Q: Should children have cholesterol screenings?
A: Yes. Children with high cholesterol face an increased risk for heart attacks and strokes later in life. In November 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute announced new guidelines that promote cholesterol screenings for kids. An expert panel now recommends that children ages 9 to 11 receive at least one cholesterol screening, with one more between ages 18 and 21.
Previously, only children whose parents had high cholesterol or heart disease were encouraged to be screened. However, relying solely on family history may miss as many as three out of five cases of high childhood cholesterol.
Q: Besides heart health, dose high cholesterol affect any other element of my health?
A: In addition to upping your risk for heart disease, high cholesterol may increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study of over 2,500 people ages 40 to 79 published in Neurology. Researchers examined autopsies of people diagnosed with dementia before they died. Those with high cholesterol levels had more brain plaques when compared to those with normal or lower cholesterol levels. Plagues are made from a buildup of protein between nerve cells and are an indication of Alzheimer’s.
Q: What lifestyle changes can I make to lower my cholesterol?
A: Diet can affect your cholesterol levels, so it’s important to eat well. Eat more of these to help your cholesterol:
• Fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils, and whole grains. The soluble fiber in these foods helps keep cholesterol out of your bloodstream.
• Low-fat or nonfat dairy products.
• Fish, skinless poultry and lean meat.
• Soft tub or liquid margarine and vegetable oil spreads.
And eat less of these:
• Saturated fat. It raises cholesterol more than any other food. Saturated fat lurks in marbled cuts of meat, poultry skin, whole-milk dairy products, butter, bacon, and coconut and palm oils.
• Trans fat. Watch out for this artery clogger in stick margarine, baked goods including cookies and doughnuts, and fried foods.
• Cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol doesn’t raise your blood cholesterol levels as much as saturated fat. However, it’s often found in the same foods, including meat, butter, cream, egg yolks and cheese.
Exercise also affects cholesterol levels. Regular exercise not only lowers your bad cholesterol, it also boosts your HDL, or “good” cholesterol. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity five days a week.
Good Neighbor Pharmacy, September 2012
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