Too much cholesterol is never a good thing and if you
have too much in your blood, it could easily lead to a heart attack or stroke.
In order to prevent these risk factors, it is important to stay informed about
your health and learn how to detect cholesterol and treat it when it is found.
WHAT
IS CHOLESTEROL?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that your body
actually needs, but if you have too much of it in your blood, it can build up
walls in your arteries. When that occurs, it can lead to a heart attack or
stroke. Two out of three adults have high cholesterol which is why it is so
important to learn how to prevent it now.
There are actually two kinds of cholesterol: high density
lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL). While HDL is known as the
“good” cholesterol, LDL is not. It is recommended that adults aged 20 years or
older should have their cholesterol checked every five years. For those under
20 years old, you still need to take precautions so that your cholesterol does not
end up affecting your health or life.
Screening is actually the key to detecting high
cholesterol because high cholesterol does not have any symptoms. So in order to
know if your cholesterol is good, make a doctor’s appointment where they will
do a simple blood test to find out the results. But what are some things you
can do to be proactive regarding your health and cholesterol? Here are a few
healthy lifestyle changes that are sure to help:
*Eat a healthy diet that is low in salt, low in total
fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol.
*Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
*Maintain a healthy weight.
*Don’t smoke
*Take at least one brisk 10-minute walk, three times a
day, five days a week.
If you think you might be having a stroke or a heart attack, do not hesitate to dial 9-1-1 for emergency assistance. For more information on cholesterol and your health,
visit: http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/win/info/cholesterol.pdf
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