Cholesterol Education Month
September 5, 2009 by Peggy Rowland
Filed under Women's Health
With all the cholesterol-lowering drug commercials being aired, you’re probably sick of hearing about cholesterol. I don’t blame you.
However, September is National Cholesterol Education Month, so I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t nag just a little. The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends that you get your cholesterol checked every 5 years staring at age 20.
To me, five years seems like a long time to wait between checks. In a matter of three years, my cholesterol test results went from normal to very high. Talk with your doctor about your risk factors and how often you should get your cholesterol checked. Once you have a high result, you really won’t be going five years between tests.
Getting your cholesterol checked is a matter of fasting for a simple blood test referred to as a lipoprotein profile. It measures your good (HDL) and bad (LDL) cholesterol, as well as triglycerides. Your total cholesterol should be less than 170 mg/dL.
If your cholesterol is high, your doctor will likely prescribe exercise and a diet low in fat and cholesterol. Losing weight (if you need to) and quitting smoking will also help.
Why should you be concerned about cholesterol?
High cholesterol can contribute to heart disease and stroke. If you have too much cholesterol, it will build up in your arteries, causing them to narrow. Think of it like a clogged up pipe. Yuck.
If you struggle with high cholesterol, what are you doing to lower it?
(Image via stock.xchng)
It is important to note that dietary cholesterol may or may not contribute to heart disease depending on how the individual’s liver is able to regulate the plasma cholesterol level and the production of LDL. Certainly we know the body needs fats, but they must be the right kind. Good fats supply essential fatty acids, which are a very important link in our health chain. All cell membranes are composed of fats. Fats supply energy, act as an
intestinal lubricant and carry the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K in the body. Unfortunately many of us in the West consume much too much of the wrong fats – that is, saturated, hydrogenated, and heated fats – which are linked to obesity, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer.