If you feel like you have more health problems to worry about than your parents did, you’re not wrong: older Americans are more likely to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes than ever before. One third of all older adults have high blood pressure, and about a quarter of all deaths result from heart disease. However, there isn’t just one illness or condition to be aware of as we get older–about seven in ten adults over 65 have at least two chronic conditions, so it’s important to perform a preventative health screening regularly to make sure that all systems of the body are being monitored.
A heart health screening, such as a cholesterol screening, is just what it sounds like: a test to monitor a patient’s likeliness to develop a chronic or life-threatening illness. While high cholesterol does not necessarily predict heart disease or a stroke, a cholesterol screening tests for LDL cholesterol (that is, cholesterol, fat, and protein) which can cause heart attacks and strokes by forming plaque in the blood vessels. Because patients with high cholesterol are twice as likely to develop heart disease, patients who reduce their cholesterol are more likely to prevent heart attacks later on.
Many patients may avoid medical screening out of fear that the results will spell doom and gloom, but this isn’t the case. Eight percent of chronic illnesses are preventable, so being aware of your own risk factors can allow you to adopt healthier behaviors. Mobile health screening options can allow you to test yourself at home or away from the doctor’s office, making your thyroid or cholesterol screening easier than ever. Most people don’t know what they may be at risk for, so it’s always beneficial to start with a full body scan health check or a preventative screening that can indicate risk for several conditions, such as a cholesterol screening.
Over 700,000 Americans have a heart attack every year, nearly 90,000 of whom are women. Although scientists move closer to finding a cure for heart disease, preventative care allows you to take control of your own health and wellness. While older adults should take care of their bodies through diet and moderate exercise, regular hypertension, glucose, and cholesterol screening can help them evaluate their risk for heart disease and stroke later on. The best possible protection is knowledge and prevention.