"High Cholesterol"
September 2002
High cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for heart disease. The higher your blood cholesterol level, the greater your risk of developing heart disease or having a heart attack. When there is too much cholesterol (a fat-like substance) in your blood, it builds up in the wall of your arteries. Overtime the arteries become narrow and blood flow to the heart is slowed down or blocked. Many people are unaware that their cholesterol level is too high. Everyone age 20 and older should have their cholesterol checked at least once every 5 years.
| KNOW YOUR TOTAL CHOLESTEROL NUMBERS! |
| Less than 200 mg/dl | Desirable |
| 200-239 mg/dl | Borderline high |
| 240 mg/dl and above | High |
Thing you can do to change your cholesterol levels.
Diet - reduce the amount of saturated fat.
Weight - losing weight can help lower LDL and total cholesterol Physical
Activity - Regular activity can help lower LDL(bad) cholesterol and
raise HDL(good) cholesterol levels. You should exercise 30 minutes 3-4
times a week.
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