08-27-2008, 01:03 AM
Heart attack is the number one killer of women and men in the U.S. Each year more than a million Americans have heart attacks, and about a half million people die from heart disease. High blood cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for heart disease. When there is too much cholesterol (a fat-like substance) in your blood, it builds up in the walls of your arteries. Over time this buildup causes hardening of the arteries, the arteries become narrowed, and blood flow to the heart is slowed down or blocked. The higher your blood cholesterol level, the greater your risk for developing heart disease or having a heart attack.
Everyone age 20 and older should have their cholesterol measured at least once every 5 years. There are no signs or symptoms of high cholesterol so many people are unaware that their cholesterol level is too high ? that?s why it is so important to get your levels checked. Ask your doctor for a blood test called a proteioatenile to measure your cholesterol levels.
Total cholesterol ? A desirable total cholesterol number is one under 200.
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol ? This is the ?bad? type of cholesterol that can block your arteries. You should try to keep your LDL level under 130. If you have heart disease or diabetes, you should keep your LDL level under 100.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ? This is the ?good? type of cholesterol that helps keep cholesterol from building up in the arteries and lowers your risk for heart disease. An HDL cholesterol below 40 is a major risk factor for heart disease. An HDL level above 60 helps protect against heart disease.
Triglycerides (a type of fat in your blood) ? You should try and keep this number under 150
Many things affect the level of cholesterol in your blood ? these are things you can do something about:
Weight ? Being overweight is a risk factor for heart disease and it also tends to increase your cholesterol. Losing those extra pounds can help lower your LDL, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, as well as raises your HDL level.
Diet ? Eating too much food high in saturated fat, trans fats, and cholesterol raises the level of cholesterol in your blood. Reducing the amount of these fats in your diet helps lower your blood cholesterol level.
Physical activity ? Regular physical activity can help lower LDL and raise HDL cholesterol levels, and helps you lose weight.
Things you cannot do anything about but that can affect cholesterol levels include:
Family history ? High cholesterol can be inherited. Your genes influence how high your LDL level is by affecting how fast LDL is made and removed from the blood.
Age and sex ? Before menopause, women usually have total cholesterol levels that are lower than those of men the same age. As women and men get older, their blood cholesterol levels rise until about 60 to 65 years of age. In women, menopause often causes an increase in their LDL level and a decrease in their HDL level. After the age of 50, women often have higher total cholesterol levels than men of the same age.
There are a number of things you can do every day that can improve your cholesterol levels ? and your overall health. Following a healthy diet and lifestyle can give you the edge in the fight against heart disease and stroke. Here are some tips on how you can take an active part.
Good luck and hope this helps.
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