JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH ,Texas –
A simple checkup is the first step people can take to learn and control their cholesterol levels, which if too high, can lead to heart disease - the leading cause of death in the United States.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people with high cholesterol have about twice the risk of heart disease than those with lower levels, but knowing their number as well as the difference between "good" and "bad" cholesterol can lead to healthy lifestyle changes.
Cholesterol, a waxy, fatty substance produced by the liver, is essential for hormone production in males and females, and serves as an energy source for cells, but "for treatment purposes we focus on lowering low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol) in patients," Maj. Mark Tenn, 359th Medical Group physician's assistant, said.
Because LDL transports fat molecules into blood vessels and artery walls, "if it's too high, it can clog arteries," Tenn said. Diets greatly influence cholesterol levels.
"Cholesterol is genetically predisposed, but about 25 percent of LDL is controlled by dietary intake," Tenn said. "The best ways to get rid of LDL are exercise and a balanced diet consisting of high-density lipoprotein (good cholesterol) foods that help remove LDL from the body like nuts, oatmeal, fish and avocado."
Foods with LDL that should be consumed in limited quantities usually contain high amounts of saturated or trans fat, including whole-fat dairy products, red meats, processed foods and commercially baked goods such as chips, cookies, cakes and pastries.
While diet can lower bad cholesterol, cardiovascular exercise "is a big one," Tenn said.
"If you exercise four to five times a week for 30 minutes per day, the heart becomes stronger," he said.
A clinical checkup is the only way to know for sure if one has high cholesterol, but weight is a likely indicator.
"There is a positive relationship between obesity and high cholesterol," Tenn said. "Not every person who is obese has high cholesterol, so that's why checkups are important."
Another possible sign of high cholesterol is chest pain called angina caused by lack of oxygen flow to the heart, which usually precedes a heart attack, Tenn said.
"Angina has two forms: stable and unstable," he added. "Unstable angina occurs when a person is at rest, as when sitting down, and experiences shortness of breath and sharp chest pain lasting less than 10 minutes."
An American fast-food culture offering a variety of greasy, unhealthy food in abundance for a low cost has caused obesity - and therefore cholesterol levels - to spike in children as young as age 12, Tenn said.
As such, Tenn recommended people get their cholesterol examined starting at age 18. If their cholesterol levels are normal, they should get them rechecked every three to five years. Abnormal levels should be rechecked more often.
Those with the most risk factors for heart disease should have an LDL level less than 100 milligrams per deciliter of blood. For people with moderate risk factors, less than 130 mg/dL is ideal, and those with low risk factors should have less than 160 mg/dL, Tenn said.
For more information, call the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Medical Clinic at 652-6403 or visit the American Heart Association's website, www.heart.org, and type "cholesterol" in the search.