Minority Women's Health

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High Cholesterol

Minority Women's Health > Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians > Health Topics > High Cholesterol

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 in 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.

Over 25 percent of American women have blood cholesterol levels high enough to put them at risk for heart disease. Among Asian American/Pacific Islander women, high cholesterol rates are highest in Japanese women. However, all Asian American/Pacific Islander women have low cholesterol screening rates.

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.

Publications

1.     Filipinos Aspire for Healthy Hearts: Serve Up a Healthy Life — Give the Gift of Good Nutrition — This easy-to-read, bilingual Tagalog and English booklet talks about the heart health benefits of proper nutrition. In this color brochure, Filipino readers can also learn about heart healthy cooking and eating tips.

   http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/filipino_facts/filipino-nutrition.pdf...

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.   Take Care of Your Heart. Manage Your Diabetes. — The National Diabetes Education Program's "Take Care of Your Heart" campaign encourages Asian-Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians with diabetes to take steps now to reduce their risk of heart attacks or strokes, the leading killers of people with diabetes. The campaign also focuses on the importance of family support. Through this site, you can access different Asian-language versions of this campaign.

   http://ndep.nih.gov/publications/PublicationDetail.aspx?PubId=127

6.     Vietnamese Aspire for Healthy Hearts: Serve Up a Healthy Life — Give the Gift of Good Nutrition — This easy-to-read, bilingual Vietnamese and English booklet talks about the heart health benefits of proper nutrition.

   http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/viet_facts/viet-nutrition.pdf

7.     Your Guide to Lowering Your Cholesterol with TLC — TLC (therapeutic lifestyle changes) is a set of tools you can use to lower your cholesterol. This easy-to-read booklet is designed to help you make the lifestyle changes that will lower blood cholesterol and reduce your risk for heart disease. It explains how to follow the TLC diet (low in saturated fat, trans fat, and dietary cholesterol), increase physical activity, and manage weight for people whose cholesterol level is above their goal. The guide includes helpful lists and charts, sample menus, a 10-year coronary heart disease risk calculator, and many tips for success.

   http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/chol_tlc.pdf

8.   Asian/Pacific Islanders and Cardiovascular Diseases (Copyright © American Heart Association) — This fact sheet provides statistical information about cardiovascular disease among people identified as Asian-American or Pacific Islanders.

   http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/1199397765814FS03AS08.pdf

Organizations

1.   CDC's WISEWOMAN — Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation
2.   Heart Truth
3.   National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, HHS
4.   Office of Minority and Women's Health, CDC, HHS
5.   Office of Minority Health, OPHS, OS, HHS
6. American Heart Association
7. National Asian Women's Health Organization
8. WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women With Heart Disease

= Indicates Federal Resources

Resources reviewed March 2008.