How women can combat high cholesterol
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High cholesterol can dramatically
affect a person’s long-term
health. According to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention,
people with high total cholesterol have
approximately twice the risk of developing
heart disease as people whose
cholesterol levels are ideal. And contrary
to what many people may think,
women are no less susceptible to high
cholesterol than men.
Cholesterol can be a confusing
topic. Though cholesterol has a bad
reputation, that stature can be somewhat
misleading. That’s because there
are two types of cholesterol, one of
which actually reduces a person’s risk
for heart disease and stroke. High-density
lipoprotein, often referred to as
“HDL” or “good” cholesterol, absorbs
low-density lipoprotein, or “bad” cholesterol,
or “LDL,” and carries it back
to the liver, which then fl ushes it from
the body. High-density cholesterol accounts
for a minority of the body’s cholesterol.
Unfortunately, the majority of
cholesterol in the body is low-density,
high levels of which can contribute
to plaque buildup in the arteries, increasing
a person’s risk for heart disease
and stroke.
A 2015 report from the American
Heart Association indicated that more
than 73 million American adults have
high LDL cholesterol. The 2013 Canadian
Health Measures Survey found
that, between 2009 and 2011, the number
of Canadians with unhealthy levels
of LDL increased signifi cantly with
age, with 40 percent of men and women
between the ages of 40 and 59 suffering
from unhealthy levels.
Women may think that the presence
of the female sex hormone estrogen
can positively impact their cholesterol
levels. While estrogen tends to raise
HDL levels, its presence alone does
not mean women are out of the woods
with regard to cardiovascular disease,
including heart disease and stroke. In
fact, the Centers for Disease Control
notes that heart disease remains the
leading cause of death among women.
High cholesterol levels do not mean
women will automatically develop
heart disease, but those who receive
such a diagnosis should take the following
steps to lower their LDL levels
so they can live longer, healthier lives:
Eat right
Avoid foods that are high in fat, especially
saturated fats and trans fats.
The Heart Association notes that foods
that contain saturated fats contribute
to high levels of LDL. Fatty beef, lamb,
pork, poultry with skin, lard and
cream, butter, and cheese are just a
few of the foods that contain saturated
fats. Those foods all come from animal
sources, but many baked goods and
fried foods are also high in saturated
fat and should be avoided.
Fruits, vegetables and whole grains
are heart-healthy foods that can help
women lower their LDL levels and reduce
their risk for cardiovascular disease.
Exercise regularly
Routine physical activity can help
women lower their cholesterol levels,
especially when such exercise is
combined with a healthy diet. The Offi
ce on Women’s Health recommends
women get two hours and 30 minutes
of moderate-intensity aerobic activity
each week, or one hour and 15 minutes
of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity
each week.
Speak with your physician to learn
which exercises are most appropriate
for someone in your condition. Women
who want to do more than aerobic activity
can still meet their exercise requirements
by combining moderate
and vigorous cardiovascular exercise
with muscle-strengthening activities
two or more days per week.
Regular exercise can help women prevent
and combat high cholesterol.
Quit smoking
Smoking can accelerate the damage
already being done by high cholesterol.
While research does not indicate
that smoking directly impacts
LDL levels, the toxins produced and
inhaled from cigarettes can modify
existing cholesterol, making it more
likely to cause infl ammation.
Cholesterol does not discriminate,
and women need to be just as mindful
as men when monitoring their total
cholesterol levels.
Stroke is a medical emergency
and every minute counts
Each year, 780,000
Americans suffer
a stroke. It is
the third leading cause
of death and the leading
cause of long-term
disability in the United
States. Yet, many Americans
do not know the
symptoms or what to do
when they witness someone having a
stroke.
“Stroke is an unmistakable event.
Few other medical conditions come
on so suddenly or are so noticeable to
a bystander,” said Walter J. Koroshetz,
MD, deputy director of the Institute.
“For this reason, it is critical that people
know to call 9-1-1 and get to the hospital
to receive appropriate medical
treatment immediately when a stroke
occurs. Prompt treatment can dramatically
decrease or even prevent longterm
disabilities caused by a stroke.”
A stroke occurs when blood fl ow to
the brain is interrupted. Brain cells
die when deprived of oxygen and nutrients
provided by blood. Because stroke
injures the brain, if you are having
a stroke, you may not realize what is
happening. But, to a bystander, the
signs of a stroke are distinct:
• Sudden numbness or weakness of
the face, arm or leg (especially
on one side of the
body)
• Sudden confusion,
trouble speaking or understanding
speech
• Sudden trouble seeing
in one or both eyes
• Sudden dizziness,
trouble walking, or loss
of balance or coordination
• Sudden severe headache with no
known cause
In treating a stroke, every minute
counts. Knowing the symptoms of a
stroke, making note of the time of the
fi rst stroke symptoms, and getting to
the hospital quickly — within 60 minutes
if possible — can help you save
yourself, or someone you know, from
serious long-term disability.
Making changes in your lifestyle
can help prevent stroke. Risk factors
for stroke include high blood pressure,
diabetes, smoking, heart disease, family
history of stroke, high cholesterol,
and being overweight. Talk to your
doctor and let him know about the concerns
you may have about the risk factors
of stroke. Find out your risks and
take action.
For more information, visit www.
stroke.ninds.nih.gov.
/www.stroke.ninds.nih.gov
/www.stroke.ninds.nih.gov
/stroke.ninds.nih.gov