“Every other American male and every third American female over age 40 will develop coronary heart disease,” said Mark Eskandari, MD, a member of the Society for Vascular Surgery®. For this reason, HHS has designated September Cholesterol Awareness Month.
r“It’s possible to limit cholesterol build-up in your blood vessels,” said Dr. Eskandari. “Lowering your risk factors can help prevent coronary heart disease.”
rThe vascular surgeon suggests the following actions:
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- • Exercise (30 minutes daily) r
- • Reduce intake of saturated fats and cholesterol-containing foods r
- • Quit smoking r
- • Reduce excess weight (waist size more than 40 inches for men;more than 35 inches for women) r
The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) within the National Institute of Health’s National Heart Lung and Blood Institute recommends a cholesterol check every five years for adults more than 20 years of age. Desirable cholesterol levels are:
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- • Total cholesterol: Less than 200 mg/dL r
- • Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol): Less than 100 mg/dL r
- • High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ("good" cholesterol): 40 mg/dL or higher r
- • Triglycerides: Less than 150 mg/dL r
“Through lifestyle changes, most Americans can attain these cholesterol levels,” said Dr. Eskandari. “If necessary, cholesterol-lowering medications can help.”
rCholesterol information appears on the Society for Vascular Surgery website.