High cholesterol in older people
What is cholesterol and how does it affect older people?
Cholesterol is a fatty substance which is found in the blood
It is mainly made in the body. Cholesterol plays an essential role in how every cell in the body works
However, too much cholesterol in the blood can increase your risk of heart problems
LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol
Cholesterol is carried around the body by proteins. These combinations of cholesterol and proteins are called lipoproteins. There are two main types of lipoproteins:
– LDL (low-density lipoprotein) is the harmful type of cholesterol
– HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is a protective type of cholesterol
Having too much harmful LDL cholesterol in your blood can increase your risk of getting cardiovascular disease
The risk is particularly high if you have a high level of LDL cholesterol and a low level of HDL cholesterol
Triglycerides are another type of fatty substance in the blood. They’re found in foods such as dairy products, meat and cooking oils
They can also be produced in the body, either by the body’s fat stores, or in the liver
People who are very overweight, eat a lot of fatty and sugary foods, or drink too much alcohol are more likely to have a high triglyceride level
People with high triglyceride levels have a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease than people with lower levels
What causes high cholesterol?
A common cause of high blood cholesterol levels is eating too much saturated fat
However, some people have high blood cholesterol even though they eat a healthy diet. For example, they may have inherited a condition called familial hyperlipidaemia (FH)
The cholesterol which is found in some foods such as eggs, liver, kidneys and some types of seafood eg. prawns, does not usually make a great contribution to the level of cholesterol in your blood. It’s much more important that you eat foods that are low in saturated fat
How can I reduce my cholesterol level?
Cut down on saturated fats. To help reduce your cholesterol level, you need to cut down on saturated fats and instead use unsaturated fats such as olive, rapeseed, or sunflower oils and spreads. You should also reduce the total amount of fat you eat
Eat oily fish regularly. Oily fish provides the richest source of a particular type of polyunsaturated fat known as Omega-3. Omega-3 from oily fish can help to lower blood triglyceride levels and help to prevent the blood from clotting and can also help to regulate the heart rhythm
Eat a high-fibre diet. Foods that are high in soluble fibre such as oats, beans, pulses, lentils, nuts, fruits and vegetables, can help lower cholesterol
Do regular physical activity. This can help increase your HDL cholesterol (the ‘protective’ type of cholesterol)
There is evidence to show that substances called plant sterols and stanols may help reduce cholesterol levels when 2g per day is regularly consumed. They are added to certain foods including margarines, spreads, soft cheeses and yoghurts
However, if you have been told by your doctor that you need to reduce your cholesterol levels, you can do this through changing your diet without using special products. If you decide to use these products you should follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the amounts needed to provide you with 2g a day. Remember they are not a substitute for a heart healthy diet, or a replacement for cholesterol lowering drugs
Eggs?
For most people, there is currently no limit on the number of eggs that you can eat in a week. However, because the recommendation has changed over the years, it’s often a common source of confusion
In the past a restriction on eggs was recommended, because we thought that foods high in cholesterol (including liver, kidneys and shellfish, as well as eggs) could have an impact on cholesterol levels in the body
However, as research in this area has developed, so has our understanding of how foods that contain cholesterol affect people’s heart health
For most people, the amount of saturated fat they eat has much more of an impact on their cholesterol than eating foods that contain cholesterol, like eggs and shellfish
So unless you have been advised otherwise by your doctor or dietician, if you like eggs, they can be included as part of a balanced and varied diet
Whether you need to take cholesterol-lowering drugs or not depends not just on your total cholesterol, HDL and LDL levels, but also on your overall risk of cardiovascular disease
Cholesterol-lowering medicines, such as statins, are prescribed for people who are at greatest overall risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease
