5 TIPS FOR LOWERING CHOLESTEROL

Cholesterol & Your Heart

When you have high cholesterol it increases your risk of developing heart disease or having a heart attack. There are many lifestyle changes you can make to help reduce your cholesterol. Or, if necessary, you can talk to your doctor about being prescribed a medication that will help lower your cholesterol. Some tips to help you reduce your cholesterol without using medication are listed below.

1. Eat foods that are good for your heart

There are easy changes that you can make in your diet that will help reduce your cholesterol. • Avoiding saturated and

trans-fat can make a huge difference. • Instead of cooking with

butter or margarine switch to olive, peanut, sunflower or canola oil.

• Avoiding fatty meats and eating more fruits and vegetables will also help to reduce cholesterol.

2. Exercise

Thirty minutes of moderate physical activity a day can help increase the good cholesterol in your body and reduce the bad. Try to get 30 minutes of exercise in each day, some ideas include: • Going on a walk during

lunch • Jogging • riding your bike • playing a sport you enjoy

3. Stop Smoking

• If you quit smoking you will see possible improvements in your good cholesterol, and your risk of having a heart attack will decrease after just 24 hours.

• In one year your risk of developing heart disease will be half that of a smoker.

4. Drink Alcohol in Moderation

• Moderate drinking can reduce the risk of heart disease: • This means one drink

a day for women and two drinks a day for men aged 65 and younger.

• Heavy drinking will ruin the benefits.

• If you do not already drink, do not start drinking, the benefits are not strong enough.

5. Lose Weight

If you lose as little as 5-10% of your body weight you can reduce your cholesterol. • Changing your eating habits

and exercising everyday can help you achieve your weight loss goals.

• Simply taking a walk during your lunch break or snaking on vegetables or fruit instead of chips will help you get on track to a healthy lifestyle.

About DuPage Medical Group

If you have any questions on how to lower your cholesterol, make an appointment to see your primary care physician or cardiologist. With more than 425 physicians and in more than 60 locations, DuPage Medical Group is the largest independent, multi-specialty physician group in the Chicago area, providing physician-directed health care focused on quality, efficiency and access. For more information, visit www.dupagemedicalgroup.com.