Elder Care Cafe

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As many of us know, high cholesterol can put us at risk for a heart attack. Because heart disease is the number one killer in the United States, it would behoove us to understand what causes heart attacks and heart disease, and what we can do to prevent an occurrence in our life.

A number of things can affect our cholesterol levels. Called risk factors, we can find out what we can or cannot control in protecting ourselves from a heart attack.

Risk factors we can’t control include:

• Our age: Whether we like it or not, as long as we are alive we are going to age. Many people have tried to stop the process, but aging is a fact of life. Unfortunately, cholesterol levels tend to rise as we age.
• Our family history: Whether you are into genealogy or not, your family genes play a role in the amount of cholesterol your body produces. You might be able to blame your ancestors for your high cholesterol.

Risk factors we can control include:

•  Our weight. Ouch, this is often a tender spot in many lives. The more overweight we are, the more likely our LDL (lousy, bad) level will be too high. Our weight can also cause our overall cholesterol to be high.
• Our activity level. The more active lifestyle we live, the more likely our LDL will be lower and our HDL (happy, healthy, high) will be at a healthy level. As most of us already know, less exercise equals more weight.
• Our eating habits. What we eat greatly affects our cholesterol levels. Following a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and low-fat milk will help keep our cholesterol levels in check.

 When we know our numbers – LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol – and we understand our risk factors, then we can take the proper steps to bring those numbers into proper alignment.

By allowing cholesterol to build up in our arteries due to living an unhealthy lifestyle, we set ourselves up for heart disease or a heart attack.

If you know you are at risk, talk to your doctor to see exactly what he or she would have you do to bring your risk factors under control.

Related Posts:

• August 24, 2009 -- How to Manage High Cholesterol
• August 22, 2009 -- Are You At Risk For A Heart Attack?
• August 21, 2009 -- 3 Things You Must Know About Cholesterol
• September 19, 2009 -- Heart Attack Symptoms For Women Often Differ From Men
• September 15, 2009 -- DASH Your Way to Lower Blood Pressure, Part 1