Page 18 - Mended Hearts-HeartGuide
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IDEAL NUMBERS and overweight people may have difficulty losing weight. But by losing
FOR HEART HEALTH even as few as 10 pounds, you can lower your heart disease risk.
Type 2 diabetes – Formerly called adult-onset diabetes, type 2 diabetes
Body Mass Index can be prevented through moderate weight loss and exercise in adults at
= 25 kg/m2 high risk for the disease.
Blood Pressure = Less than Contributing Factors of CHD
120/80 mmHg
The medical community consensus is that these factors contribute to heart disease:
Total Cholesterol = Less than
200 mg/dl Stress – Individual response to stress may be a contributing factor. Some
scientists have noted a link between coronary artery disease risk and stress
LDL Cholesterol = Less than in a person’s life. People under stress may overeat, start smoking, or smoke
100 for most people and more than they otherwise would.
less than 70 for anyone with
a history of heart disease Heavy alcohol use – Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure,
or diabetes cause heart failure, and lead to stroke.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is highly connected to heart disease. Here we discuss the many
facets of cholesterol and what you can do to control it.
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a substance your body makes naturally. It is soft and waxy,
similar to fat, and is present in your body’s cells and in your bloodstream.
Cholesterol is necessary to your survival—it’s what your body uses to make
new cells. Much of the cholesterol in your body occurs naturally, but you also
get a lot from the food you eat.
The truth is that cholesterol in itself is a good thing. The problem comes
when your body has too much of the wrong kind of cholesterol. This
creates an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, such as coronary heart
disease and stroke—the No. 1 and No. 4 killers in the nation. In fact, people
who have high levels of cholesterol are at twice the risk of developing heart
disease as those with lower levels. Although high cholesterol is a clear health
concern, it can be treated effectively.
Cholesterol build up in the arteries can block blood flow and lead to heart disease.
14 Mended Hearts HeartGuide
