FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 1, 2006
DHEC urges awareness of blood cholesterol numbers
COLUMBIA – September is National Cholesterol Education Month, and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control urges South Carolinians to know their cholesterol numbers, the agency announced today.
“Desirable blood cholesterol levels are less than 200 milligrams per deciliter, so we should all aim to fall within this category. Total cholesterol levels between 200 to 239 mg/dL indicate borderline-high cholesterol, and about a third of American adults are in this group,” said Dory Masters, director of DHEC’s Division of Cardiovascular Health. “High cholesterol is a total cholesterol level of 240 or more. High cholesterol increases the risk for heart attack and stroke. Close to 20 percent of the U.S. population has high blood cholesterol levels.
“To reduce cholesterol in your blood, eat foods low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol. Lose weight if you are overweight and exercise for a total of at least 30 minutes on most or all days of the week,” Masters said. “Some people may also need to take medicine, because changing their diet isn't enough. If you've been prescribed medication or advised to make lifestyle changes to help manage your cholesterol, carefully follow your doctor's recommendations.”
For more information, visit DHEC’s Division of Cardiovascular Health at www.scdhec.gov/cvh or the American Heart Association at www.americanheart.org.
DHEC’s Division of Cardiovascular Health works with community partners and programs to improve the cardiovascular health and quality of life of South Carolinians through the prevention, detection and treatment of risk factors; early identification and treatment of cardiovascular diseases; and prevention of recurrent cardiovascular events.
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For more information:
Betsy Crick – (803) 545-4496
E-mail – crickec@dhec.sc.gov
or
Adam Myrick – (803) 898-3884
E-mail – myrickar@dhec.sc.gov