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Page 28 | Abby's Magazine | www.AbbysMag.com By Karen Asp You might not give it much thought throughout the day, but your heart is working around the clock for you. Your heart is the most important muscle in your body because it pumps blood and oxygen to all your organs. When your heart doesn't get the care it needs, serious problems can develop in the lining of the arteries, which then lead to plaque formation. Plaque is what leads to heart attacks and blockage of blood flow in the arteries. Understand the conditions that affect your heart and the habits that can help prevent or manage them. Acting will help you keep your ticker in top shape. You may think all cholesterol is bad, but your body needs some to work right. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that your body makes, and you also get from food. It allows your body to make vitamin D and certain hormones, including estrogen in women and testosterone in men, and helps with digestion. Why should I care about cholesterol? There are two types of cholesterol you may have heard about: High-density lipoprotein or HDL, often called good cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein or LDL, often called bad cholesterol. Bad cholesterol can contribute to artery-clogging plaque. Good cholesterol, on the other hand, helps remove plaque. In the end, it helps protect you from getting heart disease. Having too much of the bad, or not enough of the good, can lead to heart disease. How do I know if I have high cholesterol? There are usually no symptoms of high cholesterol. That's why it's best to get your cholesterol levels checked through a blood test or home kits. You may need to go without eating, drinking, or taking medication, anywhere from nine to 12 hours before your test. Talk to your doctor about how to best prep for a home test. That blood test will give you several numbers, including your total cholesterol, your levels of good and bad cholesterol, and triglycerides, which is a type of fat. How often should I have my cholesterol levels checked? If you are over the age of 20 and don't have heart disease, you should have your levels checked every 4 to 6 years. You may need to get your cholesterol checked more often if you're at risk for heart disease, have high cholesterol, or have been on medications that treat high cholesterol. How can I lower my cholesterol levels? Medications and lifestyle changes can help you get high cholesterol under control. Even if you don't have high cholesterol, you can still make changes to your daily habits to lower your risk of heart disease. Here are steps you can take: 1. Eat healthy: Your meals should be mostly fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, poultry, fish, and nuts while limiting red meat and sugary foods and drinks. Bonus: Eating a heart- healthy diet can help you lose weight, which may help lower your cholesterol. Move more: Aim for 30 minutes of heart-pumping activity most days of the week. Think brisk walking, bicycling, and swimming. 2. Quit smoking: No matter how long you've been a smoker, you will still benefit from quitting. 3. Avoid secondhand smoke: Even if you don't smoke, being around it can raise your risk of heart disease. High Blood Pressure What is high blood pressure? When you have high blood pressure, also called hypertension, the force of blood against the walls of your arteries is high. Without treatment, high blood pressure can damage your arteries, heart, kidneys, and other organs. It can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure. It can also cause vision and memory loss, erectile dysfunction, fluid in the lungs, chest pain, circulatory problems, and several other conditions. What are the symptoms of high blood pressure? You might have heard that high blood pressure is called a "silent killer." That's because there may be no symptoms. How do I know if I have high blood pressure? A blood pressure test is the Heart HEALTH Tips