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Questions You
May Have About Your High Blood Cholesterol
Since I'm a Woman, Why
Should I Worry About Having a Heart Attack?
Its true that before
menopause, women are unlikely to die from heart disease. But as they get
older, especially after menopause, their chance of developing heart disease
goes up. Women and men in their seventies have an equal likelihood of dying
from heart disease. That's why at any age it is important for women as well as
men to the steps to prevent high blood cholesterol.
At 69, I'm Feeling Fine.
Why Do I Need to Make Changes Now?
You have three very good
reasons to change some of your health habits. First, the risk of heart disease
increases as you get older. Although you are feeling well, you may already
have some buildup of fat and cholesterol in your arteries. Unless you try to
stop or reverse the buildup, you may have a heart attack later on.
Second, adopting a healthy
lifestyle helps reduce the risk of heart disease even for people your age.
People in their seventies can lower their blood cholesterol levels, and
therefore deposit less fat in their arteries. Being more physically active is
another important step that helps to protect older people against heart
disease. A heart-healthy diet should also be a balanced diet. Most people will
not have to make extreme changes to make their eating and activity habits
healthy. These changes can fit in with your overall lifestyle.
Reason number three: You've
got a lot of living yet to do. A man at 69 can expect on average to live
another 15 years; a woman at 69 can expect to live another 19 years. The
changes you make now can help make those years more healthy and enjoyable.
Will Lowering My Blood Cholesterol Help Me Live Longer ?
Many studies show that
lowering cholesterol levels reduces the risk of illness or death from heart
disease, which kills more men and women each year than any other illness. If
you have heart disease, lowering your cholesterol level will probably help you
to live longer, but you will definitely reduce your risk of illness and death
from heart attack.
Since Heredity Can Cause High Blood Cholesterol, Do My High Levels Mean That
My Family Is At Risk?
If you have high blood
cholesterol, your family may also have high levels. This includes your
children, parents, brothers, and sisters. They should all have their
cholesterol levels tested to help protect them from heart disease.
How Much Does My Cholesterol Level Change From Day To Day?
Your cholesterol level
varies somewhat from day to day , sometimes by more than 15-20 mg/dL.
Different laboratories also may use different methods of analyzing blood
cholesterol levels which can give different results. This is why you need more
than one cholesterol test before starting any treatment.
What Is a Cholesterol Ratio?
Some laboratories may
calculate a cholesterol ratio. The ratio is obtained by dividing either total
cholesterol or LDL- cholesterol by the HDL-cholesterol. The ratio is not
recommended since it is more important to know each value separately. Be
sure to get separate total cholesterol, LDL,and HDL values.
My Blood Test Showed I Also Have High Triglycerides How Does That Affect My
Risk of Heart Disease?
Triglycerides are a form of
fat that is carried through the bloodstream. Most of your body's fat tissue is
in the form of triglycerides. High blood triglyceride levels aline usually do
not raise your risk of heart disease. But many people have a high triglyceride
level along with high LDL- and low HDL- cholesterol levels. In these cases,the
three are often treated together.
Here's how to judge your
triglyceride level:
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Normal
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Borderline-High
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High
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Very High
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less 200 mg/dL
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200-400 mg/dL
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4000-1000
mg/dL
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greater than
1,000 mg/dL
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Borderline-high and high
triglyceride levels are first treated with the same diet and lifestyle changes
used for high blood cholesterol levels. These changes include:
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Weight loss (if you are
overweight)
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A diet low in saturated
fat and cholesterol (Step I and Step II.)
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Increased physical
activity
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No smoking
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No alcoholic beverages
(for some people)
Usually "very
high" levels are due to heredity. They may be lowered with the changes
above with medicines.
Does Eating Foods High in
Salt and Sodium Increase My Blood Cholesterol Level?
No. The amount of sodium in
your diet has no effect on your cholesterol level. However, sodium can cause
blood pressure to rise in some people. Further, many people with high blood
cholesterol also have high blood pressure. If you have both, it's a good idea
to reduce your sodium intake. The National High Blood Pressure Education
Program recommends no more than 2,400 mg per day (the amount in about 1
teaspoon of table salt). On average, Americans take in 4,000 to 6,000
milligrams of sodium each day. This sodium comes from many different foods.
Foods high in sodium include some canned soups, vegetables, and meats; instant
soups and cereals; ready-to-eat cereals; salty snacks and crackers; pickles
and olives; and many frozen meals. For more help on reducing sodium as part of
a cholesterol- lowering diet, write for Step
by Step Eating To Lower Your High Cholesterol.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
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