|
Take The Cholesterol
Quiz
| 1. |
Most of your blood cholesterol
is produced by: |
| |
a. Your liver |
| |
b. Your pancreas |
| |
c. Food consumption |
| |
d. Your kidneys
|
| |
ANSWER
a) Your liver. Your liver produces about 1,000
mg of cholesterol a day. Another 200 to 500 mg can come from
the food you eat. The cholesterol that your liver produces is
all the cholesterol your body needs. Learn
more about how cholesterol gets in your bloodstream.
|
| |
|
| 2. |
Which of the following foods
will NOT raise cholesterol? |
| |
a. Lean white meat |
| |
b. Fish |
| |
c. Whole-wheat bread |
| |
d. Bananas
|
| |
ANSWER
d) Bananas. Bananas don't have any cholesterol.
Plants don't contain cholesterol. Cholesterol comes from meat,
fish, dairy foods and other animal products. Some whole-wheat
products contain hydrogenated oils - a source of trans-fats.
These fats, along with saturated fats, are the main dietary
causes of high blood cholesterol. Learn
more about dietary cholesterol.
|
| |
|
| 3. |
All I really need to know is
my total blood cholesterol number. |
| |
a. True |
| |
b. False
|
| |
ANSWER
b) False. Your blood cholesterol is made up of
two different types of cholesterol: HDL (high-density lipoprotein)
and LDL (low-density lipoprotein). HDL is known as the "good"
kind of cholesterol because it helps remove "bad"
cholesterol from arteries and prevent blockage. LDL is the "bad"
kind of cholesterol because when too much LDL cholesterol circulates
in the blood, it can slowly build up in the walls of the arteries
that feed the heart and brain. You also need to know about your
triglyceride level. Triglyceride is a form of fat. It comes
from food and is also made in your body. People with high triglycerides
often have high total cholesterol, high LDL cholesterol and
a low HDL cholesterol level. Learn
more about the different types of cholesterol.
|
| |
|
| 4. |
You know you have high cholesterol
when: |
| |
a. You have a lot of headaches. |
| |
b. You start to gain weight. |
| |
c. Your blood pressure is high. |
| |
d. You have it checked by a doctor.
|
| |
ANSWER
d) You have it checked by a doctor. You have
it checked by a doctor. High cholesterol has no symptoms, so
the only way to know your cholesterol levels is by having them
checked. Learn why you should care if your cholesterol is high.
|
| |
|
| 5. |
If I have high cholesterol, the
only thing I can do about it is take medication. |
| |
a. True |
| |
b. False
|
| |
ANSWER
b) False. First and foremost you should check
your lifestyle habits. Are you a smoker? Do you consume too
much saturated fat? Are you physically inactive? All of these
modifiable factors can affect your cholesterol levels. Before
starting you on medication, your physician will probably address
your diet, exercise and smoking habits. Then, if heart-healthy
eating, 30-60 minutes of physical activity on most days of the
week and quitting smoking don't lower your cholesterol, your
doctor may prescribe medication. Even if you're taking medication,
it's important to maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle. Learn
more about cholesterol-lowering medications.
|
| |
|
| 6. |
High cholesterol levels put me
at risk for: |
| |
a. Obesity |
| |
b. High blood pressure |
| |
c. Atherosclerosis (hardening of
the arteries) |
| |
d. Diabetes
|
| |
ANSWER
c) Atherosclerosis. High cholesterol levels put
you at risk for atherosclerosis (fatty buildups of plaque in
artery walls). These deposits can contribute to blocking the
blood flow to a part of the heart muscle and cause a heart attack.
A high LDL level (more than 160 mg/dL or 130 mg/dL or above
if you have two or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease)
indicates an increased risk of heart disease. Atherosclerosis
in arteries in or leading to the brain can result in stroke.
Learn more about atherosclerosis.
|
| |
|
| 7. |
Some major risk factors for heart
disease and stroke include: |
| |
a. High blood pressure |
| |
b. Smoking |
| |
c. Family history of heart disease
|
| |
d. All of the above
|
| |
ANSWER
d) All of
the above. You can also include diabetes and increasing age.
Risk factors for heart disease and stroke amplify one another
rather than just adding up. The more risk factors you have,
the higher your risk for heart disease and stroke. Learn more
about the risk factors for heart
disease and stroke.
|
| |
|
| 8. |
Which of the following foods
may hold a "hidden" source of a cholesterol-raising
fat? |
| |
a. T-bone steak |
| |
b. Eggs |
| |
c. Bran muffin |
| |
d. Broiled salmon
|
| |
ANSWER
c) Bran
muffin. Bran muffins and all baked goods may hold a "hidden"
source of a cholesterol-raising fat. The nutrition label may
list the cholesterol content as none or low, but watch for hydrogenated
fats and oils in baked goods. These are known as trans-fats,
which - along with saturated fats - are the main dietary causes
of high blood cholesterol. Recently the FDA passed a regulation
requiring trans fat to be listed on the nutrition label. Food
manufacturers have until 2006 to comply, but many have already
begun to do so. Learning to read and interpret food labels is
important in limiting your intake of saturated fats. Learn
more about fats.
|
| |
|
| 9. |
Postmenopausal women should be
on hormone therapy to lower their cholesterol and decrease risk
for heart disease. |
| |
a. True |
| |
b. False
|
| |
ANSWER
b) False.
Neither the American Heart Association nor the National Cholesterol
Education Program recommends using postmenopausal hormone therapy
(PHT, formerly called hormone replacement therapy or HRT) as
an alternative to cholesterol-lowering drugs for women at risk
for elevated cholesterol levels. PHT is not for every woman.
For preventing a first heart attack or stroke, the American
Heart Association recommends reducing risk factors, such as
high cholesterol and blood pressure, by changing your lifestyle
and, if needed, taking medications. To read the latest research
and recommendations on PHT (HRT) from the American Heart Association,
type "hormone therapy" into the search box.
|
| |
|
| 10. |
I know my HDL and LDL cholesterol
numbers and my triglyceride level, and I know what I need to
do to keep them in the low-risk range |
| |
a. True |
| |
b. False
|
| |
ANSWER
If you answer
True:
You're probably already choosing a heart-healthy diet, getting
30-60 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week
and staying away from tobacco products.
If you answer
False: You
need to have your cholesterol checked by your healthcare provider,
learn all of your numbers and change your lifestyle if the
numbers are borderline-high or high. If lifestyle changes
alone don't lower your cholesterol level, talk to your healthcare
provider about medication. And if you're on medication now,
remember that you still need to continue with a heart-healthy
lifestyle and take your medication exactly as your doctor
has prescribed. Learn more about good dietary guidelines.
|
| |
|
CONTENT SOURCE:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3006032
|
