WHAT
do heart attack and
stroke have in common? Among
other things, they share common
culprits—including too much
cholesterol.
This soft, fatlike substance is
found throughout the body—it’s in
the bloodstream and in every cell.
But excessive levels, known as high
blood cholesterol, can clog arter-
ies in the heart and brain and block
blood flow to these vital organs. That
boosts the likelihood of having a
A JOURNAL DEVOTED TO HEALTHFUL L I V I NG
FAL L 2 016
Check out our
upcoming events
Ovarian cancer:
Myths and facts
SGMH honors breast cancer
awareness month each year.
For more information, please
visit
www.sgmh.org.
5 must-knows
about cholesterol
Check out our website
for more information
on heart-healthy living:
www.sgmh.org.
heart attack or a stroke.
The more you know about choles-
terol, the more you can reduce your
risk for these serious health prob-
lems. Start here with these five facts.
1
Your body makes plenty.
It actu-
ally produces all the cholesterol you
need for good health. Much of the
cholesterol that accumulates in ar-
teries comes from eating foods that
contain saturated or trans fats, which
the liver converts to cholesterol.
2
There are good and bad types.
Because it accumulates in arteries,
low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is
often called bad cholesterol. You’ll
want less of this kind. But it’s fine to
have more high-density lipoprotein
(HDL)—the good type that helps
sweep arteries clean.
3
You need to be
tested.
The only
way to know if your
cholesterol levels are
in a healthy range is
to get a blood test.
You should have your cholesterol
checked at least every four years or
as often as your doctor suggests.
4
Your numbers matter.
In gen-
eral, ideal numbers are less than
200 mg/dL for total cholesterol, less
than 100 mg/dL for LDL and 60 mg/
dL or higher for HDL. You may need
your total cholesterol or LDL level to
be lower, depending on your other
risk factors.
5
Little changes help.
Eating a
healthy diet, exercising, losing some
weight (if you’re overweight) and
stopping smoking (if you smoke) can
all help bring your LDL level down
and raise your HDL level. If lifestyle
changes aren’t enough, your doctor
may prescribe medication.