When you think about heart disease, you typically think about individuals with high cholesterol build up and high blood pressure. These are the typical hallmarks of heart disease, but they are not the only ones. For example, a new study that was published indicates that high calcium levels can also be a contributor to the risk of heart attack. For elderly folk who might already be at a higher risk of heart issues, this is helpful, and perhaps surprising, information.
A study from UT Southwestern Medical Center showed that there was an association between high calcium buildup in arteries and heart attack and stroke risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and harmful cholesterol levels.
Individuals that had no calcium blockage had a less than three percent chance of a cardiac event in the ensuing ten years–even if those individuals had other risk factors such as those described above.
Oftentimes, the elderly will take dietary supplements to try and stay healthier. Calcium is one of those that’s taken most often because calcium is associated with bone health. It’s in the senior population that broken bones are feared because of increased fall risks and other health factors, such as osteoporosis. But if this study is true, then excessive amounts of calcium may actually be doing more harm than good. Just to be clear, calcium supplements are not always associated with calcium plaque in arteries. There is still more research needed in this area of medicine. If you have questions about this, speak with a physician to find out more.
Exercise with resistance has also shown to help increase bone strength. This isn’t right for everyone, but if you are concerned about calcium and bone health, and want to keep your heart healthy at the same time, then this is worth speaking to a doctor about. Lifting some light weights might not be your mom or dad’s favorite activity when it comes to getting exercise, but studies have shown that it’s quite beneficial, not just for bone health, but also mental health. Again, make sure that you speak with a doctor before your parent starts any sort of new physical exercise program to ensure that it’s going to be helpful for their specific health needs. And if they do start a new routine, it’s smart to start out slowly. It’s always better to be too careful than it is to be reckless.
Are you wondering how you can have a loved one’s calcium levels checked? A CT scan is a quick way to find this information out. With insurance, the typical CT scan costs about $100, but it’s worth looking into. This information has the potential to prevent a crippling heart attack or stroke in the future. Prevention is the best way to avoid health issues and keep your family in as good of health as possible. If it can stall a need for in-home care or any other type of senior care, it also has the potential to save your family a lot from a financial perspective, too.
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