Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

MIND ♦ SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2007 8A Controlling cholesterol important for heart health Special to the Journal According to the American Heart Association, approxi mately 107 million Americans have borderline high or higher cholesterol levels. For most, ignoring even slightly elevated cholesterol levels can be harmful to the heart resulting in clogged arter ies and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Fortunately, cholesterol lev els can be controlled with favorable results. “A person reduces their risk of heart disease by 20 per cent every time they reduce their high cholesterol level by 10 percent,” states Lynn Cochran, RN, CDE, Houston Healthcare Community Education Nurse. “People assume their blood choles terol level is determined by the food they eat, but it’s actually the FAT in the food they eat - trans fat and satu rated fats in particular - by causing the liver to produce too much cholesterol. The best way to lower your blood cholesterol is to reduce the amount of fat in your diet.” Cholesterol is a soft, fat like substance produced in the liver. How much choles terol the liver produces is affected by a person’s genes Prostrate cancer - early detection saves lives Special to the Journal Prostate cancer is the sec ond most common cancer in men after skin cancer and accounts for 30 percent of all male cancers. Most cases of prostate cancer occur in men older than 50, and more than 75 percent of these cases are in men over age 65. African- American men are more like ly to develop prostate cancer and are twice as likely to die from the disease. Having two or more first-degree relatives such as a father or brother diagnosed with prostate can cer also increases a man’s risk of developing the dis ease. “Even though prostate can cer is one of the most diag nosed cancers in America, on average men have only a three percent risk of actu ally dying from the dis ease,” explains Dr. Daniel A. Deighton, a urologist and member of the medical staffs of Houston Medical Center and Perry Hospital. “Tumors are often slow-growing and highly treatable. However, patients sometimes experi ence no symptoms until the cancer has spread; That’s why early detection by a physician is important.” No bigger than a walnut and weighing only an ounce, the prostate gland is located under a man’s bladder and plays an important role in a man’s urinary and reproduc tive health. Because the urethra passes through the prostate gland, problems such as benign enlargement of the prostate and prostate cancer cause urinary symptoms includ ing decreased strength of the urine stream, difficulty starting to urinate and pain ful urination. The good news is that prostate cancer can usually be found in the early stages by having a prostate can cer screening. The American Cancer Society recommends that men begin prostate eancer screening at age 50 with an annual digital rectal exam of the prostate and a prostate-specific antigen blood test. Men at high risk, such as African-American men or those with a family history and their diet. “Typically, ou? liver produces more choles terol than our body actually needs,” explains Cochran, “so the cholesterol we get straight from food is pure excess. This excess is what builds up on artery walls, reducing blood flow, which can lead to heart attack and stroke.” There are two types of cho lesterol: low density lipopro tein the “bad” cholesterol that can build up in artery walls, causing inflammation and clot formation; and high density lipoprotein the “good” cholesterol that helps remove LDL and carries it to the liver where it is pro cessed and eliminated. When LDL rises too high, it collects and sticks inside artery walls contributing to clot formation and increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. It can also cause blood vessels to stiffen and harden, which, in turn increases the risk of high blood pressure. Triglycerides are another blood fat also linked to heart disease and stroke. Ideally, a person should have a high level of HDL and low levels of triglycerides and LDL. “These days, heart disease risk is assessed by looking not only at a person’s total cholesterol, but at their of the disease, should begin screening at age 45. Used together, these two tests can detect most prostate can cers at a curable stage. In a digital rectal exam, the physician feels the prostate through the wall of the rec tum to check for abnormali ties. The PSA blood test can detect prostate cancer at a very early stage by measur ing the amount of a protein made only by the prostate in the blood. “Unfortunately, the PSA test has a fairly high false- Care..* when you need it. I Healthcare’s Med-Stops offer care for your family’s minor illnesses and injuries on a walk-in basis when your tegular doctor’s office is closed or when you don’t need the technical services of the Emergency Room. The Med-Stops are staffed by Board Certified Family Practice and Internal Medicine physicians working with nurses and medical technicians. Lab and x-ray services are available on-site. ♦ Houston Lake Med-Stop Hwy. 127 and Moody Road 9884865 Open Mon - Sat 7 am - 6:30 pm amounts of HDL, LDL, and triglycerides as well,” adds Cochran. “That’s because people with the same total cholesterol number can have different amounts of these cholesterol components. “For example, if two people have a total cholesterol count of 200, but one has an HDL count of 36 while the other has an HDL count of 65, the person with the HDL of 65 has a much lower risk of heart disease.” A total cholesterol count of less than 200 mg is desir able for heart health while a count higher than 240 mg is considered dangerous. For LDL cholesterol, an optimal count would be under 100 mg and anything higher than 160 mg would be in the dan ger zone. An optimal triglyceride count should be under 150 mg while anything higher than 200 mg is very unhealthy. A good HDL cholesterol count should be 60 mg or higher. “High cholesterol is only one of many risk factors that may eventually lead to a heart attack or stroke,” says Cochran. “It’s important that a person’s total cholesterol level, including their LDL, HDL and triglyceride levels, be considered along with their weight, body shape, Awareness luncheon Houston Healthcare will host its annual prostate cancer awareness luncheon Sept. 26 from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Houston Health Pavilion EduCare Center located in the Houston Mall in Warner Robins. Lunch will be served beginning at 11:30 a.m., followed by the program at noon. All men attending will receive a complimentary gift. Pre registration is required by calling 478-923-9771. positive rate because con ditions other than cancer, such as an enlarged pros tate or a prostate infection can cause the prostate to ♦ Pavilion Med-Stop N. Houston Road at Houston Mall 923-2843 Open Daily 8 am - 7:30 pm TOUR CHOLESTEROL COUHTS! 10 ways to control it: 1. Get screened. Total cholesterol should measure less than 200 mg/dL. A score ranging from 200 to 239 is considered borderline high meaning a person may be at increased risk for heart disease and stroke. A total cholesterol score of 240 or above is considered too high. HDL, or “good” cholesterol, should measure at least 40 for men and 50 for women. A score of 60 or above is considered protective against heart disease. LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, should be under 100 and triglycerides under 150. 2. Shed excess pounds. Obesity increases LDLs and triglycerides, and lowers HDL. Just a few extra pounds can play havoc on a person’s healthy cholesterol levels. 3. Get moving. Regular exercise can improve the ratio of good to bad cholesterol. Aim for 30 minutes or more of moderate physical activity most days of the week; 60 to 90 minutes most days of the week is required to lose weight or maintain weight loss. 4. Stop smoking. Smoking lowers HDL cholesterol and raises LDL levels. 5. Read food labels and know what to look for. Foods labeled “cholesterol free” may still raise cholesterol levels. Avoid foods high in trans and saturated fats, and limit intake of dietary cholesterol, which is found in all animal products. Emphasize healthful fats such as seeds, nuts, olive oil, avocados and salmon - all of which help raise HDL levels. 6. Fill up on fiber. Soluble fiber, found in foods such as dried peas and beans, apples, oat products and citrus fruits, helps eliminate cholesterol from the bloodstream. 7. Practice portion control. A single serving of meat is only three ounces —about the size of a deck of cards! > 8. Keep track of daily cholesterol intake. Adults should limit dietary cholesterol to 300 milligrams per day - 200 milligrams per day if they have heart disease or have risk factors for heart disease. 9. Cook healthfully. Steam, poach, grill or bake nutritious foods instead of breading, battering and fry ing. Avoid cream sauces. Use reduced-fat dressings. Try nonstick cookware and sprays, and remem ber to trim visible fat from meat before cooking. 10. Practice stress management. Stress can increase the body’s cholesterol production. Find time for relaxing activities. If stress is so high that it’s disruptive to everyday life, enroll in a stress-reduction program or talk to a therapist. blood pressure and fitness level to get a true picture of heart health.” secrete increased amounts of the PSA protein,” states Deighton. “This means that the PSA test can sometimes suggest cancer, but with additional testing, it is deter mined to be a false alarm.” According to Deighton, finding prostate cancer in the early stages offers the patient more effective treat ment options from which to choose. “Once prostate can cer has been diagnosed, treat ment depends on a number of factors - not only whether the cancer has spread, but also the man’s age, health, expected life span and level of concern about possible side effects,” he says. Treatment options such Hilary Kate Ellwood, MD Board Certified, American Academy of Family Medicine Kimberley R. Ham, MD Board Certified, American Academy of Family Medicine • Cynthia M. Jones, MD Board Certified, American Board of Family Medicine Gayatri Katnat, MD Board Certified, American Board of Internal Medicine HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL as hormonal therapy, radia tion therapy and/or surgical removal of the prostate gland, and if the cancer has spread, the testicles, may be recom mended. Brachytherapy, a relatively new treatment, involves placing radioac tive “seeds” into or near the cancer to shrink tumors while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tis sues. Older men with small, slow-growing cancers may be monitored to determine if treatment might be needed later. Barbara A. Matthews, MD Board Certified, American Board of Family Medicine Jodie Velie, MD Board Eligible, American Board of Family Practice Ferial Walid, MD Board Certified, American Board of Family Medicine 50626