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About It
Facts About Blood Cholesterol
Table of Contents |
Why Blood Cholesterol Matters |
The Blood Cholesterol--Heart Disease Connection |
Other Risk Factors For Heart Disease |
Who Can Benefit From Lowering Blood Cholesterol? |
Cholesterol--In Your Blood, In Your Diet |
LDL- and HDL-Cholesterol: The Bad and The Good |
Things That Affect Blood Cholesterol |
Have Your Blood Cholesterol Checked |
Guidelines For Heart-Healthy Living |
Making The Guidelines Work: Eat The Heart-Healthy Way |
Eat Out The Heart-Healthy Way |
 Make Physical Activity Part Of Your Routine |
Lose Weight Sensibly |
Cholesterol Levels In Children? |
How High Is a Child's "High" Blood Cholesterol? |
In Case You Were Wondering... |
Should You Know Your Cholesterol Ratio? |
What are Triglycerides? |
Will Lowering My Blood Cholesterol Help Me Live Longer? |
Is It Safe To Eat In A Heart-Healthy Way? |
How Much Will Your Cholesterol Levels Change? |
How To Find Out More
Regular physical activity improves cholesterol levels: It helps to lower LDL and raise HDL.
It can also help you lose weight, if you are overweight. But you don't have to train like a
long distance runner to benefit: Even doing any physical activity for just a few minutes each
day is better than none at all. Try to build physical activity into your daily routine in ways
like these:
- Take a walk at lunch time or after dinner.
- Use the stairs instead of the elevator.
- Get off the bus one or two stops early and walk the rest of the way.
- Park farther away from the store.
- Ride a bike.
- Work in the yard or garden.
- Go dancing.
Try to be active as a family: Take trips that include hiking, swimming, or skiing. Use your
back yard or the park for games like badminton, basketball, football, or volleyball.
Vigorous activities like brisk walking, running, swimming, or jumping rope are called "aerobic."
They are especially good for the health of your heart and can burn off extra calories. Aerobic
activities can condition your heart if you do them for at least 30 minutes, three to four times
a week. But even if you don't have 30 minutes, three to four times a week, try to find two
15-minute periods or even three 10-minute periods.
Most people do not need to see a doctor before they start being active, especially if they
start off slowly and work up gradually to a sensible plan. But you should get advice from
your doctor beforehand if any of these conditions apply to you: if you have a medical condition;
if you have pains or pressure in the chest or shoulder area; if you tend to feel dizzy or faint;
if you get very breathless after a mild workout; and if you are middle-aged or older, have
not been physically active, and plan a fairly strenuous exercise program.
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