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Cholesterol and Triglycerides: 5 Facts


In the U.S., heart disease is the most common cause of death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in every five deaths is caused by heart disease. High cholesterol and triglyceride levels are major risks for heart disease. To help spread awareness of the problem, September has been designated as National Cholesterol Education Month.

Difference Between Cholesterol and Triglycerides

Cholesterol is a type of fat that’s present in your blood. It’s needed for many things, including making hormones and helping your body digest food. It’s produced naturally by your body but it can also be found in meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products. As such, too much of it can lead to health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, and heart attack.

It’s worth noting that there are good and bad types. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is bad. It can build up on the walls of your arteries and form plaque. This plaque can prevent blood from flowing through your arteries properly, which can lead to heart disease. However, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is considered good because it helps remove LDL from your arteries.

Triglycerides are another type of fat found in your blood. When you eat more calories than you need, your body stores the excess calories as triglycerides. Too much of it can lead to health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, and heart attack.

5 Facts You Should Know

The following are a few facts about the risks of high LDL and triglyceride levels that everyone should know:

  1. In the U.S., one person dies every 34 seconds from cardiovascular disease.

  2. Someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds in the U.S.

  3. Over 800,000 people have heart attacks in the U.S. every year.

  4. The most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD).

  5. More than 20 million adults in the U.S. over 20 have CAD.

You can keep your cholesterol and triglyceride levels down by maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy weight. For more health advice, visit us at The Benefits Store today.

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