People Helping People Insurance Employee Benefits Risk Management Financial Strategies Lowering Your Cholesterol

Insurance Employee Benefits Risk Management Financial Strategies Agenda 1. Cholesterol Overview 3. Conventional Treatments 2. Prevention 4. Alternative Treatments

Insurance Employee Benefits Risk Management Financial Strategies Cholesterol in America  million adult Americans have high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia)  50.8 million men  55.9 million women  In 2004, there were 6.5 million visits to doctor’s offices related to cholesterol testing/treatment

Insurance Employee Benefits Risk Management Financial Strategies What is cholesterol?  A waxy fat-like substance found in every cell, but concentrated in the brain, liver, and blood  Essential to the body  Helps to form cell walls  Builds protective sheaths around nerves  Aids in hormone production  Supports digestion  Manufactured in your liver or absorbed from foods you eat

Insurance Employee Benefits Risk Management Financial Strategies Cholesterol Guidelines  Total Cholesterol  < 200mg/dL  HDL (good) Cholesterol  > 45mg/dL  LDL (bad) Cholesterol  < 100mg/dL  Triglycerides  < 150mg/dL

Insurance Employee Benefits Risk Management Financial Strategies Risk Factors  Family History  Poor Diet  Lack of Exercise  Smoking  Excess Weight  Diabetes

Insurance Employee Benefits Risk Management Financial Strategies Symptoms  High cholesterol has no symptoms  Known as one of the “silent killers”  Very high cholesterol levels may appear as yellow nodules beneath the skin of the elbows or knees or under the eyes

Insurance Employee Benefits Risk Management Financial Strategies Prevention/Early Treatment  Exercise  Weight  Relax  Tobacco Use

Insurance Employee Benefits Risk Management Financial Strategies Prevention/Early Treatment  Diet  Watch saturated fat intake  Less than 12 grams a day  Watch cholesterol intake  200 mg of cholesterol per day  Go nuts  Take to the sea  Omega-3 fatty acids  Dietary Fiber / Whole Grains

Insurance Employee Benefits Risk Management Financial Strategies Conventional Treatments  Medications  Lifestyle Changes

Insurance Employee Benefits Risk Management Financial Strategies Medications  Statins (Lipitor, Crestor, Vytorin, Zocor)  Control the amount of cholesterol produced by the body  Increase the liver’s elimination of circulating blood lipids  Very effective in lowering LDL cholesterol

Insurance Employee Benefits Risk Management Financial Strategies Medications cont’d  Nicotinic Acid (Niaspan)  Form of the B vitamin, niacin  Works to lower Total and LDL cholesterol levels, raise HDL levels and lower triglycerides as well  Fibrates (Lopid)  Work by lowering triglyceride levels and slightly boosting HDL levels

Insurance Employee Benefits Risk Management Financial Strategies Lifestyle: Your Diet Lowers LDL:  Red grapefruit: 1 daily reduces levels by 20%  Oatmeal: 3/4 cup daily reduces levels by 15%  Pecans: 1 oz daily reduces levels by 13%  Pistachios: 3 oz daily reduces levels by 12%  Promise Activ Spread: 3 tbsp daily reduces levels by 10%  Macadamia nuts: 1.5 oz daily reduces levels by 9%  Pinto beans: 1/2 cup daily reduces levels by 7%

Insurance Employee Benefits Risk Management Financial Strategies Your Diet Raises HDL:  Orange juice: Three 8 oz glasses daily boosts levels by 21%  Hazelnuts: 1.5 oz daily boosts levels by 13%  Dark chocolate: 2.5 oz daily boosts levels by 11%  Extra-virgin olive oil: 2 Tbsp daily boosts levels by 4% Lowers triglycerides:  Fish oil: 4 grams daily reduces levels up to 45%  Peanuts: 3 oz daily reduces levels by up to 24%  Pistachios: 2 to 3 oz daily reduces levels by 10 points

Insurance Employee Benefits Risk Management Financial Strategies Cooking Techniques  Use a rack to drain off fat when you broil, roast or bake.  Don’t baste with drippings; use a marinade instead.  Broil or grill instead of pan-frying.  Cut off all visible fat from meat before cooking and take all the skin off poultry pieces. (If you’re roasting a whole chicken or turkey, remove the skin after cooking.)  Use a vegetable oil spray to brown or sauté foods.  Make recipes or egg dishes with egg whites or egg substitutes, not yolks.  Avoid foods with trans fat (anything made with shortening or regular margarine).  Include high-fiber foods when planning meals.

Insurance Employee Benefits Risk Management Financial Strategies Lifestyle: Additional Tips  Walk, run, or lift weights for 30 minutes four times a week  Lose 10 to 20 pounds  Drink 5 glasses of water a day  Switch from coffee to tea  Count to 10

Insurance Employee Benefits Risk Management Financial Strategies Alternative Treatments  Supplements  Garlic  Phytosterols  Soybeans  Omega-3 Fatty Acids  Red Yeast Rice

Insurance Employee Benefits Risk Management Financial Strategies Alternative Treatments cont’d  Acupuncture  Researchers believe that this may help to lower triglyceride and LDL levels by increasing serum beta endorphin levels

Insurance Employee Benefits Risk Management Financial Strategies  Talk to your doctor about the best treatment plan for you in lowering your cholesterol

Insurance Employee Benefits Risk Management Financial Strategies Questions? Sarah Szul Health Management Coordinator x1196