September is National Cholesterol Education Month

Believe it or not, there was a time when “cholesterol” was not a household word. The good work of the American Heart Association, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Centers for Disease Control and others has increased awareness of the importance of cholesterol and the need to keep blood cholesterol levels within a healthy range to lower your risk of heart attack. We still have a long way to go though; nearly 100 million Americans still have cholesterol levels in the high risk range (>200 mg/dL) and about a third of these are in the very high risk range (>240 mg/dL).

If you don’t know your numbers, this is a good month to get on track. Call your medical provider and schedule a checkup including a “lipid panel” which provides a specific breakdown of the cholesterol and fat (triglyceride) in your blood.

Why is cholesterol such a culprit? Because of its fat-like, waxy properties and the propensity to build up in our arteries, excess cholesterol is a key player in narrowing of arteries associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Although heredity plays a role, lifestyle choices, including diet and exercise are critically important. A diet high in animal products, especially high fat selections of meat and dairy, increases risk because these foods contain saturated fat and cholesterol, a deadly combination when consumed in excess on a regular basis.

Adding sodium to the mix along with a low intake of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, makes the problem even worse. Unfortunately, these are all hallmarks of the typical American diet. It is not too late, however, to get started on a better path! Check out ways to improve your diet during National Cholesterol Education Month at: http://www.americanheart.org/ or the Cholesterol Education Month Web Site of the NHLBI. Make September YOUR personal month to become educated about cholesterol.