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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, June 3, 2008 Separating cholesterol facts from fiction By Dr. Elizabeth Smoots Herald Columnist The good, the bad and the total cholesterol: How much do you know about the effects on your arteries? Too much of the wrong kinds can increase your risk for heart disease. But boosting your level of the right type with healthier lifestyle habits can be protective. For your heart's sake, it's important to strike a healthy balance. Test your knowledge about preventing, detecting and treating high blood cholesterol. 1. Which of these fats are made in your liver? A. LDL (bad) cholesterol B. HDL (good) cholesterol C. Triglycerides D. All of the above 2. Lowering high LDL (bad) cholesterol levels has all of the following effects except: A. Slows down or stops fatty plaque buildup in your arteries B. Increases your chance of having a plaque rupture C. Reduces your heart attack risk D. Decreases your chance of dying from heart disease 3. Adults should have their cholesterol levels checked every 10 years. True or false? 4. What are the benefits of exercise that help improve your cholesterol? A. Trims excess pounds B. Lowers HDL (good) cholesterol C. Lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol D. Raises triglycerides 5. Saturated fat can raise your cholesterol level more than anything else in your diet. True or False? 6. Which of these do you NOT need if you take medicine to lower your cholesterol? A. Regular exercise B. Diet high in carbohydrates C. Diet low in saturated fat D. Weight control 7. If you've had a heart attack, lowering your LDL (bad) cholesterol can increase your risk of having another heart attack. True or false? Answers: 1. D. Your liver makes all the major blood fats. Excess amounts of LDL (bad) cholesterol are deposited in artery walls. In contrast, the job of HDL (good) cholesterol is to remove cholesterol from artery walls. Your total blood cholesterol and ratio of good to bad cholesterol can have a large impact on your risk for heart disease. Excess amounts of triglycerides may also increase heart risk. 2. B. Studies have shown that lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol can prevent heart attacks and reduce deaths from heart disease in both men and women. It can slow, stop or even reverse the buildup of plaque. It can also lower the cholesterol content in some plaques. This makes the plaques cause a heart attack. 3. False. Starting at age 20, men and women should have their cholesterol checked at least every five years. If your cholesterol level is high, you may need to have it checked more often. Talk to your doctor to find out what's right for you. 4. A, C. Regular activity can help raise HDL (good) cholesterol and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides. It can also help you make improvements in two factors known to bump up cholesterol levels -- obesity and increased abdominal girth. A waist of 40 or more inches in men, or 35 or more inches in women, needs to be trimmed. 5. True. The biggest sources of saturated fat are egg yolks, meat and full-fat dairy products such as milk, butter, cream and cheese. Trans fatty acids in hydrogenated vegetable oils can also increase your cholesterol levels. 6. B. You will continue to need exercise, weight control and a cholesterol-lowering diet even if you take medications. 7. False. Lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol levels reduces your risk of another heart attack. For more information: American Heart Association, www.americanheart.org. Contact Dr. Elizabeth Smoots at doctor@practicalprevention.com. © 2008 Elizabeth S. Smoots

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