CAMAF Member Option Guides & Info

2 INTRODUCTION & OVERVIEW High cholesterol is one of the most important risk factors for developing an array of serious medical problems like heart disease and stroke. It causes no symptoms and so, like High Blood Pressure, it can be called a "silent killer". You have high cholesterol, or a borderline cholesterol level. This special programme will give you all the key information to help you understand and manage this. The result should be a real reduction in your risk of developing a range of serious medical problems, so we hope you'll agree that it's very worthwhile. This week we'll cover an overview of the most crucial facts about high cholesterol (subsequent weeks will cover these areas in more detail. It Is really Important to emphasIse one aspect rIght away: high cholesterol is what we call a chronic condition. this basically means that it cannot be cured as such, but rather needs life-long management and control. this is something that involves a partnership between you and your doctor(s) – without your active involvement, treatments will be less than optimal, and your health will almost certainly suffer. AN OVERVIEW Of kEY fACTS High Cholesterol is a condition where your blood contains too much cholesterol. Cholesterol is a fat or lipid that is ONLY found in animal-based foods. High Cholesterol can be caused by genetics (inherited), lifestyle (overweight, obesity, poor diet), or medical conditions like diabetes and thyroid disease. The most common cause is lifestyle. High Cholesterol causes fatty deposits in blood vessels (atherosclerosis) and an increased risk of serious medical problems like heart disease, stroke, and more. High Cholesterol is managed through a combination of lifestyle changes (mainly reduced-fat eating and weight loss and regular exercise) and medical treatment (medications and even surgery in very severe cases). Regular blood tests are essential to check on cholesterol levels. There are several important associated risk factors and medical conditions that should always be considered alongside High Cholesterol. These include High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, being overweight, lack of exercise, smoking, and stress.

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