Vim & Vigor - Fall 2013 - Parrish Medical Center - (Page 16)

Condition 1 HIGH CHOLESTEROL Condition 2 Your Heart, BY THE NUMBERS When your doctor is worried about your cholesterol levels, there is a reason: People with high total cholesterol levels have nearly twice the risk of heart disease as those with optimal levels, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cholesterol is a fatlike substance that our bodies create and use naturally. But we also take in cholesterol through food that’s animal-based, and it can build up inside your artery walls. Eventually, this buildup can cause atherosclerosis, which occurs when substances accumulate along the artery walls and form plaque. As the arteries narrow and stiffen from the buildup, the ﬂow of blood slows or even stops, which is what happens during a heart attack. (If this occurs in arteries to the brain, it causes a stroke.) “Atherosclerosis is what causes the majority of heart attacks and strokes,” says Janet Bond Brill, PhD, RD, author of several books on heart health, including Blood Pressure Down: The 10-Step Program to Lower Your Blood Pressure in 4 Weeks—Without Prescription Drugs. A simple blood test can tell you whether you have dangerous cholesterol levels. 16 FA L L 2 013 4 HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE Nearly one-third of American adults have high blood pressure (also called hypertension), a major risk factor for both heart attacks and strokes. Blood pressure is the force with which blood pushes against the walls of the arteries. While your blood pressure might change throughout the day—for example, it will increase temporarily when you exercise or when you’re feeling especially stressed—the concern is when blood pressure is consistently high. That’s because constantly elevated blood pressure causes the heart to work harder to pump blood to the rest of the body. High blood pressure also “fuels inﬂammation and the process of atherosclerosis,” Brill says. “Anything that contributes to inﬂammation is not good.” Common risk factors for high blood pressure include family history, being overweight, not getting enough exercise, smoking, stress, drinking too much alcohol and consuming too much salt. You should have your blood pressure tested as part of regular checkups. If you’re at risk, you also may want to purchase a blood pressure monitor so you can check your levels at home. NUMBER OF CHAMBERS IN THE HEART 72 Average adult resting heart rate (beats per minute) 35 million NUMBER OF TIMES your heart beats in a year 6 Number of quarts of blood in the body

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Fall 2013 - Parrish Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2013 - Parrish Medical Center
Contents
Tasty Tips
Opening Thoughts
Community Calendar
Someone to Guide You
Step It Up
Your Mightiest Muscle
Well, Well, Well
Are You Doing More Harm Than Good?
Is Your Shut-Eye Serving You Well?
Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge
Anatomy of an ER Visit
Next-Gen Surgery
Attack from Within
Virtual Health
Community Health
A Love for Helping People
Cruising with a Chronic Condition
Foundation Focus
Ask the Expert

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2013 - Parrish Medical Center