- Font Size:
- Default font size
- Larger font size
| Thursday, December 04, 2008 | (No comments posted.)
Most people have heard about it, read about it, know someone who is at risk or even has it n “It” is high cholesterol and it can lead to stroke, heart attack and/or heart disease. The latest statistics show that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming nearly 500,000 lives each year.
Porter Cardiologist John Forchetti, MD, the medical director of the health system’s Cardiac & Vascular Institute, said monitoring cholesterol levels is one way physicians classify a patient’s risk for suffering a cardiac or vascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke. Research has also shown the health benefits of lowering cholesterol levels in patients who have diabetes.
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance made in the liver and found in certain foods, such as dairy products, eggs and meat. The body requires only a small amount of cholesterol in order to function properly and produce hormones, vitamin D and acids that help to digest fat. When too much cholesterol is present in the body, health issues, such as heart disease, may develop.
High cholesterol is one of the many risk factors for heart disease, and learning how to manage it is essential to heart health. High cholesterol occurs when a person has too much low density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol in the body. The LDL can form a plaque that builds up on the inside walls of the arteries, blocking the flow of blood. If an artery that supplies blood to the heart or brain is completely blocked, the result can be a stroke or heart attack. The optimal LDL level is less than 100 mg. More than 160 mg and above is considered very high. Cholesterol is not the only risk factor for heart disease; others include smoking, family history of heart disease, age and obesity.
High density lipoprotein (HDL), is a type of cholesterol that is actually good for heart health. This type of cholesterol helps the body get rid of bad cholesterol in the blood. The optimal HDL range for women is 50-60 mg and for men is 40-50 mg. There are several ways to increase the levels of HDL in the body:
Increase aerobic exercise;
Stop smoking;
Lose weight;
Reduce the intake of trans fatty acids; and,
Add soluble fiber in your diet.
Dietary changes and exercise are typically the first course of action in trying to increase HDL and reduce LDL cholesterol. Forchetti said for many patients, cholesterol-lowering medications are prescribed to get LDL levels within normal ranges.
“Exercise and diet can work but it takes a real commitment by the individual to make a meaningful difference in cholesterol levels,” he said. “It takes an hour of aerobic activity five-to-six days a week to make a difference. Several of my patients have made that commitment and it has resulted in them getting their levels of good cholesterol up and levels of bad cholesterol down.”
Porter offers regular screenings to help monitor cholesterol/HDL/LDL and Triglyceride levels. Screenings are $30 and are by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call (219) 263-7285.
Upcoming screenings will be held:
9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 11 at the Portage Public Library, 2665 Irving St., Portage
8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Dec. 18 at village Park Enrichment Center at Banta, 605 Beech St., Valparaiso
7:30 to 10 a.m. Dec. 23 at Porter’s Education and Rehabilitation Campus, 1401 Calumet Ave., Valparaiso
--For The Times
Back to story No comments posted.
- It wasn't clear, concise or focused on the topic in the story.
- It was a personal attack, vulgar, explicit or degrading, used actual or implied profanity or contained potentially libelous statements.
- It accused someone of being guilty of a crime.
- It promoted violence or illegal acts.
- It contained telephone numbers or street addresses, or e-mail addresses and links to Web sites other than nwi.com or government agencies.
In no way do these comments represent the views of The Times or Lee Enterprises.
Passionate views, pointed criticism and critical thinking are welcome. Name-calling, crude and profane language and personal abuse are not welcome.
Reader comments will not be edited - they will be approved or declined. They may be used in the print edition of the newspaper.
If you feel a posted comment has violated these guidelines, please email our New Media team the commenter's name, the comment and a link to the article.
For more information please read our Terms of Service.