Sky Lakes Medical Center | Live Smart | Early Spring 2021

SkyLakes.org | LIVE smart 7 Q&A: What to know about cholesterol Normal weight Overweight Obese BMI 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 HEIGHT WEIGHT IN POUNDS 5' 97 102 107 112 118 123 128 133 138 143 148 153 158 163 168 174 179 184 189 194 199 5'1" 100 106 111 116 122 127 132 137 143 148 153 158 164 169 174 180 185 190 195 201 206 5'2" 104 109 115 120 126 131 136 142 147 153 158 164 169 175 180 186 191 196 202 207 213 5'3" 107 113 118 124 130 135 141 146 152 158 163 169 175 180 186 191 197 203 208 214 220 5'4" 110 116 122 128 134 140 145 151 157 163 169 174 180 186 192 197 204 209 215 221 227 5'5" 114 120 126 132 138 144 150 156 162 168 174 180 186 192 198 204 210 216 222 228 234 5'6" 118 124 130 136 142 148 155 161 167 173 179 186 192 198 204 210 216 223 229 235 241 5'7" 121 127 134 140 146 153 159 166 172 178 185 191 198 204 211 217 223 230 236 242 249 5'8" 125 131 138 144 151 158 164 171 177 184 190 197 203 210 216 223 230 236 243 249 256 5'9" 128 135 142 149 155 162 169 176 182 189 196 203 209 216 223 230 236 243 250 257 263 5'10" 132 139 146 153 160 167 174 181 188 195 202 209 216 222 229 236 243 250 257 264 271 5'11" 136 143 150 157 165 172 179 186 193 200 208 215 222 229 236 243 250 257 265 272 279 6' 140 147 154 162 169 177 184 191 199 206 213 221 228 235 242 250 258 265 272 279 287 6'1" 144 151 159 166 174 182 189 197 204 212 219 227 235 242 250 257 265 272 280 288 295 6'2" 148 155 163 171 179 186 194 202 210 218 225 233 241 249 256 264 272 280 287 295 303 6'3" 152 160 168 176 184 192 200 208 216 224 232 240 248 256 264 272 279 287 295 303 311 6'4" 156 164 172 180 189 197 205 213 221 230 238 246 254 263 271 279 287 295 304 312 320 Where do you stand? Keep an eye on your BMI Source: National Institutes of Health LET US HELP! Our expert team at the Sky Lakes Wellness Center can work with you on a personal weight-loss plan that fits your needs. To take the first step toward a healthier you, visit SkyLakes.org/Wellness . Directions: Find your height, and then read across until you find your weight. Then scan up to see the number at the top of that column. That number is your body mass index (BMI). It’s an estimate of body fat. Most people have probably heard of cholesterol, and they may even know that it plays an important role in heart disease—a leading killer of U.S. men and women. Even so, many people may have questions about cholesterol and why they should pay attention to it. Q : What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a waxy substance that your body actually needs to function normally. But if too much of it builds up in your bloodstream, your health could suffer as a result. Q : What causes high cholesterol? Your body makes some cholesterol. And cholesterol is found in animal- based foods, like meat and cheese. But the dietary components that raise blood cholesterol the most are saturated and trans fats. Foods high in these fats can cause your liver to make more cholesterol than your body needs. Q : What are the different types of cholesterol? There are two main types of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is often called the bad cholesterol because it tends to collect in arteries, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is often called the good cholesterol because it helps remove excess cholesterol from your arteries. Over time, excess LDL cholesterol can combine with other substances in the blood and clog arteries that supply the heart and the brain with blood. As a result, those arteries may become stiff and narrow, and circulation may be decreased or become blocked, which can lead to problems like heart disease, heart attack or a stroke. Having high blood levels of HDL cholesterol can actually lower your risk of heart disease, but having too little can increase your risk. Q : How would I know if my cholesterol levels are within a healthy range? The only way to know is to get tested. The American Heart Association recommends that most adults have a cholesterol test—it’s a simple blood test—at least every four to six years. Ask your doctor what’s best for you. Additional sources: U.S. National Library of Medicine; National Institutes of Health