Minority Women's Health

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High Cholesterol

Minority Women's Health > Hispanic Americans/Latinas > Health Topics > High Cholesterol

• Resources in English
• Recursos en español

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in all parts of the body. It comes from two sources: your body and the food you eat. Your liver makes all the cholesterol your body needs. Eating too much cholesterol from animal foods like meats, whole milk dairy products, and egg yolks can make your cholesterol go up. Cholesterol blocks blood from flowing easily through your body. The higher your cholesterol, the more likely you are to get heart disease. High cholesterol is a health problem for all women.

Among Mexican American women over 20, close to half have borderline-high risk total cholesterol levels. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol levels of 130 mg/dL or higher are linked to a higher risk of heart disease.

Have your cholesterol checked by a doctor. Ask her or him how often you should have your cholesterol checked.

There are some things you can do to help lower your cholesterol:

• Don't smoke. If you smoke, try to quit. For help along the way, check out our Quitting Smoking section.
• Keep a healthy weight.
• Eat right. Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Eat chicken, turkey and lean meats. Avoid organ meats, egg yolks, whole milk dairy products, fats like butter or lard, and packaged or processed foods.
• Get moving. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise a day, most days of the week. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator or walk during breaks at work.

Resources in English

Publications

1.   High Blood Cholesterol — This Web site describes the basic facts about high blood cholesterol, including what it is, what causes it, the symptoms, and the treatments.

   http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Hbc/HBC_WhatIs.html

2.   High Blood Cholesterol — What You Need to Know — This publication is based on clinical guidelines for cholesterol testing and management. It will help you find out what your cholesterol numbers mean and what treatment your doctor may prescribe to help lower your cholesterol level. The brochure also includes a tool to estimate the risk of having a heart attack and outlines ways to reduce risk.

   http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/wyntk.htm

3.   How You Can Lower Your Cholesterol Level: Virtual Fitness Room — People with heart disease can and should exercise. Light to moderate exercise can help people with heart disease improve blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and overall health. The activity suggestions in this resource can help you and your doctor design an exercise program that works for you.

   http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd/Tipsheets/vfitness.htm

4.   Live Healthier, Live Longer: Cholesterol Counts for Everyone — Visit this interactive page to find a how-to guide for lowering cholesterol and tips to prevent heart disease. This page also gives people with heart disease information on reducing the risk of heart attack.

   http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd/

5.   National Cholesterol Education Month — This Web site provides information about cholesterol awareness month and links to information that may be helpful to the general public and community health educators alike. It includes information about high cholesterol and what can been done to increase awareness of its risks.

   http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/cholmonth/

6. Low-Cholesterol Recipes (Copyright © American Heart Association) — Discover how easy it is to avoid excess saturated fat and cholesterol while enjoying mouth-watering foods. These recipes and more are found in the American Heart Association Low-Fat, Low-Cholesterol Cookbook.

   http://americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3049153

7. What Your Cholesterol Levels Mean (Copyright © American Heart Association) — This fact sheet discusses the health risks of having high cholesterol. It defines what high risk levels are and what your LDL level should be.

   http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=183

Organizations

1.   CDC's WISEWOMAN — Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation
2.   Heart Truth
3. American Heart Association
4. WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women With Heart Disease

= Indicates Federal Resources

Recursos en español

Publicaciones

1.     Conozca su nivel de colesterol (Learn Your Cholesterol Number) — Este panfleto tiene consejos de como prevenir las enfermedades cardiovasculares. Esta escrito en dos idiomas.

   http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/sp_chonu.pdf

2.   Lipoproteína-A — Esta página informa acerca la lipoproteina-A las cuales transportan el colesterol en la sangre. Hay diferentes exámenes que detectan la lipoproteina en el suero de la sangre. La información en estas páginas mostrará los riesgos e interpretación de los resultados.

   http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/ency/article/007262.htm

3.     Platillos latinos ¡Sabrosos y Saludables! (Delicious Heart-Healthy Latino Recipes) — Aprenda a cocinar sus favoritos platos tradicionales latinos con menos grasa, colesterol y sodio. Este libro bilingüe con sus 23 recetas le ayudará realizarlo. Disfrute de estas recetas deliciosas.

   http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/sp_recip.pdf

4.   Proteja su corazón: baje su colesterol (Protect Your Heart--Lower Your Blood Cholesterol!) — Este panfleto tiene consejos de como reducir el alto colesterol y de como prevenir enfermedades cardiovasculares. Este libro esta escrito en ingles y en español.

   http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/sp_chol.htm

5. Colesterol: lo que usted puede hacer para disminuir su nivel (Copyright © American Academy of Family Physicians) — Muchas personas son diagnosticadas con colesterol alto. Estas páginas describe que tan dañino el colesterol puede ser para su cuerpo y cómo hacer que el nivel baje. Asimismo contiene una lista de comidas que ayudan a bajar el nivel alto de colesterol.

   http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/heartdisease/risk/029.html

6.   Hiperlipidemia (exceso de grasas en la sangre) (Copyright © Hormone Foundation) — Esta hoja define la hiperlipidemia. Recibirá información sobre sus causas, riesgos, diagnóstico y tratamientos.

   http://www.hormone.org/Spanish/Factsheets_Spanish/upload/spanish_hyperlipidemia-2.pdf...

7. Medicamentos para bajar el colesterol (Copyright © American Academy of Family Physicians) — Estas páginas contestan algunas de las preguntas comunes acerca los medicamentos usados para bajar el colesterol.

   http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/seniors/seniors-meds/801.html

Organizaciones

1.   Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades, HHS
2.   The Heart Truth en español
3. American Heart Association en español

= Recurso Federal

Resources reviewed March 2008.