What You Can Control

The cholesterol connection is clear. Too much LDL cholesterol in your blood can cause a buildup of cholesterol in the walls of your arteries and form plaque. Eating a healthy diet and living an active lifestyle can help keep cholesterol in check, but some people may require cholesterol-lowering medications to manage their cholesterol and to slow the progression of atherosclerosis. By getting your cholesterol tested, you can find out your cholesterol numbers and learn if you’re at risk for athero.

Understanding Cholesterol Numbers

Understanding your cholesterol levels is an important part of knowing if you’re at risk for athero. The chart below is a general guide to understanding the numbers used to measure your cholesterol levels. If you have other medical conditions, your doctor may set an LDL cholesterol target goal lower than what’s on this chart. Only your doctor can determine your risk level.

Get more facts about high cholesterol by downloading Cholesterol Basics    (PDF - 308k)  , or get tips for lowering your cholesterol with The Low-down on Managing Cholesterol    (PDF - 458k)   Or browse through our collection of other downloadable educational materials.

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As your arteries continue to harden and become less flexible, your heart struggles to get the blood it needs to function, which raises the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Regular blood pressure checks let you and your doctor keep tabs on your blood pressure numbers. In most adults, normal blood pressure is less than 120 over 80 mmHg.

What Do My Blood Pressure Numbers Mean?

When your doctor measures your blood pressure, he or she will generally give you your results as a series of two numbers (for example, 120 over 80). The top (first) number is systolic pressure, which measures the pressure in your arteries when the heart beats and pumps blood. The bottom number is diastolic pressure, which measures the pressure when the heart relaxes between beats.

Common Causes of High Blood Pressure

While it's not often easy to spot a single cause, there are many known factors you can change. Among these factors are

• Eating too much salt (sodium)
• Being overweight or obese
• Eating too few fruits and vegetables
• Not getting enough potassium
• Lack of physical activity
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Taking certain medications
• Stress

If you can control these factors, you can help manage your blood pressure. Whether or not you need medicine is a decision only your doctor can make.

Learn more by downloading Blood Pressure Basics    (PDF - 229k)   , or browse through our collection of other downloadable educational materials.

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When you have diabetes, your body is unable to properly convert sugar, starches, and other foods into energy. This can cause damage to the lining of the arteries, making it easier for LDL cholesterol to collect in the damaged blood vessels. As a result, plaque builds in arteries more readily in people with diabetes than in people who don’t have the disease. This makes it even more important for people with diabetes to also manage their high cholesterol.

Types of Diabetes

There are two general types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2.

In type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system stops the pancreas from producing a substance called insulin, which the body needs to process sugars and starches into energy. Type 1 diabetes, which is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, is a serious condition, but in general, it can be managed with insulin therapy.

With type 2 diabetes, the body does not properly use the insulin it produces. This results in high glucose levels. Eventually, the body cannot produce enough insulin to keep up with its demand. As with type 1, when glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, your body’s cells will starve for energy.

The exact cause of diabetes remains unknown, although factors such as genetics, obesity, and an inactive lifestyle can all play a role.

Getting Tested for Diabetes

When your doctor tests to find out if you have diabetes, he or she will perform tests on the urine and blood including: the fasting glucose plasma test or the oral glucose tolerance test.

The charts below will give you a better understanding of the numbers used to determine if you have diabetes. You can use them to find the range for what is considered normal, prediabetes, and diabetes.

People with diabetes should try to keep their blood sugar level as close to normal as possible. The closer to normal your blood sugar is, the lower the chances of developing serious health problems.

Find out how dietary choices can help control diabetes by downloading Diabetes Basics    (PDF - 224k)   , or browse through our collection of other downloadable educational materials.

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Each of these risk factors can also speed up the progression of atherosclerosis, further increasing your risk for heart disease and stroke.

Of course, obesity in itself can increase your risk of atherosclerosis. In some people, obesity actually changes the structure of the heart and makes it work even harder.

How Is Obesity Diagnosed?

Obesity is generally measured using the Body Mass Index (BMI). The BMI formula is a helpful measure of body composition because it provides a good estimate of body fat based on height and weight. According to the National Institutes of Health, the normal BMI range is 18.5 to 24.9. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is labeled overweight, and a BMI of 30 or above is called obese.

Not sure what your BMI is? Use the calculator below to find your ideal BMI.

The BMI calculator is provided for your information only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice and may not represent your true individual medical situation. It does not take all possible factors into account in its assessment of your healthy weight. For example, it may overestimate body fat in very muscular individuals or in people who are less than 5 feet tall, and may underestimate body fat in people who have lost muscle mass, such as the elderly. Do not use this information to make significant changes in your diet, your exercise regimen, or other aspects of your lifestyle without consulting your doctor.

The Keys to Treating Obesity

If you are overweight or obese, talk to your doctor about the health risks associated with carrying extra weight. Your doctor can also help you figure out ways to lose weight safely. The first step may be to get more exercise and make changes to your diet by including more fiber, fruits, vegetables, and foods that are low in saturated fats and cholesterol.

Download Obesity Basics    (PDF - 211k)    for tips on dropping pounds. Or browse through our collection of other downloadable educational materials.

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Smoking tobacco can damage the cells that line your arteries. It can also raise your blood pressure. Either way, if you smoke, you’re increasing your risk for atherosclerosis. What’s more, even secondhand smoke may affect the cells that line your arteries.

Evidence shows that quitting smoking reduces the risk for cardiovascular events within a few months after quitting. If you are a smoker, try quitting immediately. It may be hard at first, so ask your doctor to suggest a smoking-cessation aid or program.

Get tips on quitting smoking by downloading Smoking & Athero    (PDF - 245k)   , or browse through our collection of other downloadable educational materials.

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