You've probably heard a lot of talk about high cholesterol. When cholesterol gets high, it may lead to plugged arteries, triggering serious health conditions and heart disease—the leading cause of death in the United States.

How can you prevent high cholesterol?

Eat right. Think heart smart, picking foods that have healthier fats (avocados, nuts, olive oil). Also choose low-trans fat foods, whole grains, Omega-3 fatty acids and lots of fresh fruit and veggies.

Manage your weight. Setting a goal of losing 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can have a positive impact on high cholesterol.

Move more. This isn't about setting your sites on next year's marathon but upping your overall activity. For example, taking the dog out for an extra walk several times a week, doing yoga, strength training, and alternating standing and sitting at your desk can do wonders for your heart's health and wellness.

Adopt positive habits. Smoking and stress both play a role in raising your risk for high cholesterol. Make this year the one you kick smoking to the curb and embrace a more stress-free lifestyle. Talk to your One Community Health provider about smoking cessation programs and strategies. Develop a plan to proactively reduce stress, perhaps using meditation, exercise, behavioral health counseling or all of the above to start managing your brain's wellness right now.

Learn all you can! A great place to start is at Millions Hearts®, which is an online portal offering loads of tools and information related to heart disease and stroke prevention and treatment. Here, you can also find great links to explore more about hypertension prevention, treatment and control.

Source: American Heart Association; Centers for Disease Control.

AUTHORED BY:

Katie Roberts
Communications Developer, One Community Health