According to a recently released study, more than 100 million Americans live with a much higher risk than average of contracting heart disease as the direct result of high cholesterol. Although high cholesterol is a major contributor to the development of heart disease among all age groups, it is an especially worrisome problem for older Americans. With September 1 kicking off National Cholesterol Education Month, the caregivers at MorningStar at Arcadia present several tips to help our assisted living and memory care residents in Phoenix lower their cholesterol levels.
Know Where You Stand
You cannot know if you live with high cholesterol unless you have it tested by your physician. Unlike many other types of ailments that strike seniors, high cholesterol does not trigger any symptoms. A simple blood test educates you on where you stand with good and bad cholesterol. Although the recommendation for cholesterol screening is once every five years, seniors should consider getting cholesterol checks at least one time per year.
Once you know your cholesterol numbers, you and your caregiver can come up with a reasonable plan of action to lower the numbers.
Focus on Diet
They say you are what you eat, and if you consume an unhealthy diet, what you decide to eat makes you someone who is highly vulnerable to developing heart disease. One of the many benefits of a senior living community such as MorningStar at Arcadia is that residents eat healthy meals. If you spend some of your meals outside our dining room, consider following a few tips to eat healthier.
First, read the nutrition labels of the food products that you buy at grocery stores. Nutrition labels explain how much fat is in a food product by type like trans, saturated, and unsaturated fat. Second, limit the portions consumed at each meal. Portion control represents a vital strategy to ensure you eat healthier meals. Third, cut down on unhealthy foods, such as foods rich in monosaturated fats. Fourth, consume a fiber-heavy diet that includes fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Finally, eat seafood like salmon and tuna that contains heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
Exercise Regularly
A sedentary lifestyle plays a significant role in the development of high cholesterol levels. Only 30 minutes of exercise each day can help you enjoy the health benefits attributed to lowering cholesterol. Your exercise regimen does not have to be high-octane. Just five, 30-minute brisk walks a week should help you improve your heart health.
Another benefit of living at MorningStar at Arcadia is we offer several ways for our residents to exert themselves physically, such as cycling, swimming, and playing tennis.
Abstain from Bad Habits
You have a million reasons to stop smoking, but no other reason resonates as much as improving heart health. Smoking reduces the body’s good cholesterol, which puts you at a higher risk of developing heart disease. Lifestyle changes like reducing alcohol intake can be the difference between enjoying robust heart health and succumbing to debilitating heart disease symptoms.
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