Know Your Numbers to Protect Your Heart

Feb 02, 2019

• Share on Facebook
• Tweet
• Pin it
• Share on LinkedIn

By Ruth Bumgarner, Healthways Coordinator at William Newton Hospital

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in America. The good news is that it can often be prevented. February has long been designated as a time to learn about your risks for heart disease and find out what steps you can take to protect your heart. This year to kick-off Heart Health month, we’re taking a look at cholesterol. What is it, and how does it affect your risk of heart disease and stroke?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that circulates in the blood. It has a bad reputation, but isn’t an inherently “bad” thing. Cholesterol is both made by your body and ingested through your diet. Your liver produces all of the cholesterol your body needs to build cells, make hormones and digest fatty foods. Additional cholesterol in your body comes from eating meat, poultry, full-fat dairy, and other animal food products. These same foods (and some tropical oils such as palm oil) can also trigger your liver into producing extra cholesterol. For some people, this added production raises cholesterol levels to an unhealthy range.

Many people are aware there are two types of cholesterol – HDL and LDL. Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is considered the “bad” cholesterol because it contributes to fatty buildups in arteries. These buildups narrow the arteries and increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is thought of as the “good” cholesterol. HDL helps carry LDL cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where the LDL is broken down and passed from the body. A healthy HDL cholesterol level may help protect against heart attack and stroke.

Healthy cholesterol levels include a higher level of HDL cholesterol and a lower level of LDL cholesterol. Knowing and controlling these levels is an important step to improve your heart health.

How do I check my levels?

HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and other fats in your blood are known as lipids. A lipid panel or lipid profile is a simple blood test that provides information about your levels of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.

Triglycerides are a third type of fat (lipid) found in your blood. They are the most common type of fat in the body, storing excess energy (calories) from your diet. A high level of triglycerides combined with high LDL or low HDL cholesterol levels increases your risk for heart attack and stroke.

In order for the test to be accurate, you are required to fast for 9-12 hours (it is okay to drink water and black coffee).

Your doctor will evaluate your levels in context with your age, sex, family history, and specific cardiovascular risk factors. If your risk remains uncertain, your doctor may recommend additional testing. The American Heart Association recommends that all adults 20 years of age and older have their cholesterol levels screened at least every four to six years. Based on your individual risk factors – including cardiovascular disease, family history, and blood pressure levels – your doctor may want you to have annual screenings.

What might my results mean?

Regular screenings will help you and your doctor monitor your risk of cholesterol-related health conditions.

Hyperlipidemia means your blood has too many lipids (or fats), such as cholesterol and triglycerides. Hypercholesterolemia is a type of hyperlipidemia that means there is too much LDL (bad) cholesterol in your blood. This condition increases fatty deposits in arteries. Your levels of HDL (good) cholesterol can also be too low. This can also contribute to fatty deposits in your arteries, as it diminishes your body’s ability to remove cholesterol.

What is your cholesterol ratio?

One way you can use your results to monitor your health is by checking your cholesterol ratio. To find this ratio, divide your total cholesterol by your HDL cholesterol. The higher the ratio, the higher your risk of heart disease; an ideal ratio is 3.5.

What if my levels are too high?

While there are medications available to manage cholesterol levels, lifestyle changes will often go a long way toward lowering your cholesterol levels and improving your cardiovascular health.

• Losing weight – being overweight or obese tends to both raise levels of LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) and lower levels of (good) HDL cholesterol
• Quitting smoking – smoking lowers HDL cholesterol; smoking also compounds other risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
• Increasing levels of physical activity – a sedentary lifestyle lowers HDL cholesterol. Just 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week is enough to lower both cholesterol and high blood pressure.
• Eating a heart-healthy diet – reducing saturated fats and increasing foods high in fiber can help lower cholesterol levels by as much as 10 percent. Aim for a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry, fish and nuts, and work to decrease consumption of saturated fats and sugary foods and beverages.

Healthways of William Newton Hospital is offering community lipid screenings from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 6 and Friday, February 8. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment, call 620-222-6262.

Editor's Note: Ruth Bumgarner, Healthways Coordinator at William Newton Hospital, works within the community to provide health and wellness education and activities. If you have comments or story ideas, call 620-221-2300, ext. 1113.

The "Weekend Check-Up" is a regular health column published in the Cowley Courier Traveler penned by employees and friends of William Newton Hospital.