High Cholesterol

CANYON MEDICAL CENTER

Phone: (702)-220-8001

http://www.canyonmedicalcenterlv.com

URGENT CARE / PRIMARYCARE / MEDICAL CLINIC
5061 NORTH RAINBOW BLVD # 180
LAS VEGAS, NV 89130

High blood cholesterol can affect anyone. Its a serious condition that increases the risk for heart disease, the number one killer of Americanswomen and men. The higher your blood cholesterol level, the greater your risk.

If there is too much cholesterol in the blood, some of the excess can become trapped in artery walls. Over time, this builds up and is called plaque. The plaque can narrow vessels and make them less flexible, a condition called atherosclerosis or hardening of the

arteries. This process can happen to blood vessels anywhere in the body, including those of the heart, brain, kidneys, legs.

Risk factors are conditions or behaviors that increase your chance of developing a disease. For heart disease, there are two types of risk factorsthose you cant change and those you can. Fortunately,

most of the heart disease risk factors can be changed.

Risk factors you cant change

Age45 or older for men; 55 or older for women

Family history of early heart diseasefather or brother diagnosed before age 55, or mother or sister diagnosed before age 65

Risk factors you can change

Smoking

High blood pressure

High blood cholesterol

Overweight/obesity

Physical inactivity

Diabetes

Knowing Your Cholesterol Level

You can have high cholesterol and not realize it. Most of the 65 million Americans with high cholesterol have no symptoms. So its important to have your blood cholesterol levels checked.

A typical path to success to reduce Cholesterol would be:

First Doctor VisitStart Lifestyle Changes

Reduce saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol.

Increase physical activity moderately.

If overweight, reduce caloriesincrease fiber-rich foods to

help reduce calorie intake.

Allow 6 weeks

Second Doctor VisitCheck LDL and, If Needed, Add More Dietary Approaches

Reinforce reduction of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol.

Add plant stanols/sterols.

Increase soluble fiber.

Allow 6 weeks

Third Doctor VisitCheck LDL and, If Needed, Add Drug Therapy

Start drug therapy for LDL lowering, if needed.

Focus on treatment of metabolic syndrome (see pages 7072)

reinforce weight management and physical activity.

Every 4 to 6 months Keep Checking Progress

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