The cholesterol craze is still in full swing. Some of the people who can benefit the least from cholesterol control are the most involved in this fad. They are the elderly and they are being fleeced of millions of dollars for useless testing and therapy. If you are 65 or older, you should simply reject cholesterol lowering therapy. As you get older, your chances of living longer go up with your cholesterol level. Here are the facts:
1. In very senior citizens (80 and above) the risk of dying falls 15 percent for each additional 39 points on your cholesterol level.
2. In some folks, low cholesterol is a signal of a life-threatening disease like undiagnosed cancer.
3. In a study reported in The Lancet, subjects with low cholesterol experienced the highest rate of death from cancer and infections, while the high cholesterol group suffered least from such problems.
4. The higher your cholesterol, the lower your risk of having a stroke
5. If you are concerned about what you have read the last few weeks, ask your doctor to wean you off your statin drugs. It is best not to do it yourself.
6. We need to return to a healthy diet which means not avoiding cholesterol-rich foods. “A Healthier You” class will be running the month of September to give you in depth information as to how to eat for health.
