Free Tips Blog

09/08/10

Category: General

Killer Cholesterol: Are you on the Hit List?

FACT: If you and a friend are out to dinner with two other friends, it's extremely likely that one of you has a serious cholesterol problem without even knowing it. Cholesterol kills. It attacks without warning. So, what do you need to know to survive? Read More: 

September is National Cholesterol Education Month. And, here at Wellness Works, we're supporting the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute's (NHLBI) mission to increase awareness about lipid profiles as well as nutrition and lifestyle choices that impact cholesterol levels.

According to the NHLBI, high blood cholesterol is a serious condition that affects more than 65 million Americans and raises the risk of heart disease. Unfortunately, many people who have high cholesterol don't even know it.

What's your cholesterol level? Do you know the difference between "good" and "bad" cholesterol?

Here's a fun little quiz the crew at Wellness Works has put together for you. Submit your answers to contest@wellnessworksct.com by September 27th. The quizzes that score 100% will be entered into a drawing for an exercise heart rate monitor and one free personal training session to learn how to use it.

1. What is a lipid profile?
2. What is HDL?
3. What is LDL?
4. How often should the average adult (20 years and older) have his/her cholesterol checked?
5. The ideal LDL cholesterol level is less than ________________ mg/dL.
6. HDL cholesterol level should be at least ________________ mg/dL.

Hint: All the answers to the quiz (with the exception of question #1) are available on the National Cholesterol Education Month website. However, since Wellness Works is all about setting people up for success we're going to make it even easier by posting the answers (and more great information about cholesterol management) on our Wellness Works Facebook page  between now and September 15th.

Everyone has cholesterol. And, everyone should have their cholesterol checked on a regular basis as recommended by a personal physician.

While there are a few factors - heredity, age, and gender - that can lead to unhealthy cholesterol levels, proper management of diet, exercise, and weight can help lower high cholesterol as well as maintain healthy cholesterol. But, remember, to achieve any kind of success, it's about more than just trying.

So go ahead, flex your Wellness option ... it Works!

Vincent