Heart Disease and Cholesterol
Just because you’re young doesn’t mean you should wait to think about heart disease. The lifestyles people establish in college often continue later into life. Making a few healthy changes now could help save your life in the long run.
Although heart disease is not common in college students, some young adults are still at risk. Plaque in the arteries (atherosclerotic build-up) has already begun at this age, or sometimes even earlier. People with a family history of heart disease are at greater risk when they’re younger. Some unhealthy habits like a high-fat diet or sedentary lifestyle can increase the risk even further.
The best way to combat heart disease is to make lifestyle changes now. Having a blood test to check cholesterol and learning about other risk factors can help guide these lifestyle changes.
There are a few different types of cholesterol screenings. A total cholesterol screening measures total cholesterol and HDL—the good cholesterol that protects the heart and removes excess cholesterol from the blood and triglycerides, which also play a role in cardiovascular risk. There is no need to fast for this test. If the results are abnormal, a full lipid panel is recommended. This test includes a measure of LDL, the bad cholesterol that lays down plaque in the arteries, and blood triglycerides.
Everyone should get their cholesterol checked. Considering the number of risk factors for heart disease, anyone is susceptible. These risk factors include:
- high LDL cholesterol
- low HDL cholesterol
- a family history of heart disease
- high blood pressure
- diabetes
- smoking
- obesity
- lack of exercise
- being male
While some risk factors cannot be changed, such as age, sex, or family history, many others can be controlled. For smokers, quitting now greatly reduces the risk of heart disease. UHS can help with this as well—discuss various methods of quitting with a clinician.
Health care professionals recommend greatly reducing the total fat in the diet, especially the amount of saturated and trans fats. Some examples of high-fat foods include:
- junk food
- fast food
- high-fat dairy products
- meats
Try replacing some or all of these with lean meats, fish, legumes, nuts, and low-fat diary products. Eating foods rich in fiber and nutrients (like whole-grain breads and cereals, fruits, and vegetables) is also important. A UHS nutritionist can help you develop a heart-healthy eating plan.
Exercise is invaluable in preventing heart disease. Health care professionals recommend exercising three to five times a week, keeping the heart rate up for at least 30 minutes each time. This can be as simple as taking a long, brisk walk a few times a week. If interested in developing an exercise program, schedule an appointment with the UHS fitness consultant. We can help create an exercise program and continually check in to help reassess goals, keep motivation high, and provide encouragement along the way.
For an appointment, call UHS at 265-5600.
