From The Author
In some ways, your blood vessels are akin to that problematic plumbing in your kitchen. Just as the drain pipes are obstructed by what you deposit into them, so your arteries can become gradually blocked as a result of the fatty foods you’ve ingested over the years. Every burger or hot dog you’ve devoured, every steak or pizza you’ve enjoyed, adds to the cholesterol your body already produces, leading to the formation of fatty, cholesterol-laden plaques that accumulate in your blood vessels.
Whether they develop in the coronary arteries supplying your heart muscle with nourishing blood, the cerebral arteries delivering oxygenated blood to keep your brain healthy, or the peripheral arteries of your limbs and other areas of the body, these plaques increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, and circulatory problems.
Unfortunately, the role of cholesterol and other factors in cardiovascular disease is more complicated than clogged plumbing, and it takes more than a simple phone call to a plumber to undo the damage that cholesterol can inflict on your arteries over time. It takes a concerted effort on the part of you and your doctor to keep your cholesterol in check.
By reading this special report, you’ll find out what cholesterol is, how it affects your cardiovascular health, and what you can do to manage it:
- In Chapter 1, we take a look at where cholesterol comes from, the types of cholesterol, and their function in the body.
- Chapter 2 provides an overview of your cardiovascular system, cholesterol’s role in your cardiovascular health, and how high cholesterol can harm your health.
- Chapter 3 examines the risk factors for cardiovascular disease and the tools experts use to calculate your cardiovascular risk.
- Chapter 4 covers recommendations about screening for high cholesterol, the tests used to measure your cholesterol, and what the results of those tests mean.
- In Chapter 5, we offer guidance about the lifestyle changes you can make to help manage your cholesterol and reduce your cardiovascular risk—from which foods to eat to the types of exercise you need to include in your workout regimen.
- Chapter 6 looks at the array of medical treatments used to control your cholesterol, including the drug class known as statins and the vital role these medications play in cholesterol management and cardiovascular risk reduction. We also highlight the other cholesterol medications, including potent new drugs that significantly reduce cholesterol, emerging therapies, and older medications and drug combinations.
About 40 percent of American adults (nearly 94.6 million) have higher-than-normal cholesterol levels, according to American Heart Association estimates. If you’re reading this, you probably already know that it’s important to take control of your cholesterol. We hope that by reading this report, you’ll be equipped with the information you need to gain that control and protect your heart and blood vessels. Use this information to have insightful discussions with your doctor about your cholesterol and how to manage it with a healthful lifestyle and, if necessary, medical treatment. Then, work with your entire healthcare team to control your cholesterol and lower your cardiovascular risk.
-Jim Black, Executive Editor
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