Know Your Cholesterol

Who is affected by High Cholesterol?
No one is truly safe from the effects of high cholesterol.
    * It affects the health of both men and women.
    * High cholesterol also affects the health of all ages (over 16% of those affected are under 65!).

What exactly is cholesterol?
    * Total cholesterol is the amount of fat found in your blood.
    * It is produced by your liver and found in certain foods you eat.
    * Not all cholesterol is bad. In fact, it is an essential part of your bodily functions. But too much of it can become a major risk factor for heart disease.
    * There are two main types of cholesterol found in your body (HDL) and (LDL).
          o HDL (high-density lipoproteins) = Good cholesterol: protects your body from fat build up in your blood vessels.
          o LDL (low-density lipoproteins) = Bad Cholesterol: causes fat to build up in your arteries. High levels of LDL’s increase ones risk of developing heart disease.

Factors that Contribute to High Cholesterol Include:

    * Lack of Physical Activity
    * Diets High in Saturated Fats
    * Diabetes
    * Obesity

Signs and Symptoms:

THERE ARE NONE! Unfortunately, only blood tests can determine levels of cholesterol in the body.
What can you do to manage your risk?

    * Choose Healthier Foods. Be aware of some general guidelines for choosing foods. Click Here
    * Healthier Recipes. INShape Indiana gives you some options for cooking healthy. Click Here to see these recipes.
    * Manage your intake of fats. Not all fats are bad! Some can actually help maintain a good cholesterol level. Click Here to find out which ones they are.
    * Maintain a Healthy Body Weight
    * Increase Physical activity

Screenings

    * The American Heart Association suggests that adults over the age of 20 should be screened for high cholesterol every five years.
    * Refer to your local physician, hospital or newspapers for upcoming health fairs that may offer cholesterol screenings.

Understand your Cholesterol Numbers:

Cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL). Knowing your total blood cholesterol level is an important first step in determining your risk for heart disease.
Total Cholesterol Level     Category
Less then 200 mg/dl     Desirable
200-239 mg/dl     Borderline High
240 mg/dl and above     High

Chart and information provided by the American Heart Association
Test your Cholesterol Knowledge!!!!

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