INDUSTRY INSIGHT
YOUR HEALTH
SPONSORED CONTENT
New
New Cholesterol
Cholesterol
Guidelines
Guidelines
M
M
ost us of know
us know
cholesterol
levels
a good
ost of
that that
cholesterol
levels
are are
a good
indicator
of cardiovascular
health
and
that
keeping
indicator
of cardiovascular
health
and
that
keeping
under
control
keep
heart
healthy.
them them
under
control
can can
keep
the the
heart
healthy.
However,
recently,
young
people
haven’t
However,
until until
recently,
young
people
haven’t
worried
much
about
their
cholesterol,
seeing
it as a a
worried
much
about
their
cholesterol,
seeing
it as
problem for the middle aged and older. New research
problem for the middle aged and older. New research
suggests that maintaining a healthy lifestyle throughout life and starting
suggests
that
maintaining
a healthy lifestyle throughout life and starting
at a young age will have a greater impact on cholesterol levels. The fact
at a young
age
will
have
a
greater impact
cholesterol
The
fact
is, nearly one in three American
adults on
have
high levels levels.
of LDL,
often
is, nearly
one to
in as
three
adults have high levels of LDL, often
referred
“the American
bad cholesterol”.
referred to as “the bad cholesterol”.
Cholesterol is a waxy fat-like substance in the blood. It contributes to
Cholesterol
is a waxy
substance
the blood.
It contributes
to It
a fatty buildup
and fat-like
constricting
of the in arteries,
called
atherosclerosis.
a fatty can
buildup
and the
constricting
the arteries,
called atherosclerosis. It
increase
risk of heart of attack
or stroke.
can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
The American Heart Association and 11 other health organizations
The American
Heart
Association
and 11
organizations
updated the
cholesterol
guidelines
to other
reflect health
these new
findings. Now,
the guidelines
emphasize
the impact
that lifestyle
choices
have Now,
on heart
updated
the cholesterol
guidelines
to reflect
these new
findings.
health. emphasize the impact that lifestyle choices have on heart
the guidelines
health.
Dr. Michael Pecora, MD is a cardiologist at Washington Health System.
He explains
that MD
eating
regular at exercise
and making
Dr. Michael
Pecora,
is a healthy,
cardiologist
Washington
Health healthy
System.
life
choices
can
help
prevent
cholesterol
problems,
even
a young
He explains that eating healthy, regular exercise and making from
healthy
age. So can
even
if you
think you’re
too young
to worry
about
it, the
choices
life choices
help
prevent
cholesterol
problems,
even
from
a young
you
make
in
your
youth
still
have
a
great
impact
on
your
cardiovascular
age. So even if you think you’re too young to worry about it, the choices
health.
you make
in your youth still have a great impact on your cardiovascular
health.
Dr. Pecora also stresses the importance of having your cholesterol
measured throughout life and treating high cholesterol with the
Dr. Pecora
also use
stresses
the therapy,
importance
cholesterol
aggressive
of statin
which of is having
often a your
remarkable
treatment
measured
throughout
life
and
treating
high
cholesterol
with
the
for cholesterol issues.
aggressive use of statin therapy, which is often a remarkable treatment
for cholesterol
issues. cannot be adequately controlled on statin therapy,
“When cholesterol
the use of additional medical therapy should be considered,” says Dr.
“When
cholesterol cannot be adequately controlled on statin therapy,
Pecora.
the use of additional medical therapy should be considered,” says Dr.
Pecora.
The new guidelines recommend that doctors give a detailed
assessment of a person’s 10-year risk for heart disease and create
a personalized
for reducing
risk. For
younger
people (ages
The new
guidelines plan
recommend
that this
doctors
give
a detailed
20-39) the
line of 10-year
defense risk
is making
lifestyle
changes
like eating a
assessment
of a first
person’s
for heart
disease
and create
low-cholesterol
diet reducing
and getting
of exercise.
that may
a personalized
plan for
this plenty
risk. For
younger Attributes
people (ages
increase
your
high lifestyle
blood pressure,
and a
20-39)
the first
line risk
of include
defense weight,
is making
changes smoking
like eating
diabetes.
low-cholesterol diet and getting plenty of exercise. Attributes that may
increase your risk include weight, high blood pressure, smoking and
diabetes.
For people
people age
age 40-75,
40-75, their
their risk
For
risk is is assessed
assessed as
as either
either low,
low, borderline,
borderline,
intermediate or
or high.
high. Those
Those in
range
intermediate
in the
the borderline
borderline and
and intermediate
intermediate
range
should have
have a a discussion
discussion with
of of
taking
should
with their
their doctor
doctor about
about the
the possibility
possibility
taking
medication, which
which can
can be
be very
medication,
very effective
effective at at lowering
lowering their
their risk.
risk.
Those who have an elevated risk of high cholesterol may need more
Those
who have an elevated risk of high cholesterol may need more
aggressive screening and prevention methods. Children as young
aggressive
screening and prevention methods. Children as young
as two may need to be tested if they have a family history of heart
as disease.
two may
need
to be Heart
tested Association
if they have also
a family
history of testing
heart
The
American
recommends
disease.
American
Heart
children The
between
the age
of 9 Association
and 11 and also
then recommends
again between testing
17 and
children
between
age
of 9 have
and a 11
and then again
between
17 and
21. Adults
over 20 the
who
don’t
cardiovascular
disease
should
21.
over 20
don’t Some
have people
a cardiovascular
disease
should
be Adults
tested every
4 to who
6 years.
are more prone
to high
be
tested every
to 6 years.
people are
prone
to high
cholesterol,
like 4 certain
races Some
and ethnicities
and more
should
be monitored
cholesterol,
like certain races and ethnicities and should be monitored
more closely.
more closely.
“To these traditional risk factors, patients should understand that other
“To
these including
traditional
risk factors,
patients should
understand
that other
factors
evidence
of cardiovascular
disease,
family history
and
inflammation
are evidence
all considered
in the estimate disease,
of the patient’s
lifetime and
factors
including
of cardiovascular
family history
risk,” says Dr. are
Pecora.
inflammation
all considered in the estimate of the patient’s lifetime
risk,” says Dr. Pecora.
The best advice is to be proactive with your health. Don’t put
off talking
about is
heart
health
with your
and getting
The
best advice
to be
proactive
with doctor
your health.
Don’t the
put
necessary
testing.
High
cholesterol
is
controllable
with
lifestyle
off talking about heart health with your doctor and getting
the
changes and
medication.
necessary
testing.
High cholesterol is controllable with lifestyle
changes and medication.
Written by Emily King
Written by Emily King
If you need more information or would like to make
an appointment, please call (724) 225-6500.
If you need more information or would like to make
an appointment, please call (724) 225-6500.
WHS Cardiovascular Care
Washington ...............125 N. Franklin Drive, Suite. 1
WHS
Care
Cecil Cardiovascular
.........................................3415
Millers Run Road
McMurray ......................1001
Waterdam
Plaza Suite.
Drive 1
Washington
...............125 N. Franklin
Drive,
Waynesburg
..............350 Bonar Avenue,
3rd Floor
Cecil
.........................................3415
Millers Run
Road
McMurray ......................1001 Waterdam Plaza Drive
Waynesburg ..............350 Bonar Avenue, 3rd Floor
(724) 225-6500 whs.org
Michael J. Pecora, MD
(724) 225-6500 whs.org
PETERS TOWNSHIP
❘
J. Pecora,
F EB R UA RY / M Michael
A R C H 2019
59 MD