September: National Cholesterol Education Month

High blood cholesterol increases your risk for heart disease – the number one killer of Americans. The higher your cholesterol level, the greater your risk.  Anyone can develop high cholesterol.  About 50% of American adults aged 20 years and older have cholesterol levels that are higher than desirable.

Where Does Cholesterol Come From?
Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs. Cholesterol is also found in some of the foods you eat.  Many things affect the level of cholesterol in your blood:

• Family history – High cholesterol can run in families.
• Age – As you get older, your cholesterol levels go up.
• Weight – Losing extra weight can help lower your cholesterol levels.
• Diet – Eating too much saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol raises the level of cholesterol in your blood.
• Physical activity – Physical activity can help you lose weight and lower your cholesterol.

Test Your Cholesterol IQ With This Quiz
www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3032767

For more information on cholesterol, visit the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Web site at
http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/cholmonth/

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Health Information Network, American Heart Association

Focus On: Know Your Numbers

There are no signs or symptoms of high cholesterol. That’s why it’s so important to get your cholesterol levels checked. Ask your doctor for a blood test called a “lipoprotein profile” to measure your cholesterol levels.

What do the Numbers Mean? Your lipoprotein profile will tell you about:

• Total cholesterol – A desirable total cholesterol is a number under 200.
• Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol – This is the bad type of cholesterol that can block your arteries.  Most people should try to keep their LDL cholesterol under 130.  If you have heart disease or diabetes, you should keep your LDL cholesterol under 100.
• High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol – This is the good type of cholesterol that lowers your risk for heart disease.  An HDL cholesterol below 40 is a major risk factor for heart disease.  An HDL cholesterol above 60 helps protect against heart disease.
• Triglycerides (a type of fat in your blood) – Keep this number under 150.

Your chance of having a heart attack or dying of heart disease in the next 10 years is influenced by your cholesterol levels and other risk factors (such as blood pressure or smoking). The higher your chance of having heart disease, the lower your LDL should be. Follow these steps to lower your LDL cholesterol:

• Make changes in your diet
• Increase your physical activity
• Control your weight

Your doctor may also give you medicine to help lower your LDL cholesterol. If you have high cholesterol, you will need to get your cholesterol checked more often. 

• Find out your 10-year risk for having a heart attack at http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/atpiii/calculator.asp?usertype=pub
• Find out your LDL cholesterol goal at
  www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/hbc_what.htm 
• Monitor your cholesterol levels at
  http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/cholmonth/track3.htm

Sources: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Health Information Network, American Heart Association

 

Prevention Tips: Lower Your Cholesterol

Too much cholesterol in your blood can cause a heart attack or a stroke. The good news is that there are several things that you can do to lower your cholesterol:

• Eat less saturated fat (which is found in whole milk, butter, cream, and fatty meats), less trans fat, and less cholesterol.
• Eat foods that are high in fiber, like oatmeal, oat bran, beans, or lentils.
• Eat 2-4 servings of fruits and 3-5 servings of vegetables a day instead of foods higher in fat.
• Get 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days per week such as walking fast, dancing, or mowing the lawn.
• If you are overweight, you can help lower your cholesterol and improve your health by losing just 10 percent of your weight.
• Limit your sodium intake to no more than 2,300 milligrams (about 1 teaspoon of salt) a day to help keep your blood pressure down.
• Don’t smoke.

For advice and tips on how to make lifestyle changes that will lower blood cholesterol and reduce your risk for heart disease, visit Your Guide to Lowering Cholesterol with Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC):  www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/chol_tlc.htm.

 

How Do Your Cholesterol Levels Measure Up? Find out what your cholesterol numbers are and learn what they mean.
Cholesterol Type	Optimal/Desirable Level (measured in mg/dl)		Borderline Level (measured in mg/dl)	High-Risk Level (measured in mg/dl)
Total Cholesterol	Less than 200		200—239	240 and above
LDL Cholesterol	Less than 100	“Near Optimal” or “Above Optimal”	130-159	160-189	Very High
		100-129			190 and above
HDL Cholesterol	60 and above Considered protective against heart disease		40-59 The higher, the better.	Less than 40 A major risk factor for heart disease
Sources: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Stroke Association