Cholesterol Education –

Cholesterol is fat, or lipid that has a waxy consistency, and travels through the bloodstream and can leave deposits in the walls of your arties. Your total cholesterol is a measure of all the cholesterol in your blood, including LDL (bad) cholesterol and HDL (good) cholesterol. We get natural cholesterol from our bodies and from foods we eat. Indulging in too much unhealthy food causes high cholesterol, which is too much of certain types of bad cholesterol. Having high LDL cholesterol levels increases cardiovascular risk for either disease or an event. There are no real symptoms of having high cholesterol. A blood test is the only way to detect high cholesterol. Causes of high cholesterol can also be genetic, known as familial hypercholesterolemia. Familial hypercholesterolemia is a dominant disorder that causes severe elevations in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein. There are two types of familial hypercholesterolemia. Heterozygous is treatable through statins, a prescription drug used to reduce cholesterol levels, and shows statistics for 200-500 people worldwide. Homozygous, which is primarily found in children younger than 20, is more severe than heterozygous, more difficult to treat, and is less common (one in 1,000,000 will inherit from their parents). Healthy levels of cholesterol can be achieved through proper diet and exercise. Through simple lifestyle changes, one can reduce their cholesterol to increase overall health. Limiting your intake of junk food, fried foods, and drinks containing sugar (soda, juice, etc.) are some simple steps. Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, fish, lean meats, and low-fat dairy can help with achieving and maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. Whittier Street Health Center provides programs and services that address cholesterol and cardiovascular health. Some of them include:

• Speaking with a nutritionist or dietitian to increase your knowledge on how to maintain a healthy diet and proper foods to eat to maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
• Speaking with your doctor about having a blood test performed to detect cholesterol levels.
• Utilizing the Whittier’s Wellness Institute which includes a Wellness and Fitness Club that offers a variety of fitness equipment and classes to help you get in shape and increase your cardiovascular health, and a Community Garden/Nutritional Counseling program staffed by nutritionists.

Resources: The Mayo Clinic: “High Cholesterol” http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/basics/causes/con-20020865 American Heart Association: “Understand Your Risk for High Cholesterol” http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/UnderstandYourRiskforHighCholesterol/Understand-Your-Risk-for-High-Cholesterol_UCM_001213_Article.jsp Take Down Cholesterol: “Managing High LDL Cholesterol” https://www.takedowncholesterol.com/cholesterol/cholesterol-management