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The Top Ten Reasons To Know
Your Numbers
- High total cholesterol is also a major risk factor
for heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease
- There are three numbers to know for cholesterol
- the good (HDL), the bad (LDL), and the ugly (total cholesterol)
- When LDL or bad cholesterol is oxidized, it becomes
attached to the lining of the arteries that feed your organs and
sets the stage for a heart attack or stroke
- A heart healthy diet and regular physical activity
can lower your LDL, and statin drugs can be prescribed if lifestyle
changes are not enough to reach your LDL goal
- HDL, or good cholesterol, acts like a scrubber
to clear cholesterol from your arteries and send it to the liver
for elimination
- HDL can also act as an anti-oxidant and an anti
inflammatory agent, helping to repair your blood vessel linings
- Low HDL levels (below 40 for men and below 50
for women) are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular
disease (CVD)
- For every one milligram rise in HDL, your risk
of developing CVD drops by 2 to 3 percent - a level of 60 milligrams
or higher is protective, even if your total cholesterol is above
the optimal level of 200 milligrams per deciliter of blood
- There are things you can do to increase your HDL
level. Regular physical activity, losing weight if you are overweight,
and quitting or avoiding all forms of tobacco are important
- Healthy eating is important
for all of your cholesterol numbers - eating the "good"
fats and avoiding trans fats, eating lots of fruits, vegetables,
legumes, and oats, eating more fish and fewer refined carbohydrates
can help you control your cholesterol numbers.
Cholesterol Goals
For Most People Are:
- BELOW 200 FOR TOTAL CHOLESTEROL
- ABOVE 60 FOR HDL (GOOD) CHOLESTEROL
- BELOW 130 FOR LDL (BAD) CHOLESTEROL
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