For advertising information visit www.samplerpublications.com or call 859.225.4466 | February 2015
ADVICE FROM YOUR
LOCAL DOC
&
23
Lowering Your Cholesterol
By Mary H.
Henkel, M.D.,
Family Practice
Associates of
Lexington, P.S.C.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance
that comes from food and from your
own body, and which circulates
through your blood. Your liver in particular produces a lot of cholesterol,
all that you need, in fact. Food from
animal sources provides more, and
when that food is high in saturated
and trans fats, your liver produces
even more.
Cholesterol in itself is not bad; we
all need a certain amount of it; but
too much of the wrong type can lead
to increased risk of plaque buildup
on the artery walls. This can lead to
a stroke or a heart attack. The risks
of heart disease or stroke are further
magnified if you smoke, if you are
diabetic, or if you have high blood
pressure.
Your doctor will typically check
your cholesterol levels each year during your annual physical. Although in
some cases, high cholesterol can be
genetic, a part of your family make
up, and drugs to help lower it (known
as statins) can be prescribed, your
physician would prefer that most
people try to lower cholesterol levels
through healthy lifestyle changes
rather than through medication. The
following are some tips from the
American Heart Association (http://
www.heart.org) for managing your
cholesterol. These can be used on
their own, or in conjunction with
doctor-prescribed statins.
Eating a healthy diet. A hearthealthy diet is one which is full of
fruits, vegetables, whole grains,
nuts, and lean proteins such as fish
and white meats. Red meats may be
eaten but they should be limited, and
lean cuts should be chosen. If you
drink alcohol, do so only in moderation. Limit sugar and salt. Fish high
in