By: Chun Wang Tan, M.D., Cardiologist
South Texas Heart Clinic

(FEBRUARY 11, 2008) JOURDANTON, TX— National Heart Health Month is an opportunity for everyone to educate themselves more about heart disease and ways to improve their own heart health. High cholesterol can lead to heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States claiming nearly 500,000 lives a year.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance made in the liver and found in certain foods such as dairy products, eggs and meat. The body requires only a small amount of cholesterol in order to function properly and produce hormones, vitamin D and acids that help to digest fat. When too much cholesterol is present in the body, health issues such as heart disease may develop.

High cholesterol is one of the many risk factors for heart disease, and learning how to manage it is essential to heart health. High cholesterol occurs when a person has too much low density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol in the body. The LDL can form a plaque that may build up on the inside walls of the arteries, blocking the flow of blood. If an artery that supplies blood to the heart or brain is completely blocked, the result can be a stroke or heart attack. The optimal LDL level is less than 100mg. More than 160mg and above is considered very high. Cholesterol is not the only risk factor for heart disease; others include smoking, family history of heart disease, age and obesity.

High density lipoprotein (HDL), is a type of cholesterol that is actually good for heart health. This type of cholesterol helps the body get rid of bad cholesterol in the blood; therefore, the higher level of HDL cholesterol, the better. The optimal HDL range for women is 50 – 60mg and for men is 40 – 50mg. There are several ways to increase the levels of HDL in the body:

• Increase aerobic exercise
• Stop smoking
• Lose weight
• Reduce the intake of trans fatty acids
• Add soluble fiber in your diet

Dietary changes and exercise are typically the first course of action in trying to increase HDL and reduce LDL cholesterol. If you've followed a low cholesterol, low saturated fat diet and increased your exercise, but still can't reach your cholesterol goal, your physician may prescribe a cholesterol-lowering medication as part of your heart healthy regimen.

For more information about cardiac care, please contact the office of Dr. Tan by calling (830) 769-3271. Dr. Tan's office is located at the South Texas Regional Medical Center, within the Steinle Medical Office Building, Suite 210. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Dr. Tan is the keynote speaker for the February Senior Circle Lunch N' Learn regarding Heart Health. The luncheon will be held at 12 o'clock noon on Monday, February 25, 2008 at the South Texas Regional Medical Center's Private Dining Room. Members may call (830) 569-8000 to RSVP by phone for the event, or they may email jacque_stacy@chs.net.

Sources:

WebMD (www.WebMD.com)
My Heart Central (www.healthcentral.com)
American Heart Association (www.americanheart.org)