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Truths about Cholesterol for you to Know to Prevent Heart Disease

High cholesterol and high blood pressure are the biggest risk factors of heart/cardiovascular disease. Sadly, 71 million Americans have high cholesterol where a large part of treating, managing and preventing the condition involves understanding it. We are listing important cholesterol facts for you to know for better health.



1.      Cholesterol (a fatty substance) is a natural component in everyone’s blood. It’s considered a major risk factor for heart attack (myocardial infarction), cardiovascular disease and stroke only when there is an excess of this fatty substance in the blood. There are actually different types of cholesterol- high-density lipoprotein (HDL cholesterol) that lends a good, protective effect to your body and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol also known as bad cholesterol.

2.      You should know your cholesterol number for predicting cardiovascular risk. You can get your non-HDL cholesterol number by subtracting your HDL cholesterol from your total cholesterol reading.

3.      Certain fats like monounsaturated fats such as nuts, and olive oil and polyunsaturated fats like fish and canola oil can actually help keep your cholesterol numbers low.

4.      According to studies, the drug Statin’s cardiovascular benefit is very high with its risks such as diabetes and memory problems being very low.

5.      According to a study that comprised 5000 men, individuals whose cholesterol numbers were low or normal significantly reduced their risk of aggressive prostate cancer by 60 percent in comparison to men with high cholesterol.

Working towards lowering cholesterol is a long-term effort where the key is to change health habits. For example-

Don’t Depend on Medications Alone- You need to adopt healthy lifestyle measures as well.

Learn about Cholesterol - lowering Drugs- When it comes to cholesterol drugs, strictly follow your doctor’s guidelines and never stop taking them without consulting him/her. Make sure to report your medication side effects to your physician.

Proceed Gradually- The best way to incorporate healthy changes into your life over the long haul is by modifying your lifestyle and diet in minor ways. For instance, switch high-cholesterol and high-fat foods you love for healthier choices instead of embarking on a radical calorie-cutting diet. Example- go for skim milk instead of whole, use olive oil instead of butter when you cook and so forth. Only buy foods with “no trans fats” on the labels.

Keeping your cholesterol in check will keep heart disease at bay thus lowering your risk for a cardiac arrest or heart attack. The best way to deal with out-of-hospital cardiac emergencies is by getting CPR trained. The procedure comprises chest compressions and rescue breaths. Proper application can revive the life of a victim in the middle of an emergency.

To sign up for a CPR course at CPR Tampa, either register online or call on 727-240-9404 for the same.

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