14 VITALITY Spring 2022 Have you given some thought to your cholesterol levels lately? The more you know about cholesterol, the better you might be able to reduce your chances of having a heart attack or stroke. To start, check out the following facts about cholesterol: WELLNESS Your body needs some cholesterol to function properly. Cholesterol is a fat-like substance present in your bloodstream and your cells. It can be unhealthy to have too much or too little of certain kinds of cholesterol in your blood. A high level of LDL (lowdensity lipoprotein) cholesterol can build up in arteries and reduce blood flow to your heart or brain. This can lead to a heart attack, stroke or other serious diseases. So you’ll want a low LDL level. HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol helps remove cholesterol from the body. So a high HDL level may actually lower your risk of heart disease. You usually can’t tell if you have a cholesterol problem. An abnormal cholesterol level usually doesn’t cause any symptoms. So you can have one and feel just fine. You’ll need a cholesterol blood test to find out if your cholesterol levels are healthy. How often you need your cholesterol checked depends on your age and other risk factors. Ask your primary care provider what’s right for you. Lifestyle changes can often treat cholesterol problems. A heart-healthy lifestyle may be all you need to get your cholesterol levels within a healthy range. For example, for a more cholesterol-friendly diet, try eating leaner meats and more beans instead of fatty meats. Switch to low-fat or nonfat dairy products. These moves will help you avoid artery-clogging saturated and trans fats, which can cause your body to make more cholesterol than you need. Be sure to also get regular exercise and maintain a healthy weight. They’re good for your cholesterol levels too. Some people may need medicines. Sometimes lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough to control cholesterol levels. Drugs called statins are most often used to manage high LDL cholesterol. They have been shown to lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Your primary care provider may prescribe other medicines if you can’t take a statin because of side effects or if you need more than one type of medicine to lower your cholesterol. Sources: American Heart Association; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 4 facts to know about cholesterol
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