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September is National Cholesterol Education Month

Controlling Cholesterol is Key to Good Heart Health

High cholesterol is a major risk factor contributing to cardiovascular disease. Now’s a great time to take steps to lower your cholesterol level and improve your heart health:

  1. Know your numbers and what they mean:
    • Knowing your LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, often called “bad” cholesterol, is essential to your well-being. 
  2. Know the two types of cholesterol:
    • Low-density lipoprotein or LDL cholesterol.
      • Also known as “bad” or “lousy” cholesterol, LDL cholesterol makes up most of your body’s cholesterol.
      • High levels of LDL cholesterol cause plaque to build up in your blood vessels, which blocks or slows the flow of blood to your heart and increases your risk of heart disease and stroke.
    • High-density lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol.
      • It’s sometimes referred to as “good” or “healthy” cholesterol.
      • HDL cholesterol lowers your risk of heart disease and stroke by absorbing the body’s cholesterol, transporting it to the liver and then excreting it from your body.
  3. Modify your diet.
    • Saturated and trans fats are among the top dietary causes of high cholesterol, so lowering your intake of both types of fats helps reduce your cholesterol-related health risks.
    • Eating more fruits and vegetables helps lower bad cholesterol levels. Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables help prevent your digestive tract from absorbing high levels of cholesterol.
    • Increase your consumption of nuts and fish high in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids help to raise your good cholesterol levels.
  4. Stay active.
    • Getting enough exercise is also an important step in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. Try to get at least 30 minutes of relatively vigorous exercise each day, try to get at least 150 minutes of solid exercise each week (21 minutes a day).
  5. Maintain a healthy weight.
    • Carrying excess weight can also cause cholesterol to build up in your arteries. Shedding a few pounds has the potential to reduce your bad cholesterol levels, while elevating your good cholesterol levels.

Everyone can benefit from knowing their cholesterol numbers and doing what they can to prevent or reduce high cholesterol levels. Making a few small changes can do a lot to protect your heart.

For more information on cholesterol education, read here.

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Useful Links:

  1. Causes of High Cholesterol & How to Lower it | Aetna
  2. Statin Therapy for Patients with Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (bcbsil.com)
  3. Cholesterol | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (bcbsil.com)
  4. Help Your Heart.indd (healthlink.com)
  5. High Cholesterol Raises Your Risk for Heart Disease and Stroke - Connect Community - BCBSIL