As far as the human body can be hardy and strong, if you train it, it also weakens and becomes fragile with an incorrect lifestyle. Ignorance of what is harmful to health often leads to problems with it. The appearance of a disease such as atherosclerosis is no exception. “Improper” lipids play a significant role in its development, therefore, without knowing, for example, what is the norm of cholesterol in women after 50 years, you can get a stroke that can be really avoided by simply changing the diet.
The concept of "cholesterol"
The lipid that is invisible to the human eye, which is located in each membrane of a human cell, is called cholesterol. It is produced by the liver, and then through the blood it enters all the cells. It is multifunctional and participates in such processes as the production of hormones: both the adrenal glands and the genital. Also, his “duties” include converting ultraviolet to vitamin D, taking part in the exchange of vitamins A, K, D and E.
Each person has their own cholesterol level in the blood, but still there are some criteria in terms of gender and age. For example, the norm of blood cholesterol in women after 50 years of age differs significantly from its level in a young girl. Lipids deliver lipoproteins through the blood, which are distinguished by three species, and not all of them have a positive effect on people's health.
- Low density lipoproteins have a bad effect on the human body, it is they that cause the causes of cardiovascular diseases.
- High density lipoproteins are natural for the body and bring only benefits. One of their functions is the removal of "bad" cholesterol from organs through the liver, where it is broken down.
- Triglycerides form blood lipids. They give a person energy, but if there are a lot of them, then they lead to obesity.
Thus, in order to know, for example, what is the norm of blood cholesterol in women after 50 years, it is better to take a blood test for verification. This will help to take measures in time and avoid serious consequences.
Cholesterol: the norm in women after 50 years
Treatment may not be necessary if you monitor your health. To do this, you need to know the rate of cholesterol in the blood. Depending on age, the amount of cholesterol in the body varies. The main role in this is played by the lifestyle that they lead. For example, cholesterol, the norm in women after 50 years of age changes due to the onset of menopause, can be overestimated precisely because of changes in the hormonal background.
Changes in lipid metabolism can be caused by various factors, for example, during pregnancy, the level of cholesterol rises, and this is normal, with cardiovascular diseases it is elevated, and this is not considered normal. Therefore, of course, you can determine what the rate of cholesterol in the blood of women after 50 years. The table with indicators used by physicians, however, is still somewhat arbitrary.
Age | 20 years | 30 years | 40 years | 50 years | 60 years | 70 years |
Cholesterol, mol / L | 3.11-5.17 | 3.32-5.8 | 3.9-6.9 | 4.0-7.3 | 4.4-7.7 | 4.48-7.82 |
Regardless of the age of the patient, the doctor should always find out the cause of the increase in cholesterol, and it is most often directly related to nutrition and the presence of bad habits.
Cholesterol, the norm in women after 50 years: nutrition
Nutrition is the first factor that affects the increase in low-density lipoproteins. According to statistics, today 25% of the adult population and 16% of children have 1, 2 or 3 degrees of obesity. This is due to the advent of instant foods and refined foods.
Scientists have found that vegetarians do not suffer from a disease such as atherosclerosis, which develops precisely because of an increase in the level of "bad" cholesterol in the blood. Therefore, it can be said with great certainty that meat, especially in fatty varieties, is contraindicated if cholesterol, the norm in women after 50 years of which rises due to hormonal changes in the body, forms layers on the walls of blood vessels.
Also, products that have a negative effect on the body include:
- lard, lard, margarine, butter and coconut oil;
- pork, fatty mutton, kidneys, liver, goose, ducklings, brains;
- sausage, bacon, sausages, balyk;
- meat broth;
- semolina, pasta;
- red, black caviar, squid, shrimp;
- baking, cream, fat sour cream, condensed milk, cheese;
- fast food, ice cream, cakes, milk and white chocolate;
- candied fruit, cocoa, strong tea.
This is not a complete list of products that affect the fact that cholesterol, the norm in women of which changes sharply after 50 years, rises in terms of all age groups, if so eat, regardless of gender.
Causes of Cholesterol Plaques
Cholesterol plaques are the main culprits for problems with the cardiovascular system. Their formation occurs gradually, but they cause irreparable harm to the body, if you do not do treatment on time.
Atherosclerotic plaques are made up of fats, calcium and connective tissue. Their slow growth initially accelerates when cholesterol grows. If the treatment is not done on time, the plaques increase in size.
Microscopic pieces may come off from them and clog small vessels. And it all starts with a small fat stain or strip, on which the connective tissue grows, becomes denser with calcium and takes up more and more space in the vessel.
At the beginning of growth, plaques narrow the lumen in the vessels, then completely clog them. The reason for their occurrence is a lack of activity, fatty animal or refined foods, smoking, alcohol, stress. At risk are men after 45 and women after 50 years.
Threat to the life of the body
To find out that cholesterol, the norm in women after 50 years of which should be 4.0-7.3, has not yet led to atherosclerosis, it is necessary to take tests. This is important because the effects of cholesterol plaque formation can be irreparable.
Atherosclerosis is fraught with the fact that, due to obstruction of blood through clogged vessels, parts of the brain begin to die, which leads to gradual degradation. A plaque can come off at any time and get into another organ with blood, thus leaving it without food. Also, the formation of cholesterol plaques leads to a stroke.
Obstruction of the venous system in the legs caused by high cholesterol in the blood and the formation of plaques leads to the fact that a person stops moving fully.
It happens that in order to save a person’s life, a leg affected by atherosclerosis is amputated partially or completely. Patients with diabetes mellitus, in whom necrosis of the cells leads to gangrene, are primarily at risk of contracting atherosclerosis of the legs.
Cholesterol tests
Given the unhealthy diet that many people of any age and gender are exposed to, doctors recommend taking a cholesterol test from the age of twenty, once every 4-5 years. If a person is predisposed to cardiovascular disease due to lifestyle or heredity, then the check must be carried out once a year. Also, those who are overweight, smoke, suffer from hypertension or diabetes, and lead an inactive lifestyle should regularly do this.
To understand what is the norm of blood cholesterol in women after 50 years, it is not recommended to take blood from a finger, since analysis from the ulnar vein gives more accurate indicators. For patients who have already revealed its elevated level, it is recommended to purchase an apparatus and test strips during treatment to determine it at home.
Preparing for the test
Doctors recommend adhering to some restrictions before taking cholesterol tests. So, to more accurately determine what the norm of blood cholesterol in women after 50 years of age, fasting blood should be taken from a vein. This means that a person should not eat food at least 8 hours before analysis.
If a person has concurrent diseases, then you should not eat fatty foods for two days, avoid stress and heavy physical exertion. This will help to obtain more accurate indicators, but even if all the conditions are met, doctors recommend repeating the analysis after 2 months.
Symptoms of High Cholesterol
Symptoms of the presence of atherosclerotic plaques may not appear for a long time, but external factors such as increased physical activity, stress, and high blood pressure affect them. This leads to their rupture, which contributes to the formation of blood clots, which accelerate the narrowing of the vessels so much that it begins to manifest itself on a physical level.
If there are problems with the vessels of the brain, then the symptoms are headaches, dizziness, memory loss, impaired sleep and coordination. If the disease is not treated, then the gradual death of brain cells leads to dementia.
If the problem is with the venous system of the legs, then the symptoms of atherosclerotic plaques are muscle pain, cramps while walking, numbness of the fingers, change in temperature and skin color. Gradually, the pains become stronger even when lying down, and trophic ulcers appear on the skin.
On the face, cholesterol plaques appear on the eyelids. Even removing them surgically will not cure the patient if a full treatment is not carried out.
Diet for high cholesterol
If the blood cholesterol norm is slightly increased in women after 50 years, treatment can be carried out in the form of a diet. To do this, it is enough to remove fatty meats, lard, egg yolk, fried foods, smoked meats, butter, cod liver and offal (liver, brain, lungs, heart, kidneys) from the diet.
To lower cholesterol, eating vegetables, fruits, low-fat fish and lean meat is a completely radical remedy. Seafood, seaweed, low-fat fish, fruits and dried fruits, and some spices such as garlic, ginger, cinnamon, and turmeric also contribute significantly to this.
Cholesterol Plaque Treatment
If the tests revealed high cholesterol and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques, then in addition to the diet, the doctor prescribes medication. Most often these are statins, fibrates, omega-3s, antidepressants and tranquilizers, if the patient is subject to mood swings. These products cleanse blood vessels, but as an addition, blood purification procedures, such as cryoapheresis, can be used. This method is widespread, since with the simultaneous purification of blood, cholesterol plaques are removed.
An important factor for the cure is a change in lifestyle, rejection of bad habits, increased physical activity and resistance to stress.
Folk remedies for lowering cholesterol
Nature generously endowed people with means that contribute to prolonging life and the prevention of many diseases. It has long been known that garlic acts on blood vessels, cleanses them and makes them elastic. Turmeric, lemon, oats, beets, ginger, and freshly squeezed juices have the same property: both fruit (grapes, watermelon, pineapple, pear) and vegetable.
It is also recommended to brew herbs such as coltsfoot, St. John's wort, motherwort, horsetail and dill seeds, in equal proportions and drink 30 minutes before meals.