Helping Your Parent Lower High Cholesterol

Your mother was just told by the family physician that the problems she's had recently are actually the symptoms of high cholesterol and that she needs to take steps to lower cholesterol immediately or risk a heart attack, blood clot, or stroke. But to your horror, she tells you this while munching on a slice of pecan pie washed down with whole milk.

How do you help someone you love lower cholesterol and tackle high cholesterol symptoms when it seems as if they simply don't care?

First, it's important to know that you're not the only person in this position. Many children have this dilemma, and they are also feeling at a loss. However, there are some excellent methods for helping your parent lower cholesterol rating in a loving and mature way.

1. Work with Your Parents, Not Against Them

Remember when you were a child and were told, "You have to do this"? What was your first instinct? Probably to do the opposite of what you were told, just because you didn't want to be controlled.

Guess what? Your parent is likely to have the same reaction if you come barreling into the house and announce, "You have to shape up immediately! The most important thing is to lower cholesterol. Let's sign you up for a health club today and take all the high fat, artery clogging food out of your pantry!"

Instead of taking this route, why not sit down and have a relaxed conversation with your parent? In a calm way, ask him or her how you can help find the perfect treatment for high cholesterol symptoms. You'll have a much better chance of success.

2. Offer Advice and Back It Up with Information

If you have specific ideas on how to lower cholesterol levels, make sure you approach your parent with information in hand. That way, you can introduce a topic and your mom or dad can read about on his or her own at a later time.

For instance, consider this conversation:

YOU: "Dad, I came across this article in a magazine yesterday... it talks about taking vitamin C as a way to naturally reduce high cholesterol symptoms. I thought you might like it."

DAD: "You know I'm already on medications for that!"

YOU: "Yes, that's true, Dad... but I know that you might not want to stay on the drug forever, and I want you to know all the alternative remedies on the market. You don't have to read it, I just thought you might like it as an FYI."

DAD: "Well... you're right, you know. I hate taking all these medicines. So if I can tackle lower cholesterol another way, it might be worth it."

YOU: "Thanks, Dad."

3. Offer to Plan Meals or Do the Shopping

If you're in the position to be able to have meals with your mother or father on a regular basis, why not offer to make the dinner or do shopping? Then, you can slip in some low fat options and heart healthy choices to help attack his or her high cholesterol symptoms.

Is this route a little sneaky? Perhaps... but if it saves your parent's life and lowers cholesterol, switching from 2% to 1% milk will be worth it.