Weekly Health Page Articles: Heart Institute

Lower Cholesterol Levels Reduce Risk For Heart Disease

According to the American Heart Association, almost half of the U.S. population has high or borderline-high levels of cholesterol. That means a lot of people are at increased risk for heart disease.
 
"Knowing your cholesterol levels is not enough," says Bryan S. Beck, MD, a cardiologist on staff at Saint Francis Medical Center. "It's a great first step, but learning how cholesterol affects your health and how to manage it properly are even more important."

Modifying your diet and exercising regularly can help. Eat foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol, maintain a healthy weight, don't smoke, develop an exercise routine and follow all of your doctor's recommendations. Medication, along with diet and exercise, may be necessary to control cholesterol levels in some people. When making lifestyle changes, ask your doctor to help you develop a plan to achieve your goals.

From Weekly Health Page: Feb. 5, 2006