Cholesterol, Your Heart, and You

All we hear about is how bad cholesterol is. In fact, cholesterol is necessary for life, it forms cells needed for our bodily functions. There are two ways to get cholesterol in our system. Our liver manufactures cholesterol to be used and we eat foods that contain cholesterol. Cholesterol is only found in animal products such as meat, poultry, eggs, and fish. Foods with saturated fat cause the body to make more cholesterol.

In order to better understand cholesterol we need to understand how cholesterol works in the body. Our bodies produce carriers called lipoproteins. Lipoproteins transport fat and cholesterol because they cannot be dissolved in the blood. There are two types of lipoproteins: low density lipoproteins LDL (bad cholesterol) and high density lipoproteins called HDL (good cholesterol).

If LDL levels in your blood are high then cholesterol slowly builds up in the arteries that feed your brain and heart. This build up may begin in your teens if proper eating habits and regular exercise do not start at a young age.

HDL is helpful in transporting cholesterol away from arteries and back to the liver to be processed as waste. Increasing exercise is a good way to increase HDL levels.

It is important to understand the difference so you can plan your treatment method for high cholesterol levels. The American Heart Association suggests that “An LDL level less than 100mg/dl is optimal and a level greater than 160mg/dl or 130mg/dl with two risk factors puts a person at increased risk for heart disease. HDL levels less than 40mg/dl also increase your risk significantly.”

If your total cholesterol was greater than 200mg/dl we suggest you have the level repeated in four weeks to verify levels, different labs have different controls so verification is important. If level is greater than 240mg/dl with the repeat, you need to contact your physician in order to take steps to decrease these levels.

The first steps you must take are:

• Eating: a diet low in saturated fat is not the easiest thing to do in our American Culture. We love fast food and we are always looking to get a quick and easy meal. Two income families and single parents are common today. This makes meal time difficult to plan and we tend to use packaged/processed foods. Taking time for food preparation needs to be a part of your life. Shopping in grocery stores should start in the fresh vegetable section and the majority of your cart should be filled there. Limit packaged foods to a minimum. It is important to read the nutritional values listed on packaged foods. You can obtain information about a diet low in saturated fat anytime on the internet through various sites. I recommend American Heart. www.americanheartassociation.com.
  
• Exercise: Very important. Our bodies were made to move. It does not matter what type of exercise you choose, you just need to be aware of your heart rate and exercise within recommendations. You should always consult your doctor or health professional before beginning an exercise program. It is important to learn how to exercise effectively. Moderation is the key for any exercise program. Do something you can live with. A great and easy way to start is walk. Walking is easy and we can do it everyday, even if you park at the end of the lot. Take a romantic walk on the beach or take your dog for a walk. Whatever you choose make sure you enjoy it so you will continue for the rest of your life. If you are planning to join a health club, make sure you join a club that offers evaluations by medical professionals. This way you will be evaluated completely and prescribed an individual exercise program. It is best to be evaluated by a medical professional vs. a personal trainer. After being evaluated, a personal trainer is qualified to follow an exercise program prescribed by health care professionals. They are able to monitor your technique to avoid injuries. Make sure you verify that your trainer is certified.

After doing all you can do and your cholesterol remains high you may have to consider medication to help your body lower your cholesterol. There are several choices of medication on the market and they can be explained by your doctor in detail if it is something you have to consider.

To have your cholesterol checked call your doctor or take advantage of the monthly cholesterol screenings offered at the Caribbean Health and Fitness Complex at Beeston Hill. Call 778-5144 for dates and time.

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