Objective: By the end of the presentation, 75% of

audience members will be able to illustrate how high cholesterol can be fatal.

Biology of Cholesterol Rocio Flores

Cholesterol What is cholesterol? Where is it found? What does it do to our bodies? What diseases can high cholesterol cause? HDL & LDL

What is cholesterol? “Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like, waxy

substance found in the bloodstream and in all your body's cells” (American Heart Association, 2008 para.1)

It is normal and healthy to have cholesterol but very high levels of cholesterol are dangerous.

Two types of cholesterol: ◦ High Density Lipoproteins (HDL)◦ Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL)

Where is it found? Cholesterol is naturally found in our bodies

and in the food we eat. Every cell in our bodies makes cholesterol. The cholesterol we get from food, is

absorbed into the blood stream from the stomach and circulates with our blood.

Cholesterol in the blood stream

Source: http://www.topnews.in/files/high-cholesterol.jpg

What does cholesterol do to our bodies? When too much cholesterol is in our blood

stream, it can accumulate around the lining of our arteries.

“Together with other substances, it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible” (American Heart Association, 2009 para.2)

Diseases caused by high cholesterol Atherosclerosis: “the process of fatty

substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and fibrin (a clotting material in the blood) building up in the inner lining of an artery. The buildup that results is called plaque.” (American Heart Association, 2008 para.1)

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZALTTgT_SgA/RfrHRfPV2FI/AAAAAAAAAD0/iUyySqI4368/s320/LDL.jpg

Diseases Caused by High Cholesterol cont. Heart Disease: the blood carries oxygen to

our heart, atherosclerosis reduces the amount of blood flowing to our heart. If blood stops flowing to the heart because of a blockage in the arteries, a heart attack occurs. ( National Cholesterol Education Program, 2005)

Heart Attack: A heart attack results from the blockage of an artery to the heart. Can lead to death.

Diseases cont. Stroke: Atherosclerosis in arteries in or

leading to the brain can result in stroke. (American Heart Association, 2008)

http://www.smartabouthealth.net/images/stroke_guidelines_drugs.jpg

Deadly Sequence

Death

There are no symptoms of high cholesterol

Hypercholesterolemia Atherosclerosis Heart Disease Heart Attack/Stroke

High Density Lipoproteins “Good” Cholesterol High levels of HDL have been found to lower

risk of heart attack (American Heart Association, 2009)

Risk of heart disease increases when there are lower levels of HDL.

Mostly protein, and few cholesterol “Help remove cholesterol from artery

walls and transport it to the liver for elimination from the body”(Simon, 2008 para. 1)

Low Density Lipoproteins

LDL: Bad cholesterol that can build up in the arteries.

High levels of LDL can increase risk of heart disease.

Composed mainly of cholesterol and a few proteins.

“Primarily responsible for depositing cholesterol within arteries” (Simon, 2008 para. 2)

HDL & LDL

http://www.clarian.org/ADAM/doc/OrthopedicsCenter/10/000362.htm

DeKeisha Moore

Race and Cholesterol: Is there a

Connection?

"There has to be something else going on that we don't fully understand," said cardiologist Rajendra Mehta, MD, in a Duke University Medical Center press release.

Prior to reaching 50 years of age, adults of all ethnicities have similar levels of total cholesterol.

Researchers have found that, compared to whites, African Americans and Hispanics are less likely have their blood cholesterol levels checked.

Disparities

social, economic, lifestyle, or genetic factors could all play a role in explaining the observed variations in heart health between ethnicities.

Disparities cont.

•unequal access to health care• cultural differences in attitudes toward

medical treatment• Less access to healthy foods

sources• Less safe parks and recreation

centers for physical activity

• No insight on how foods eaten are unhealthy

• Genetics?

black men and women tend to have slightly lower total cholesterol levels than whites.

44.8% of black men and 42.1% of black women have high or borderline high total cholesterol levels

By comparison, 47.9% and 49.7% of white men and women have high or borderline high levels.

African American

49.9% of Mexican-American men and 50% of Mexican-American women have high or borderline high total cholesterol levels

slightly higher than those for non-Hispanic Caucasian-American men (47.9%) and women (49.7%).

39% of Mexican-American men have high LDL levels, compared to 31.7% of white men.

Hispanic

Mental Stress Physical activity/inactivity Alcohol use Weight Heredity Diet

Lifestyle

Control your Cholesterol Don’t let it controlYou

What to limit

•Limit the amount of processes

meat like hot dogs, sausages, and

bologna.

•Limit the products cooked with

butter, egg yolks and cheese.

•Avoid using saturated oils like

coconut oil or palm oil

(American Heart, 2007)

What to eat Grains (Fiber)

• Any source of oatmeal, granola or nuts can be considered a form of fiber. This will help increase the amount of HDL “good” cholesterol.

Oils (Fats)• Unsaturated fats used in

moderation like: olive oil, canola oil or soybean oil may prevent the increase of LDL “bad” cholesterol

(American Heart, 2007)

What to eat Fruits•Any form of fruit or vegetable at least 8 servings a day. Oranges and raspberries are highly recommended to increase HDL.

Meats •Skinless poultry and lean meats are recommended because these don’t have high amount of fat in them.

(American Heart, 2007)

What to eatFiber

Fiber Intake FRUIT

Raspberries 1 cup 8.0g

Pear, with skin

1 medium 5.5g

Apple, with skin

1 medium 4.4g

Fiber Intake GRAINS

Spaghetti, whole-wheat, cooked

1 cup 6.2g

Bran flakes 3/4 cup 5.3g

Brown rice, cooked 1 cup 3.5g

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health

To view more information on fiber intake visit:

Try roasting or grilling meats instead of frying.

When frying, use a paper toll to wipe of the excess grease.

Use vegetable oil cooking spray over butter or lard to sauté foods.

Serve small portions of foods that are cook with high fat. Serve bigger portions of vegetable.

Cooking Tips

(American Heart, 2007)

Food Samples

ACTIVITY

Make a pledge to your heart

Refrences American Heart Association. (2007). How can I lower high cholesterol. Retrieved from

www.americanheart.org

WebMD. (2009). Lower cholesterol to reduce heart disease risk. Retrieved from

www.webmd.com/cholesterolmanagement

WebMD, . (2009). High cholesterol. Retrieved from http://www.emedicinehealth.com/high_cholesterol/page2_em.htm

Lee-Frye, Betsy. (2009). Cholesterol and african americans--why so high?. Retrieved from

http://cholesterol.about.com/lw/Health-Medicine/conditions-and-diseases/Cholesterol-and-African-Americans-Why-So-High-.htm

Lee-Frye, Betsy. (2009). Hispanics with high cholesterol--is it a growing trend?. Retrieved from

http://cholesterol.about.com/lw/Health-Medicine/Conditions-and-diseases/Cholesterol-and-Hispanics-Why-So-High-.-16c.htm

(2009). Diversity matters photo without wording. Retrieved from

http://www.mediabistro.com/agencyspy/original/Diversity_Matters_photo_without_wording__.jpg

References