significantly reduce plaque related heart attacks.

Since there are no signs or symptoms of high cholesterol, it is best to have your doctor test your cholesterol at least once every five years after the age of twenty, and once a year after the age of 40. If exercising and dieting alone are insufficient to bring your cholesterol within healthy limits, it may be necessary to have a doctor prescribe some medications to help lower your cholesterol.

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