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• With statistics showing that women have a one in three chance of developing heart disease by the time they reach 65, the importance of prevention can't be emphasized enough.
• According to the American Hearth Association, the good news is that women can dramatically lower their risk of heart disease, by as much as 80 percent, by leading a healthy lifestyle.
• It raises the level of carbon monoxide in the blood, robbing the heart of oxygen.
• The combination of smoking and birth control pills dramatically increase the risk of early heart disease.
• Regular exercise tones the heart muscle and helps prevent heart disease.
• "I think all adults, men and women, should know their numbers, make lifestyle changes as necessary, and work with their primary care provider," says Susan M. Hanson, Registered Dietician/Licensed Dietician at Park Nicollet Health Services.
• The most accurate cholesterol readings are taken after a person fasts for at least 12 hours (triglyceride levels change with food and beverage intake).
• According to the American Heart Association, the optimal blood pressure for women should be less than 120 over 80.
• The optimal LDL, or "bad" cholesterol for healthy women, should be less than 160.
• Susan suggests eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, low in saturated fat and avoiding trans fats.
• Limiting calorie intake to manage weight is important in cholesterol control.
• Limiting intake of cheese or switching to low-fat cheese can help.
• Susan teaches a class at Park Nicollet called "Cholesterol Connections."
• In the class, participants learn to plan meals using the Therapeutic Lifestyle Change Diet from the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), strategies for grocery shopping and going out to eat, and physical activity tips.

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