TWO SOURCES THAT ARE CLOSE TO YOUR HEART
NWRHC Urges Women to Focus on Food and Family to Lower Cholesterol
WASHINGTON, D.C. – According to the American Heart Association, there
are more than 50 million women with blood cholesterol levels high enough
to pose a serious risk for heart disease – the number one killer of
women – and stroke. During September, Cholesterol Awareness Month,
it’s important that all women assess their risk of high cholesterol and
understand its two sources – food and family.
The not-for-profit National Women’s Health Resource Center (NWHRC) is
making an effort to increase awareness of the two sources of cholesterol
by promoting the online toolkit, “From High 2 Low: Food, Family
and Cholesterol.”
Although cholesterol does come from food, most Americans are not aware
that the majority of cholesterol is actually produced naturally in the
body based upon family health history. Many Americans are
genetically predisposed to make more cholesterol than they need, proving
lifestyle changes often ineffective in lowering cholesterol to a healthy
level.
According to current recommendations, people with coronary heart disease
or others considered to be at high risk for coronary heart disease
generally have an LDL “bad” cholesterol goal of less than 100 mg/dL.
For those considered to be at very high risk, an LDL goal of 70mg/dL
is recommended.
The “From High 2 Low: Food, Family and Cholesterol” online
toolkit provides guidance for getting cholesterol to an ideal level, with
each component highlighting the impact of food and family. Included
in the online toolkit is a “Fast Facts Brochure,” which highlights
basic cholesterol information; “Know Your Numbers,” a guide to healthy
cholesterol levels; and “Questions to Ask About Cholesterol,” a
suggested list of questions for physician visits. Also available is
a “Family Health Tree,” an easy guide for tracking family health
history that will allow women to assess the impact and risk of family
heredity on their cholesterol levels. This guide should also be
taken along on physician visits to provide a better picture of the
heredity risks for high cholesterol.
As the national clearinghouse for women’s health information, the
NWHRC’s primary goal is to provide access to quality health information
and resources. The NWHRC has helped millions of women educate
themselves about important health topics since the late 1980’s. To
view the “From High 2 Low: Food, Family and Cholesterol” online
toolkit, visit http://www.healthywomen.org.
