Transcript September is national cholesterol education month

SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL
CHOLESTEROL EDUCATION
MONTH
WHAT IS CHOLESTEROL?
It
is a major risk factor for heart and
cardiovascular disease.
KINDS OF CHOLESTEROL
HDL (HIGH-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN)
good cholesterol because it helps remove LDL
(low-density lipoprotein) from the blood.
 actually works to clear cholesterol from the
blood.

LDL (LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN)
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.

FACTORS THAT CAN LOWER YOUR
CHOLESTEROL
Diet
 Exercise
 Smoking cessation
 Medication (if necessary)

Do you know that..
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.
HEART DISEASE AND
LOWERING CHOLESTEROL
WHAT ARE THE FOODS RICH IN CHOLESTEROL?
 Milk
 Eggs
 Meat
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.
HOW DOES HIGH
CHOLESTEROL CAUSE HEART
DISEASE?
Too much
cholesterol in the
body
Build up of
cholesterol in
the walls of
arteries
ATHEROSCLEROSIS
blood flow to
the heart
muscle is
slowed down
or blocked
Arteries become
narrowed
HEART DISEASE BEGINS WHEN A CHOLESTEROL,
FATTY MATERIAL, AND CALCIUM BUILD UP IN THE
ARTERIES, A PROCESS KNOWN AS
ATHEROSCLEROSIS
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!!
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF
HIGH CHOLESTEROL??
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.
WHAT NUMBERS SHOULD I LOOK
FOR?
Recommendation..
 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 level
LDL (the “bad” cholesterol)
HDL (“good” cholesterol)
Triglycerides
HERE’S HOW TO INTERPRET YOUR
CHOLESTEROL NUMBERS:
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
FACTORS THAT AFFECTS
CHOLESTEROL LEVELS
DIET
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

WEIGHT
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.

EXERCISE
Regular exercise can lower LDL cholesterol and
raise HDL cholesterol
 You should try to be physically active for 30
minutes on most days.

AGE AND GENDER
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.

HEREDITY
Your genes partly determine how much
cholesterol your body makes
 High blood cholesterol can run in families.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS
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.

MEDICATIONS

Some medicines like steroids and progestins
may increase the “bad” cholesterol and
decrease the “good” cholesterol.
TREATMENT
Eat a heart-healthy diet
 Exercise regularly
 Maintain a healthy weight
 Cholesterol-lowering drugs

RISK FACTORS
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
smoking,
high blood pressure (hypertension),
diabetes,
high cholesterol,
family history of heart disease,
peripheral artery disease,
obesity
Low to Moderate Risk
 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.
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 cholesterollowering drugs or drugs to raise HDL
plus an appropriate diet and exercise
program.
High 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.
PREVENTION





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
WHAT DRUGS ARE USED TO
TREAT HIGH CHOLESTEROL??




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.
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF
CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING
DRUGS?
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Muscle aches
Abnormal liver function
Allergic reaction (skin rashes)
Heartburn
Dizziness
Abdominal pain
Constipation
Decreased sexual desire
Memory problems
*If you have muscle aches, call your doctor
immediately. This could be a sign of life-threatening
condition
ARE THERE FOODS OR OTHER
DRUGS I SHOULD AVOID WHILE
TAKING CHOLESTEROL LOWERING DRUGS?

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.