HELP FOR THE HEART…From The Heart and Stroke Foundation for You!






Cholesterol is absolutely essential to life.



The human body produces about 100 -200 grams of cholesterol each day. Adequate cholesterol is needed to produce hormones and to maintain healthy nerve cells. Cholesterol is also the precursor from which the body synthesizes vitamin D.



• Most cholesterol is produced in the liver, and is carried in the bloodstream to the body’s cells by special proteins called lipoproteins.



• The two major lipoproteins are low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high lipoprotein (HDL)



• Dietary cholesterol is found in foods that come from animals. These
include meat, poultry, fish and dairy products. Foods of plant origin have no cholesterol.



HOW DO YOU GET HIGH CHOLESTEROL?



LDL is the major carrier of cholesterol in the blood. LDL is sometimes called “bad” cholesterol. HDL also carries cholesterol and is sometimes referred to as “good” cholesterol.



• When in a dense “small particle” LDL form, it deposits cholesterol in the artery walls, causing an inflammatory response and the formation of a hard,thick cholesterol plaque.



• Over time, the cholesterol plaque causes thickening of the artery walls and narrowing of the arteries. This is a disease process called
atherosclerosis.



• Both normal LDL and HDL carry cholesterol in the blood stream and
act to remove excess cholesterol.






HOW SERIOUS IS HIGH CHOLESTEROL??



One in three people in North America have shown to have cholesterol counts over 200. Most believe that lowering cholesterol levels reduces the risk of illness or death from heart disease. For anyone with heart disease, lowering cholesterol will probably lengthen their life. High
LDL cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease because the small-particle form causes damage to and narrowing of the arteries.



• When coronary arteries are narrowed by atherosclerosis, they may be
incapable of supplying enough blood and oxygen to the heart muscle
during exertion.



• Lack of oxygen (called ischaemia) to the heart muscle causes chest pain.



• There is a greater chance of a blood clot forming on the surface of the fatty deposit in the artery. This may cause complete blockage
of the artery, leading to death of heart muscle
(heart attack) in the affected area.



• Both LDL and HDL cholesterol help to remove cholesterol from the blood and in so doing may help to clear cholesterol plaque from the arteries.



HOW IS HIGH CHOLESTEROL TREATED?



Diet, weight loss, and regular exercise are the first steps to lower blood
cholesterol and prevent coronary heart disease. If you smoke, you should stop. Reducing dietary saturated fat intake is the most common means of reducing blood cholesterol. If these measures are not enough, Homeopathic remedies, Traditional Medicine, and Botanical Herbs may be recommended.



Are YOU at Risk?



The Heart and Stroke Foundation offers these guidelines on total blood
cholesterol in adults (measured in milligrams per decilitre).



Cholesterol



Desirable – less than 200 mg/dL
Borderline – 200 to 239 mg/dL
High – 240 mg/dL or greater
HDL – greater than 35 mg/dL
LDL
Desirable – less than 130 mg/dL
Borderline – 130 to 159 mg/dL
High – 160 mg/dL or greater
Triglycerides – less than 150 mg/dL



Thank-you for stopping by and for looking after your Health!