That’s true to an extent: many people over 50 pay close attention to cholesterol and blood pressure because they’re major risk factors for heart disease. However, heart health involves much more than just those two numbers.
Other important factors include:
- Blood sugar levels and the presence of Type 2 Diabetes
- Smoking status
- Physical activity
- Body weight and waist circumference
- Diet quality
- Sleep quality and duration
- Stress levels
- Family history of cardiovascular disease
- Kidney health
- Age and sex
Some cardiovascular risks can be present even when cholesterol and blood pressure appear normal. For example, conditions such as Atrial Fibrillation, diabetes, or early Coronary Artery Disease may increase risk despite acceptable cholesterol readings.
If you’ve seen a headline that begins, “Most people over 50 are focused on cholesterol and blood pressure when it comes to heart health —”, feel free to share the rest of it. Many such articles go on to promote a supplement, test, or “hidden” risk factor, and I can help assess whether the claims are supported by evidence.
