 By the end of the presentation, 75% of

audience members will be able to illustrate

how high cholesterol can be fatal.
Rocio Flores
 What is cholesterol?
 Where is it found?
 What does it do to our bodies?
 What diseases can high cholesterol cause?
 HDL & LDL
 “Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like, waxy
substance found in the bloodstream and in all
your body's cells” (American Heart
Association, 2008 para.1)
 It is normal and healthy to have cholesterol
but very high levels of cholesterol are
dangerous.
 Two types of cholesterol:
◦ High Density Lipoproteins (HDL)
◦ Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL)
 Cholesterol is naturally found in our bodies
and in the food we eat.
 Every cell in our bodies makes cholesterol.
 The cholesterol we get from food, is
absorbed into the blood stream from the
stomach and circulates with our blood.
Source: http://www.topnews.in/files/high-cholesterol.jpg
 When too much cholesterol is in our blood
stream, it can accumulate around the lining
of our arteries.
 “Together with other substances, it can form
plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can narrow
the arteries and make them less flexible”
(American Heart Association, 2009 para.2)
 Atherosclerosis: “the process of fatty
substances, cholesterol, cellular waste
products, calcium and fibrin (a clotting
material in the blood) building up in the
inner lining of an artery. The buildup that
results is called plaque.” (American Heart
Association, 2008 para.1)
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZALTTgT_SgA/RfrHRfPV2FI/AAAAAAAAAD0/iUyySqI4368/
s320/LDL.jpg
 Heart Disease: the blood carries oxygen to
our heart, atherosclerosis reduces the
amount of blood flowing to our heart. If
blood stops flowing to the heart because of a
blockage in the arteries, a heart attack
occurs. ( National Cholesterol Education
Program, 2005)
 Heart Attack: A heart attack results from the
blockage of an artery to the heart. Can lead
to death.
 Stroke: Atherosclerosis in arteries in or
leading to the brain can result in stroke.
(American Heart Association, 2008)

http://www.smartabouthealth.net/image
s/stroke_guidelines_drugs.jpg
Hypercholesterolemia Atherosclerosis Heart Disease Heart
Attack/Stroke

Death
There are no symptoms of high
cholesterol
 “Good” Cholesterol
 High levels of HDL have been found to lower
risk of heart attack (American Heart
Association, 2009)
 Risk of heart disease increases when there
are lower levels of HDL.
 Mostly protein, and few cholesterol
 “Help remove cholesterol from artery walls
and transport it to the liver for elimination
from the body”(Simon, 2008 para. 1)
 LDL: Bad cholesterol that can build up in the
arteries.
 High levels of LDL can increase risk of heart
disease.
 Composed mainly of cholesterol and a few
proteins.
 “Primarily responsible for depositing
cholesterol within arteries” (Simon, 2008
para. 2)
http://www.clarian.org/ADAM/doc/OrthopedicsCenter/10/000362.htm
DeKeisha Moore
 "There has to be something else going on
that we don't fully understand," said
cardiologist Rajendra Mehta, MD, in a Duke
University Medical Center press release.
 Prior to reaching 50 years of age, adults of all
ethnicities have similar levels of total
cholesterol.
 Researchers have found that, compared to
whites, African Americans and Hispanics are
less likely have their blood cholesterol levels
checked.
 social, economic, lifestyle, or genetic factors
could all play a role in explaining the observed
variations in heart health between ethnicities.
•unequal access to health care
•cultural differences in attitudes toward
medical treatment
•Less access to healthy foods
sources
•Less safe parks and recreation
centers for physical activity
•No insight on how foods eaten
are unhealthy
•Genetics?
 black men and women
tend to have slightly lower
total cholesterol levels than
whites.
 44.8% of black men and
42.1% of black women
have high or borderline
high total cholesterol levels
 By comparison, 47.9% and
49.7% of white men and
women have high or
borderline high levels.
 49.9% of Mexican-
American men and 50%
of Mexican-American
women have high or
borderline high total
cholesterol levels
 slightly higher than those
for non-Hispanic
Caucasian-American
men (47.9%) and women
(49.7%).
 39% of Mexican-
American men have high
LDL levels, compared to
31.7% of white men.
 Mental Stress
 Physical activity/inactivity
 Alcohol use
 Weight
 Heredity
 Diet
Don’t let it control
You
•Limit the amount of processes
meat like hot dogs, sausages, and
bologna.
•Limit the products cooked with
butter, egg yolks and cheese.
•Avoid using saturated oils like
coconut oil or palm oil
(American Heart, 2007)
Grains (Fiber)
•Any source of oatmeal, granola
or nuts can be considered a form
of fiber. This will help increase
the amount of HDL “good”
cholesterol.

Oils (Fats)
•Unsaturated fats used in
moderation like: olive oil, canola
oil or soybean oil may prevent
the increase of LDL “bad”
cholesterol

(American Heart, 2007)

Fruits
•Any form of fruit or
vegetable at least 8 servings a
day. Oranges and raspberries
are highly recommended to
increase HDL.

Meats
•Skinless poultry and lean
meats are recommended
because these don’t have high
amount of fat in them.
(American Heart, 2007)
 Fiber Intake Fiber Intake
FRUIT GRAINS
Raspberries 1 cup 8.0g Spaghetti,
whole-wheat, 1 cup 6.2g
cooked
Pear, with 1
5.5g
skin medium Bran flakes 3/4 cup 5.3g
Apple, with 1 Brown rice,
4.4g 1 cup 3.5g
skin medium cooked

To view more information on fiber intake visit:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health
 Try roasting or grilling meats
instead of frying.

 When frying, use a paper toll to

wipe of the excess grease.

 Use vegetable oil cooking spray

over butter or lard to sauté
foods.

 Serve small portions of foods

that are cook with high fat. Serve
bigger portions of vegetable.
(American Heart, 2007)
ACTIVITY
  Refrences
American Heart Association. (2007). How can I lower high cholesterol. Retrieved from
www.americanheart.org

WebMD. (2009). Lower cholesterol to reduce heart disease risk. Retrieved from
www.webmd.com/cholesterolmanagement
 WebMD, . (2009). High cholesterol. Retrieved from
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/high_cholesterol/page2_em.htm

 Lee-Frye, Betsy. (2009). Cholesterol and african americans--why so

high?. Retrieved from
http://cholesterol.about.com/lw/Health-Medicine/conditions-and-
diseases/Cholesterol-and-
African-Americans-Why-So-High-.htm
 Lee-Frye, Betsy. (2009). Hispanics with high cholesterol--is it a growing
trend?. Retrieved from
http://cholesterol.about.com/lw/Health-Medicine/Conditions-and-
diseases/Cholesterol-and-Hispanics-Why-So-High-.-16c.htm

 (2009). Diversity matters photo without wording. Retrieved from

http://www.mediabistro.com/agencyspy/original/Diversity_Matters_phot
o_without_wording__.jpg