Better Health. No Hassles. Sokan Hunro, PAC, MPH National Cholesterol Education Month

Better Health. No Hassles. 2 Cholesterol Have you had a chance to get your cholesterol checked this year? It’s never too late to learn your numbers. Types & normal values of fats in the blood – Total cholesterol: 100 – 199 mg/dl – Good cholesterol (HDL): >39 mg/dl – Bad Cholesterol (LDL): 0 – 99 mg/dl – Bad cholesterol: (VLDL): 5 – 40 mg/dl – Triglycerides: 0 – 149 mg/dl

Better Health. No Hassles. High blood cholesterol affects over 65 million Americans. It is a serious condition that increases your risk for heart disease & stroke. The higher your cholesterol level, the greater the risk. You can have high cholesterol and not know it. Cholesterol

Better Health. No Hassles. How Cholesterol Causes Heart Attack or Stroke Heart with muscle damage and a blocked artery

Better Health. No Hassles. TYPES OF “FATS” I. Total cholesterol Source: Saturated fats: (animal products: meat, poultry, lard, mild and butter) Total Cholesterol Level Category – Less than 200 mg/dL: Desirable – mg/dL: Borderline high – 240 mg/dL and above: High

Better Health. No Hassles. TYPES OF “FATS” II. LDL (bad) cholesterol The main source of cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries. LDL level is a good indicator of your risk for heart disease. Lowering LDL is the main aim of treatment if you have high cholesterol. In general, the higher your LDL level, the greater your chance of developing heart DZ.

Better Health. No Hassles. TYPES OF “FATS” LDL (bad) Cholesterol Source: – 1. Saturated fats: (animal products: meat, poultry, lard, mild and butter) – 2. Trans fats: Hydrogenated oils in cookies, crackers, margarines. LDL Cholesterol Level LDL Cholesterol Category – Less than 100 mg/dL: Optimal – mg/dL: Near optimal/above optimal – mg/dL: Borderline high – mg/dL: High – 190 mg/dL and above: Very high

Better Health. No Hassles. TYPES OF “FATS” III. HDL (good) cholesterol: Protects against heart disease. The higher HDL, the better. Helps keep cholesterol from building up in the arteries. A level less than 40 mg/dL is low: a major risk factor because it increases your risk. HDL levels of 60 mg/dL or more help to lower your risk for heart disease.

Better Health. No Hassles. TYPES OF “FATS” IV. Triglycerides Triglycerides can also raise heart disease risk. Things that can increase triglyceride levels include: – Overweight – Physical inactivity – Cigarette smoking – Excessive alcohol use – Very high carbohydrate diet – Certain diseases and drugs – Genetic disorders Levels that are borderline high ( mg/dL) or high (200 mg/dL or more) may need treatment in some people. High level of 500 mg/dl or more could lead to pancreatitis if not lowered immediately.

Better Health. No Hassles. Management of High Cholesterol The main goal is to lower the LDL level. There are two main ways to lower your cholesterol: – 1. Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC)–includes a cholesterol- lowering diet (called the TLC diet), physical activity, and weight management. TLC is for anyone whose LDL is above goal. (Please see the next 3 slides) – 2. Drug Treatment: * Not the FIRST choice of management. * Used together with TLC treatment to help lower your LDL.

Better Health. No Hassles. Management of High Cholesterol Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) TLC is a set of lifestyle changes you can make to help lower your LDL cholesterol. The main parts of TLC are: I. The TLC Diet, which recommends: – Limiting the amount of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol you eat. – Eating only enough calories to achieve or maintain a healthy weight. – Increasing the soluble fiber in your diet. For example, oatmeal, kidney beans, and apples are good sources of soluble fiber.

Better Health. No Hassles. Management of High Cholesterol Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) II. Physical activity: – Regular physical activity is recommended for everyone.physical activity – It can help raise HDL and lower LDL levels. – Is especially important for those with raised triglyceride and/or reduced HDL levels who are overweight with a large waist measurement (metabolic syndrome). – Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity, such as brisk walking, on most, and preferably all, days of the week.

Better Health. No Hassles. Management of High Cholesterol III. Weight management: – Especially important for those with a group of risk factors that includes raised triglyceride and/or reduced HDL levels and being overweight. – Losing weight if you are overweight can help lower LDL.

Better Health. No Hassles. Cholesterol and the heart disease that it leads to know of no ethnicity, gender or socioeconomic status. Everyone could be at risk. So, please be sure to: Check your cholesterol and other fat levels regularly. Check for other health problems that may contribute to heart disease and stroke, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. Exercise regularly. Take ALL medicines as prescribed by your health care provider. Quit smoking and lose weight if they are risk factors for you. See your healthcare provider or call the Wellness Center if you have not had your cholesterol checked in the past year. References: American Heart Association & The Mayo Clinic Facts