Cholesterol Testing Recommended at Age 20

A recent study published in JAMA finds that high cholesterol occurs at an earlier age than previously thought. The danger is that with more years of high cholesterol before detection, young people are especially at risk from not detecting high cholesterol. A heart attack can be the first symptom of high cholesterol. The authors of the study conclude that everyone should get their cholesterol checked at age 20 and at least every 5 years thereafter. If high cholesterol is detected, we'll tell you how often you should get rechecked.

Heart Disease is America's Number 1 Killer

For many, a heart attack is the first sign of heart disease. But it doesn't have to be that way. Learn about your particular risk factors for heart disease. High blood pressure is only one factor that leads to heart disease. Meadow Lane Pharmacy now offers screening for arteriosclerosis, or "hardening of the arteries." This indicates how elastic your arteries are, which is another risk factor for heart attacks. This information, along with your cholesterol numbers and a couple other bits of information can then be entered into our Heart Disease Risk Analysis Computer Program, which utilizes Framingham Study Data to indicate your risk for heart disease. We can then discuss ways in which you can lower your risks, and thus lead a healthier, longer life.

Cholesterol Testing

Cholesterol testing is now offered at Meadow Lane Pharmacy. You probably know your most of your important numbers, but knowing your cholesterol number is more important than knowing your phone number, your social security number, or your golf handicap. Half of all Americans have high cholesterol and most don't know it since it has no symptoms. Since high cholesterol leads to heart disease, America's number 1 killer, get your level checked today. Once identified, much can be done to control high cholesterol with diet, exercise, and medications. We can get you started with some good information.

Testing is easy at Meadow Lane Pharmacy. Simply call for an appointment. We'll check not only your total cholesterol, but also break it down in the good (HDL) and bad(LDL) types, plus triglycerides. Since diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure often occur together and all lead to heart disease, we check these also. We'll give you a quick run-down on your risk for heart disease and give you easy tips to improve your health.

Testing at Meadow Lane Pharmacy is convenient. Easy to get to. No need to take a half day off of work. And since we've earned nationally recognized certification as experts in high cholesterol, we can explain your numbers and suggest ways to improve them.

Keeping cholesterol in check will lead to a longer, happier life. This will also save you money. Make today the day you take charge of your cholesterol We'll show you how easy it is!

Knowing Your Total Cholesterol

A number of factors can increase your risk for coronary heart disease. To make an accurate assessment your doctor or the pharmacists at Meadow Lane Pharmacy will determine your lipid profile, overall health, weight, diet, blood pressure, amount of exercise and risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, family history of heart disease and cholesterol levels.

There are several components to your cholesterol "picture:"

Total Cholesterol - a measure of the total amount of cholesterol in your blood. This test does not require you to fast (go without food or drink).

High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) - "good" cholesterol; It helps clear excess lipids from the arteries. The higher this number is the better. An HDL of 60 mg/dl or more is helpful. An HDL of 40 mg/dl or less is considered a risk factor for heart disease. An HDL test does not require you to fast.

TC/HDL Ratio - a comparison of total cholesterol to your HDL. A ratio of 4.5 or less is desirable. The lower the ratio, the less risk you have of developing heart disease.

Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) - "bad" cholesterol; it contributes to the buildup of fat deposits in arterial walls. About 65% of the cholesterol in your blood is in the form of LDL. An LDL of less than 130 mg/dl is desirable. If you have a personal history of coronary heart disease, your LDL cholesterol should be below 100 mg/dl. Some recommendations now suggest 70mg/dl as a goal for those at high risk.

Triglycerides - composed of fatty acids and glycerol. Like cholesterol, they circulate in your blood but are stored in body fat. When you eat a meal, your triglyceride (and glucose) levels increase significantly. Gradually, if your body processes the fat efficiently, the level of triglycerides will decrease. Since triglycerides increase after eating the test is normally given after fasting for 12 hours. While your triglyceride and glucose measurements are significantly affected by how recently you've eaten, total cholesterol and HDL are only slightly affected. Most authorities recommend that triglycerides should be below 150 mg/dl.

A lipid profile is a more detailed measure of the fats in your blood. It consists of measuring your total cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides, and calculating your LDL cholesterol. Your doctor will usually suggest a lipid profile if the results from your total cholesterol are above normal, or if you have other risk factors such as low HDL, family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, smoking, or diabetes. You should fast for accurate lipid profile results.

Your HDL and LDL levels can be changed by exercise and food selection. When changing your diet, it is important to increase consumption of foods high in high fiber (grains, fruit, vegetables, beans) and to lower consumption of food high in saturated fat (butter, meat, nuts, cream, egg yolks).

Controlling your cholesterol is just one way of reducing your heart disease risk. If you need help with the diet part, ask us about our 90-Day Challenge Weight Management Program. Whether you need to lose a few pounds, lower your cholesterol, control your diabetes, reduce your blood pressure, or you just want to feel better with more energy, this 12-week one-on-one counseling program is designed to help. See the 90-Day Challenge for details.

Identifying Risk Factors for Heart Disease

Modern medicine has identified a number of risk factors associated with coronary heart disease. Your doctor or your Meadow Lane Pharmacy pharmacist can provide advice and possible preventive treatment for any of the below risk factors:

Family History of Premature Coronary Heart Disease Before age 55 Some families seem to be prone to heart disease.

Low HDL (less than 40mg/dl)

Increase your level of "good" cholesterol by eating more foods high in omega fatty acids and eating less food high in saturated or hydrogenated fat.

High Blood Pressure (Above 140/90)

A stressful job, high intake of salt, smoking, lack of exercise, eating foods in saturated fat (junk food) can all lead to increased blood pressure. We offer an individualized analysis of your particular blood pressure situation and provide suggestions on how to keep it under control.

High Blood Sugar (Diabetes)

High blood sugar has serious long-term complications. Self-testing devices to monitor your sugar level have made diabetes easier to manage. We offer individualized diabetes education to help you manage diabetes.

Overweight

Excess fat in the food you eat and lack of exercise cause weight gain. You must change the kinds of food you eat or increase your level of exercise to loose weight. Restrict your intake of simple or refined carbohydrates and avoid foods high in saturated fat. Shedding excess pounds can help raise your HDL and lower your LDL levels, as well as improve your glucose levels in diabetes. We offer a customized dietary analysis and suggest ways to improve your diet.

Cigarette Smoking

Smoking lowers HDL and increases blood pressure. Several products are available OTC to help you stop smoking. We have other programs available to help.

Age - Male over 45

Many men reduce physical activity when reaching middle age. Lack of exercise coupled with the natural thickening of arteries, caused by cholesterol/lipid build up, puts males over 45 at an increased risk of heart disease.

Age - Female over 55 or after Menopause

Estrogen is a key hormone that regulates multiple body functions. Recent studies have indicated that estrogen replacement therapy for menopausal women improves general health.

Inactivity and Lack of Exercise

Walking is still considered one of the best general exercises. Try to walk before work, at lunch, or after dinner. Hopefully this will lead to more active endeavors - biking, hiking, tennis, swimming, aerobics.

High Stress Environment

We all learn to deal with stress. Your doctor or pharmacist can provide a number of suggestions to modify your life style to reduce stress. Severe cases may need more aggressive solutions ranging from biofeedback/acupuncture to prescription medication.

Meadow Lane Pharmacy offers cholesterol testing and heart health risk analysis by appointment. We will determine your various cholesterol and triglyceride levels and take into account your other risk factors. If your doctor suggests altering your diet, we can help with a diet plan. If your doctor determines that medications are needed to lower your risk for heart disease, we will explain your medications and check for any interactions with your other medication. This does NOT mean you don't still need to see your doctor regularly. Rather, we work with your doctor to help you adopt a healthy lifestyle to help you lead a longer, healthier life, and save health care expenses.