National Cholesterol Month

October is National Cholesterol Month, which is a month devoted to raise awareness of the health implications of high cholesterol levels.

High cholesterol is a risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease, so it’s important to know your level so that you can take action to improve or maintain your cholesterol level and help look after your heart health.

You may not notice if you have high cholesterol because you can't feel it; the only way of doing this is through a blood test.

Adults aged 40-74 years, living in England are eligible for a free NHS Health Check which includes a blood cholesterol check, but cholesterol does not discriminate when it comes to age, so it’s best to be aware of the triggers.

The causes of high cholesterol are: - Eating foods high in saturated fat, e.g. butter, fatty red meat, cakes, chocolate and cheese (if you like these foods, try to opt for the lower fat alternatives or cut them out altogether and eat unsaturated fats or more fibre). - Lack of physical activity - Smoking - Drinking too much alcohol (try to stick to the recommended weekly limits) - Existing medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, liver disease and kidney disease - Family medical history - Having a relative who has had a cholesterol-related condition may increase risk of having high cholesterol.

During National Cholesterol Month, Heart UK is encouraging people to walk, run, cycle or swim 100 miles.

This obviously may be difficult for the less able bodied, but even walking around a home or up and down the stairs a few times a day counts as exercise. Do a couple of laps of your garden, or if you find this difficult, try chair-based exercises, even if it’s just raising your arms and legs.

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