CHOLESTEROL - LOWER IT!
WHAT IS CHOLESTEROL?
CHOLESTEROL in your blood is made up of “good” and “bad” fats. The “bad” fats include LDL (low density lipoproteins) and TRIGLYCERIDES which can hurt the heart. The “good” fat includes HDL (high density lipoproteins) which is heart healthy.
HOW DOES HIGH CHOLESTEROL HURT ME?
Arteries are blood vessels that help deliver blood, oxygen and nutrients to your body. High cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL can build up on the inside of your arteries, this is called “fatty plaque” and is part of a disease called atherosclerosis. Too much plaque buildup can decrease blood flow to the organs and muscles. When this happens in your heart arteries, you can have a heart attack. When this happens in your brain arteries, you can have a stroke. When this happens in your leg arteries you can have leg pain when walking.
WHO GETS HIGH CHOLESTEROL?
UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE is the number one cause for high cholesterol. Eating fatty and fried foods, not exercising, smoking and being overweight can increase your risk for high cholesterol. It is also important to talk with your doctor if members of your family have high cholesterol since genes can play a role in high cholesterol.
HOW CAN I PREVENT HAVING HIGH CHOLESTEROL?
#EATHEALTHY: Take control of your heart health - decrease LDL and triglycerides by eating a low saturated fat diet. You can also decrease triglycerides by reducing alcohol intake and eating a low carbohydrate diet.
The Mediterranean Diet is a #HeartHealthy diet that can decrease your risk of heart disease.
#EXERCISEREGULARLY: Exercise is important to decrease high cholesterol. Exercising 30 minutes per day, 5 days a week can control cholesterol, decrease risk of heart disease and diabetes, and help with weight loss. Moderate intensity exercise is recommended. Walking, biking, jogging, swimming, weight lifting, sports, dancing, aerobics are some of the many FUN things you can do.
WHAT CAN MY DOCTOR DO FOR ME?
KNOW YOUR CHOLESTEROL: Ask your doctor about your cholesterol levels. You can use an on-line risk calculator to assess your risk of developing plaque and whether medications can help you.
MEDICATIONS: There are safe and very effective medications to help control your cholesterol. These medications work best with LIFESTYLE CHANGES so continue to eat healthy & exercise.
Talk to your doctor : See if the Cholesterol Guidelines apply to you.
- my.americanheart.org/cvriskcalculator
- http://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMoa1200303
- http://newsroom.heart.org/news/acc-aha-publish-new-guideline-for-management-of-blood-cholesterol