Cholesterol can be both good and bad, so it’s important to learn the facts about how it affects your health. Here are some common misconceptions about cholesterol.
MY CHOICES ABOUT DIET AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MY CHOLESTEROL LEVEL.
Diet and physical activity contribute to overall blood cholesterol as well as the cholesterol that is made by the body. For some people, the body produces more cholesterol than it can absorb. If this is the case for you, your physician may prescribe medicine to manage your cholesterol. However, a heart-healthy diet and regular physical activity are important to everyone for maintaining cardiovascular health.
USING MARGARINE INSTEAD OF BUTTER WILL HELP LOWER MY CHOELSTEROL.
Both margarine and butter are high in fat, so use both in moderation. Limiting food high in saturated fat and Trans fat may help lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol. Most vegetable oils and soft or liquid margarines have less saturated and Trans fat than the solid spreads have, and are preferable to the stick forms of margarine for a heart-healthy diet.
THIN PEOPLE DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HIGH CHOLESTEROL.
Any type of body can have high cholesterol. Overweight people are more likely to have high cholesterol, but everyone should have their cholesterol checked regularly. Nobody can “eat anything they want” and stay heart healthy.
SINCE THE NUTRITION LABEL SAYS THERE’S NO CHOLESTEROL, I CAN BE SURE THAT IT’S A “HEART-HEALTHY” CHOICE.
Nutrition labels are very helpful when choosing heart-healthy foods, but you need to know what to look for. Many “low-cholesterol” foods contain high levels of saturated fat and/or Trans fat - both of which contribute to high blood cholesterol.
MY DOCTOR HASN’T SAID ANYTHING ABOUT MY CHOELSTEROL, SO I DON’T HAVE TO WORRY.
Your health is your responsibility. Ask your healthcare professional if your cholesterol needs to be tested. Learn how to interpret all the numbers, including HDL (good) cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Depending on your risk profile and your cholesterol levels, your doctor may recommend diet and lifestyle changes and/or medication.
SINCE I STARTED TAKING MEDICATION FOR MY HIGH CHOLESTEROL, I DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT I EAT.
Drug therapy is usually prescribed for those who - despite adequate dietary changes, physical activity and weight loss - still have elevated levels of cholesterol, or those who have elevated heart disease and stroke risks. You should still eat a heart-healthy diet and get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five or more days per week.
I’M A WOMAN SO I DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HIGH CHOLESTEROL. IT’S A MAN’S PROBLEM.
Premenopausal women are usually protected from high LDL (bad) levels of cholesterol, because estrogen tends to raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels. But cholesterol levels tend to increase with age, and postmenopausal women may find that even a heart-healthy diet and regular physical activity aren’t enough to keep their cholesterol from rising.
YOU DON’T NEED TO HAVE YOUR CHOLESTEROL CHECKED UNTIL YOU REACH MIDDLE AGE.
Everyone should start getting a cholesterol test at age 20, but it’s a good idea to start having cholesterol checked at an early age. Even children, especially those in families with a history of heart disease, can have high cholesterol levels.
Source: www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3006030
