Know Your Numbers - It's As Easy as 1-2-3
High Cholesterol
Jim and Irene and Bob and Deb met every Friday night for dinner. This had become their custom since they had retired a few years earlier. For as long as they could remember the men ordered the quarter pound cheese burgers and fries. But tonight was different. Instead of a burger, Jim ordered a grilled chicken breast and instead of fries, he ordered a salad! Bob was shocked. Why had his buddy suddenly changed his routine?
Jim and Irene saw Bob's surprise. Irene said, "Jim went to the doctor this week. He's got high cholesterol. It's over 200. His bad cholesterol is high and his good cholesterol is low. He needs to start eating healthier foods and watching his weight. He even started taking a new medicine. It's called a "statin."
Jim said, "It's a good thing I had it checked. My father had high cholesterol and the doctor said that high cholesterol can run in families. I even joined the health club, since exercise is very important."
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fatty substance that naturally exists in our blood. A certain level of cholesterol is normal. The amount of cholesterol that we need to function properly is naturally produced inside of our bodies. The problem arises when we take in more cholesterol than we need (by eating too many high fat foods). Too much cholesterol can build up in our blood vessels and lead to heart disease (hardening of the arteries) and may even lead to a heart attack.
Know Your Numbers
When you hear the phrase "Know Your Numbers" the numbers that are being referred to are your Total Cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride (TG) levels. If you have high cholesterol you will need to know these numbers and your target numbers. You will need keep track of these numbers and take steps to take control your cholesterol and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
The Treatment of High Cholesterol
The treatment of high cholesterol includes four specific areas:
Reduce the amount of cholesterol in your diet,
Increase your exercise,
Quit smoking and
Possibly start taking medication that will help you to reach your cholesterol goals.
Jim knew that he had to "know his numbers." This meant that he had to learn what his Total Cholesterol, LDL and HDL Cholesterol and Triglyceride levels were. He also had to learn just what these numbers meant and how important it was to keep these under control. He also had to take the responsibility for writing down these numbers each time his doctor gave him the results. After all, he wanted to stay active and healthy and prevent a heart attack from happening to him.
It is important that you know what medications you are taking and what they are used for. It is also important to know what results you should be seeing. For instance, if you are taking a "statin" to lower your LDL cholesterol, you will want to know what your target LDL goal is and what your LDL is now. It is also important to know when your next lipoprotein profile will be and what other steps you should be taking to lower your cholesterol and continue to live a healthy lifestyle.
Bob knew that his buddy Jim was right. Maybe he should call his doctor and have his cholesterol checked too. It was time that he started watching his weight and exercising as well. Maybe he would join the health club and then he and Jim could start a new routine and start exercising together!
Remember:
Ask your doctor for your cholesterol goal. He or she will tell you what your cholesterol needs to be.
Additionally, your doctor will give you a target weight. This needs to be monitored as well. Refer to ideal weight charts and ask your doctor if this is the right weight for you.
Many physicians will monitor your body mass index in addition to your weight. This is abbreviated as "BMI" and is an estimate of your body fat. It is calculated by using your height and weight.
Take your medications as prescribed even if you don't feel sick. Take them at the same time each day, know what to do if you miss a dose and know how to recognize side effects.
Log your medications, cholesterol levels, exercise, weight, and body mass index in the journals.
Keep a Personal Health Record for your overall healthcare goals.
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