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Reigning In High Cholesterol |
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Sunday, 27 August 2006 |
Dear Dr. Levister. I've had trouble getting my high
cholesterol under control. Can I control it through lifestyle changes alone?
R.H.
Dear R.H. Getting
your high cholesterol under control can seem a bit daunting, especially with
all of the dire warnings and mixed signals you get every time you sit down to a
meal. But understanding and controlling cholesterol isn't as difficult - or -
unrewarding - as you think. It just takes a little bit of common sense. To find
out if you have a cholesterol problem, ask you doctor for a lipid profile which
charts the HDL and LDL in your system. He or she can also tell you if lifestyle
changes alone will reduce your risk. By lowering your cholesterol you reduce
your risk of heart disease or heart attack.
 Dr. Ernest Levister, Jr. F.A.C.P. F.A.C.P.M.
LDL is the bad cholesterol that causes plaque to build up in
your arteries, hampering the flow of blood to your heart. Both occur naturally
in your body, but what you eat - and don't eat - can affect the amount of good
cholesterol in your blood.
A healthy person should have more than 40mg/dL of good
cholesterol and less than 100mg/dL of bad cholesterol. Unfortunately, nearly
107 million Americans have total cholesterol of 200mg/dL or higher, a level at
which their chances for heart attacks rise significantly, according to the
American Heart Association.
Here's how to get your cholesterol in check. Increase the
fruits and veggies, whole wheat, whole grain and fiber you're eating. Cut back
on trans-fats and saturated fats. Saturated fats are found in animal products
like egg yolks, meat, poultry, fish and high fat dairy products. Trans-fats are
man-made fats found in processed foods like baked goods and potato chips.
Exercise - it burns fat in your body. Get in 30 to 60
minutes at least six days a week.
Stop smoking or being around tobacco smoke. If you've been
unsuccessful with a lifestyle regiment, ask your doctor to prescribe a
cholesterol medication. The right meds can reduce your cholesterol and the risk
of heart attack almost by half.
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