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High Cholesterol - Silent Killer
by Dr.Hassan Farooq M.D
What is Cholesterol? lt is a soft, waxy (fatty) material found in your blood. There are several types of cholesterol some
good other bad. There are two important types, LDL and HDL.
LDL ('L" stands for Lousy) also known as "bad" cholesterol can slowly build up in the watts of the arteries feeding the heart and brain and such areas may become as hard as a rock. This may leads to clotting of blood in the artery causing poor blood flow. Higher the Lousy or bad (LDL) cholesterol, the higher is the risk of heart attack.
HDL ("H" stands for Helpful) also known as "good" cholesterol because high HDL level protect against heart attack by cleaning up the arteries.
Where does cholesterol come from?
Examples of foods with cholesterol: (from animal source) egg yolks, meat, poultry, fish, seafood and white-milk dairy products. Saturated fatty acids are the main culprit in raising blood cholesterol.
Examples of foods without much cholesterol : (from plants) fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds.
How much cholesterol should you eat? The average American man consumes about 337 milligrams of cholesterol a day; the average woman, 217 milligrams.
- lf you don't have Heart disease: American Heart Association recommends that you
limit your cholesterol intake to less than 300 milligrams per day.
- lf you have heart disease: limit your intake to less than 200 milligrams per day.
- Foods high in saturated fat: These foods usually have high cholesterol too. Remember
that by eating less saturated fats, you can significantly lower your cholesterol intake.
- Eat: Less then 6 ounces of steam meat, fish and poultry per day and use fat-free or [low.
fat dairy products. Lentils and beans are good substitutes for animal protein.
Can exercise lower cholesterol? Regular physical activity generally increases HDL (good cholesterol). Higher HDL cholesterol lowers the risk of heart disease. Physical activity can also help control weight, diabetes and high blood pressure. Aerobic physical activity raises your heart and breathing rates. Regular moderate to intense physical activity such as brisk walking, jogging and swimming also condition your heart and lungs.
It is never too late to exercise: lack of exercise is a major risk factor for heart disease. Even moderate-intensity activities tike walking for pleasure, gardening, yard work, housework, dancing and prescribed home exercise, if done daily, help reduce your risk of heart disease. Please talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program.
How does smoking tobacco affect cholesterol? Tobacco smoke is one of the six major risk factors of heart disease that you can change or treat. Smoking lowers HDL cholesterol levels and increases the tendency for blood to clot.
How does alcohol affect cholesterol? The good and bad side:
Moderate use of alcohol is linked with higher HDL (good cholesterol) levels. Alcohol[ if you don't do so already. lf you drink, do so in moderation. Moderate amounts of alcohol consumption (1 to 2 drinks/day for men and 1 drink/day for women) lowers risk of heart disease compared to nondrinkers. However, increased alcohol intake brings other health problems such as alcoholism, high blood pressure, obesity, stroke, cancer, suicide, etc. Given these and other risks, you are cautioned against increasing your alcohol intake or starting to drink if they don't already do so. Consult your doctor for advice on consuming alcohol.
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Physician In Training Competition 89th Annual Assembly
