September is national cholesterol education month

It is a major risk factor for heart and cardiovascular disease.

good cholesterol because it helps remove LDL (low-density lipoprotein) from the blood.

actually works to clear cholesterol from the blood.

considered harmful because it tends to fall apart and form deposits on the lining of arteries.

main source of artery clogging plaque. can irritate the arteries, triggering a

chain reaction that results in plaque build- up and possibly blocked arteries.

Diet Exercise Smoking cessation Medication (if necessary)

A cholesterol test is a simple blood test that can tell you about your total cholesterol, HDL and LDL levels, important indicators of a patient's risk of heart disease. People aged 20 years and older should have their cholesterol checked at least once every 5 years. Knowing your numbers and the facts on cholesterol can help you prevent cardiovascular disease.

Do you know that..

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Other Facts..

*Too much cholesterol in your body is a major risk factor for heart disease.

* Triglycerides are another fat in our bloodstream. Research is now showing that a high levels of triglycerides is also linked to heart disease.

Too much cholesterol in

the body

Build up of cholesterol in the walls of arteries

Arteries become narrowed

ATHEROSCLEROSISblood flow

to the heart

muscle is slowed down or blocked

blood carries

oxygen to the heart

enough blood and oxygen cannot

reach your heart

CHEST PAIN!!

blood supply to a portion of

the heart is completely cut

off by blockage

HEART ATTACK!!

High cholesterol itself does not cause any symptoms; so many people are unaware that their cholesterol levels are too high. Therefore, it is important to find out what your cholesterol numbers are because lowering cholesterol levels that are too high lessens the risk for developing heart disease and reduces the chance of a heart attack or dying of heart disease, even if you already have it.

everyone over the age of 20 should get their cholesterol levels measured at least once every 5 years.

The test that is performed is a blood test called a lipoprotein profile that includes:

Total cholesterol levelLDL (the “bad” cholesterol)HDL (“good” cholesterol)Triglycerides

Recommendation..

Total Cholesterol

Category

Less than 200 Desirable

200-239 Borderline High

240 and above High

LDL Cholesterol LDL-Cholesterol Category

Less than 100 Optimal

100-129 Near optimal/above optimal

130-159 Borderline high

160-189 High

190 and above Very high

HDL* HDL-Cholesterol Category

60 or more Desirable – helps to lower risk of heart

disease

Less than 40 Major risk factor – increases the risk for

developing heart disease

*HDL (good) cholesterol protects against heart disease, so for HDL, higher numbers are better.

TRIGLYCERIDES

HDL-Cholesterol Category

Less than 150 Normal (desirable)Heart disease

150-199 Borderline high

200 or more High, may require treatment in some

people

Saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol in the food you eat increase cholesterol levels

Reducing the amount of saturated fat and trans fats and cholesterol in your diet helps lower your blood cholesterol level

Increasing the amount of fiber and plant derived sterols can also help lower LDL cholesterol

Being overweight can also increase your cholesterol

Losing weight can help lower your LDL, total cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels, as well as raise you HDL.

Regular exercise can lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol

You should try to be physically active for 30 minutes on most days.

Before menopause, women tend to have lower total cholesterol levels than men of the same age

After menopause, however, women’s HDL levels tend to rise.

Your genes partly determine how much cholesterol your body makes

High blood cholesterol can run in families.

Occasionally a medical condition may cause an elevation of cholesterol levels in the blood

These include hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland), liver disease and kidney disease.

Some medicines like steroids and progestins may increase the “bad” cholesterol and decrease the “good” cholesterol.

Eat a heart-healthy diet Exercise regularly Maintain a healthy weight Cholesterol-lowering drugs

o smoking, o high blood pressure

(hypertension), o diabetes, o high cholesterol, o family history of heart disease, o peripheral artery disease, o obesity

if you have 0-1 risk factor for heart disease, you are at low-to-moderate risk. Generally, lifestyle changes are effective in keeping the cholesterol in check.

Low to Moderate Risk

If you have 2 or more risk factor for heart disease, you are at moderate risk, depending on what heart disease risk factors you have. Sometimes your doctor will try lifestyle changes, but most people require cholesterol-lowering drugs or drugs to raise HDL plus an appropriate diet and exercise program.

Moderate Risk

If you have known heart disease, diabetes, or multiple risk factors, you are at high risk. Most people in this group will require a combination of cholesterol-lowering drugs and lifestyle changes to control their cholesterol levels.

High Risk

Control any other risk factors you may have, such as high blood pressure and smoking.

Follow a low saturated fat, low cholesterol eating plan

Maintain a desirable weight Participate in regular physical

activity Begin medication therapy as

directed by your physician

Statins Niacin Bile-acid derivatives Selective cholesterol absorption

Other information..* Cholesterol-lowering medicine is most

effective when combined with a low-cholesterol diet and exercise program.

o Muscle acheso Abnormal liver functiono Allergic reaction (skin rashes)o Heartburno Dizzinesso Abdominal paino Constipationo Decreased sexual desireo Memory problemso *If you have muscle aches, call your doctor

immediately. This could be a sign of life-threatening condition

Ask your doctor about the other drugs you are taking, including herbals and vitamins, and their impact on cholesterol-lowering drugs. You should not drink grapefruit juice while taking cholesterol-lowering drugs, as it can interfere with the liver’s ability to metabolize these medications.