Why African-Americans are at Risk for Heart Disease: Part 2

Over the last few weeks we've been looking at heart disease in African-Americans, and I want to keep going with the topic again this week.

We've already considered the risk factors you cannot change for heart disease, and we've taken a look at two of the modifiable risk factors, smoking and high blood pressure, so continuing on with the other modifiable risk factors:

Cholesterol

Just like the rest of the population, African-Americans need to consider their cholesterol levels.

While you need a certain amount of cholesterol in your body, too much of the wrong type can lead to fatty buildup in your arteries. If you haven't visited with your doctor recently, now would be a good time to get your cholesterol levels screened to find out how you’re doing.

The following will help you make sense of your cholesterol numbers:

Kidney

Total cholesterol

Desirable — less than 200 mg/dL

Borderline-high — 200-239 mg/dL

High cholesterol — 240 mg/dL and above

LDL (“bad”) cholesterol

Optimal — less than 100 mg/dL

Near or above optimal — 100-129 mg/dL

Borderline high — 130-159 mg/dL

High — 160-189 mg/dL

Very high — 190 mg/dL and above

Triglycerides

Normal — less than 150 mg/dL

Borderline-high — 150–199 mg/dL

High — 200–499 mg/dL

Very high — 500 mg/dL

HDL (“good”) cholesterol (high is good with this one)

Low — less than 40 mg/dL

Good — 40 to 59 mg/dL

High HDL — 60 mg/dL or above

So, what can you do if your cholesterol levels need a little attention?

• Watch your saturated and trans fat intake, such as butter, cheese and fatty meat.
• Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole foods close to their natural form, as much as possible.
• Be physically active. This helps to increase your good cholesterol levels.
• Don’t smoke.
• Lose weight if you need to.

Exercise

The great thing about exercising regularly is, that it helps to reduce your other risk factors (weight maintenance, improves cholesterol and high blood pressure, etc), and overall it offers huge health benefits.

If you are currently inactive you need to be aiming for at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week. Walking is a great place to start. Another good option is to get an exercise DVD and work through it in the comfort of your own home--that way you don’t need to feel intimidated by going to the gym.

If you’re unsure about which form of exercise would be safe for you, check with your doctor first.

Weight

Obesity is a major health problem for African-Americans. If you are overweight, particularly if that weight is carried around your waist area, you are at a considerably higher risk for heart disease and stroke.

The good news is that you can take control of this issue, and significantly improve your health in the long run. Remember, being overweight isn’t simply about how you look; it’s also a personal health issue—which is far more important.