September is a month in which 15 medical conditions are observed. I have chosen to recognize National Cholesterol Education, a common, yet serious issue that affects over 65 million Americans.

A person’s blood cholesterol level has a great deal to do with his or her chances of developing heart disease or having a heart attack. In fact, heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the United States today.

Cholesterol is a fatty substance in the blood that can build up in the walls of arteries. Over time, that buildup causes our arteries to narrow and the flow of blood to slow or even stop. When enough blood and oxygen fail to reach the heart, a heart attack can occur. This means emergency medical attention, a lifetime of medication and monitoring, drastic lifestyle changes, and more. The solution? Prevention. Become educated, eat well, avoid foods high in fats, and exercise.

Beginning at age 20, a person should have a cholesterol level check every five years and more frequently with advanced age and family or personal history. This is done with a simple blood test taken when a person has fasted for eight or more hours. It measures HDL (high density lipoproteins known as “good” cholesterol) that help keep cholesterol from building up in the arteries, LDL (low density lipoproteins known as “bad” cholesterol) which is the primary source of buildup and blockage, triglycerides (a related form of blood fat) and total cholesterol. Desirable total cholesterol levels are less than 200 mg/dL. From 200-239 is considered borderline high. Above 240 mg/dL is considered high, placing a person at higher risk for cardiac issues. Beyond that, several medical conditions might warrant lower than average readings as being optimal. When referring to “good” cholesterol, higher is better. A level less than 40 mg/dL is low and considered a risk factor for developing heart disease. Bad cholesterol should ideally be less than 100 mg/dL. Ranges from 100-129 are near ideal; 130 to 159 are borderline; 160 to 189 are high; above 190 are very high.

There are a number of factors that affect a person’s levels. Many are things we generally have control over and can do something about, such as reducing saturated fat consumption. These fats can cause blood cholesterol levels to rise.

A sedentary lifestyle is a well-known risk factor for heart disease. While it may seem impossible in this frantic world in which we live, partaking of just 30 minutes of exercise on most days will work wonders to bring your numbers within range.

Excessive weight tends to increase a person’s cholesterol levels. A weight reduction program will lower a person’s risk factor for heart disease, lower the bad cholesterol and increase the good.

Other risk factors for elevated readings without control include being a cigarette smoker and having hypertension.

Heredity can determine how much cholesterol your body produces. High levels can and often do run in families. In this instance, taking every known step might not be sufficient and may require prescription medication for better control.

As you can ascertain, in order to remain healthy it is necessary to eat right, exercise within your physical means, become educated, and read labels. Lifestyle changes at any age aren’t easy to incorporate but they are vital. While some factors such as advancing age and a family history of heart disease are out of our control, each and every one of us can take steps to keep our numbers in line and reduce the risk for major medical problems. Incorporate a low-cholesterol, low-saturated fat diet. Consume fish, poultry without the skin, whole grain foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, soft margarines and reduced fat dairy products. Trim fat before broiling, rather than using a fry pan to prepare your steaks and burgers. Limit your intake of egg yolks and full-fat dairy products. Switch your iced cream treats to sorbet.

If, because of genetic factors you fail to reduce your levels, your physician may recommend cholesterol-lowering drugs. Over-the-counter plant stanols and sterols might work successfully and may be worth a trial period. If unsuccessful, and you decide prescription medication is necessary, it might include statins, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, nicotinic acid, fibric acids, or bile acid sequestrants. Your physician is your best source of guidance as to which might be best for you since he or she has your complete medical history. For example, statins lower LDL levels, as do cholesterol absorption inhibitors, nicotinic acid lowers LDL and triglyceride levels, while raising HDL, the good cholesterol. Fibric acids lower LDL but are primarily prescribed for low HDL levels and high triglycerides.