Cholesterol and Heart Health

Meghan Harrison Chen DuDietetic Intern

Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas

What comes to mind when you hear the word cholesterol?

Overview • What is cholesterol?• Is cholesterol bad?• Where does cholesterol come from? • How does cholesterol affect heart health?• What do I do, if my doctor tells me that my

cholesterol level is high?• Meal remix activity• Salad sampling

What is cholesterol? • Waxy, fat like substance that is found in all cells

of our body

National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute Web Site, Accessed October 9, 2014.

Is cholesterol bad?• It is essential to our body!

o Building blocks of hormones, bile salt, vitamin D

Bile Salt(Cholesterol)

American Heart Association Web Site, Accessed October 9, 2014.

Where does cholesterol come from?

• Comes from 2 sources

o Body produces it in liver

o Food sources • Meats, poultry, fish• Eggs• Butter, whole milk• Cheese• Not from plant sources

How does cholesterol affect Heart health?

Transportation of Cholesterol • Transferred through blood• Carriers: LDL vs. HDL

o LDL: function as a “glue” o HDL: function as a “scraper”

Developing Health Habits Web Site. Accessed October 9, 2014.

The Problem with LDL Cholesterol

LDL

Platelets

Center for Disease Control and Prevention Web Site. Accessed October 9, 2014

Cholesterol and Heart

LDL cholesterol deposit

Plaques

Hardening of arteries

Narrowing of arteries

Plaques rupture

Chest painHeart Attack

Formation of blood clots

Arterial blockage Heart Attack

True or False?

If my doctor tells me that I have a high cholesterol level, the only

thing I can do is to take medication.

What Affects Cholesterol Level?

• Dietary choices • Physical activity • Weight• Age• Gender• Heredity HDL LDL

Lower LDL, Raise HDL• Minimize unhealthy fat intake

o Saturated Fat, Trans Fat

• Moderate amount of healthy fato Monounsaturated, Polyunsaturated fat

• Fiber from legumes, fruit, and vegetables • Weight loss• Stop smoking • Exercise

Choose Healthy Fat

HelpGuide.org Web Site. Accessed October 12, 2014.

Mended Heart Web Site. Accessed October 9, 2014.

Mended Heart Web Site. Accessed October 9, 2014.

Physical Activity • Aim for at least 30 minutes/day • Does not happen all at once, start with:

o Park farther awayo Take stairs o Walk short distanceso Take a walk with friend o Have family fun

Mended Heart Web Site. Accessed October 9, 2014.

Time to exercise your knowledge!

Meal Remix:

James is a 65 year-old retiree who lives with his wife Betty. He enjoys being outdoors but just re-located to a more urban area and doesn’t spend as much time outside as he used to. Lately, eating out often has been the norm.

Here’s what James had for dinner last night at a restaurant:

❏ Fried chicken leg and thigh ❏ Mashed potatoes with gravy ❏ Corn on the cob with butter ❏ Green beans ❏ Salad with ranch dressing ❏ 3 biscuits with butter ❏ Diet coke

What healthy changes can we make to his meal?

Take Home Messages • Cholesterol is essential!• LDL functions as a “glue”, and HDL functions as

a “scraper”• Eliminate Saturated Fat and Trans Fat• Monounsaturated fat and Polyunsaturated Fat

are your better friends • Have more fiber• Get moving • Be creative with your salad!

References • What is cholesterol? National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute Web Site.

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hbc/ Published September 19, 2012. Accessed October 9, 2014.

• About cholesterol. American Heart Association Web Site. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/AboutCholesterol/About-Cholesterol_UCM_001220_Article.jsp Published April 21, 2014. Updated July 31, 2014. Accessed October 9, 2014.

• Cholesterol- Blessing or Curse? Developing Health Habits Web Site. http://developinghealthyhabits.com/cholesterol-blessing-or-curse/ Published Feburary 1, 2011. Accessed October 9, 2014.

• Cholesterol. Center for Disease Control and Prevention Web Site. http://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/faqs.htm Published Janurary 30, 2012. Accessed October 9, 2014.

• Choosing Healthy Fat. HelpGuide.org Web Site. http://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/choosing-healthy-fats.htm Updated October, 2014. Accessed October 12, 2014.

• Heart Pack Patient Education. Mended Heart Web site. http://mendedhearts.org/education Updated 2014. Accessed October 9, 2014.

Thank you for joining us!

Contact Information • Chen Du• Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas Dietetic Intern • Email: chendunolan@gmail.com• Cell phone: 856-287-0490 • Meghan Harrison• Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas Dietetic Intern• Email: meghanharrisonhandwriting@gmail.com• Cell phone: 469-951-1688