35 Million Americans have cholesterol levels of 240 mg/dL or higher. High levels of cholesterol is a leading cause of heart disease. The CDC advises all adults to get their cholesterol checked but seniors are especially at risk.
The good news is that there are now safe and effective drugs to help control our cholesterol levels and reduce heart disease. Every elderly person should be screened for high cholesterol. It’s a good idea to take advantage of free screening clinics put on by the WISEWOMAN program and other organizations. In the meantime, here are some things that you can do to reduce the risk of high cholesterol.
- Eat low-fat and high-fiber food such as fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and whole grains.
- Exercise regularly. 2 1/2 hours of moderate exercise every week can help keep cholesterol under control.
- Stop Smoking
- Watch your weight. Maintaining a healthy weight has many benefits for the elderly and reduced risk of heart disease is one of them.
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