Monitoring your blood pressure and cholesterol closely is necessary when you have been diagnosed with coronary artery disease. The following offers information on what blood pressure and cholesterol are, what impact they have on the heart’s function, and how to keep them under control.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that occurs in all parts of the body and is necessary to keep the body functioning properly. It is present in all types of cells and is used to produce many hormones and to help digest fats. However, the body only needs a small amount of cholesterol in the blood in order to accomplish these tasks. When there is too much cholesterol in the blood, it tends to build up along the walls of the arteries, causing atherosclerosis. Over time, this buildup can cause diseases. When this buildup occurs in the brain, it can lead to dementia or stroke. When it occurs in the heart, it can lead to conditions such as angina or heart attack.

The Difference Between “Good” and “Bad”

Cholesterol travels through your blood in the form of lipoproteins. There are three types of lipoproteins:

• LDL or low density lipoproteins—LDL transport the “bad” form of cholesterol. These lipoproteins carry the most cholesterol through the blood and are the ones that get deposited along artery walls, causing buildup and damage.
• HDL or high density lipoproteins—The “good” cholesterol or HDL carry cholesterol back to the liver where it is removed from the body. HDL keep cholesterol from building up, so the higher your HDL level, the better.
• Triglycerides—Triglycerides are a form of fat carried through the bloodstream. Although these do not commonly lead to atherosclerosis alone, they are sometimes deposited with LDL and can lead to heart conditions.

People with heart disease or those who have a high risk for developing heart disease have too much LDL in their blood. Factors that determine whether or not your LDL-cholesterol levels are high or low include

• heredity;
• too much saturated fat and cholesterol in your diet;
• excessive weight;
• physical inactivity;
• age and sex;
• alcohol intake; and
• stress.

For more information on these factors, logon to NHLBI’s What Makes Your Cholesterol High or Low?

Cholesterol Levels

It is important to know your total cholesterol levels, so you can protect yourself from the risks associated with high cholesterol. High cholesterol has no signs or symptoms. It can occur for many years before triggering another complication that causes doctors to suspect high cholesterol as a culprit. Therefore, you should have your cholesterol tested regularly and be aware of changing levels. The following are desirable and high levels of both total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol alone:

In addition to regulating your LDL cholesterol levels, you should also monitor your HDL-cholesterol because a HDL-level less than 40 mg/dL increases you risk for developing heart disease. Likewise, a level of 60 mg/dL or more helps to lower your risk by moving “bad” cholesterol along and keeping blood vessels healthy and injury-free.

Lowering your Cholesterol

Modifying your diet and understanding which fats are good and which fats are bad for you will help you lower your risk for high blood cholesterol.

Bad fats are those that raise your “bad” or LDL levels and lower your “good” or HDL levels. They include saturated fats or those derived from animals (such as meats and eggs) and trans fats or those found in prepared and processed foods (fried and snack foods).

Good fats are those that lower your LDL levels and raise your HDL levels, and, as a result, they improve your overall cholesterol level. They include unsaturated fats or those derived from plants (including certain oils and seeds) and omega-3 fats (such as those found in fish) which help protect the heart.

Lifestyle modifications will also help you reduce your high blood cholesterol or reduce your risk for developing the condition. You should

• maintain a healthy weight;
• be physically active;
• maintain a healthy blood pressure;
• stop smoking;
• eat more heart-healthy foods, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains and less fatty foods; and
• talk to your doctor about cholesterol lowering medication.

Blood Pressure

As you know, your heart is a muscle that continuously pumps blood throughout the body. The force this pumping produces against the artery walls is called your blood pressure. Each time the heart beats, it pumps blood out. This is when your pressure is at its highest, which is called systolic pressure. When your heart is at rest between beats, your pressure falls; this is called diastolic pressure. Both numbers are important, and, when the doctor or nurse takes a reading of your blood pressure, she will write the systolic pressure over the diastolic pressure. A normal blood pressure reading looks like this

and would be read, “120 over 80.” Although blood pressure does change minimally during the day, fluctuating from early morning to afternoon and when you are exited, anxious or angry, your blood pressure should stay close to your average reading.

Increased numbers means your heart is working harder to get blood out to the body. The higher your blood pressure means the higher your risk of developing a stroke, heart attack or kidney problems.

Signs and Symptoms of the “Silent” Killer

According to NHLBI, hypertension or high blood pressure is termed the “silent” killer because it, like high cholesterol, has no symptoms, and many people do not realize they have it until they are experience other problems with their brains, hearts or kidneys. In order to avoid becoming susceptible to hypertension, you should recognize the signs and symptoms of this condition:

• Muscle cramping
• Feeling fatigued
• Unusual, frequent urination
• Palpitations or irregular heart beats
• An excessive amount of perspiration

Who Is at Risk?

Many of the same risk factors associated with high cholesterol are also present in those suffering from high blood pressure or hypertension. You can lower your chances of developing hypertension by

• maintaining a healthy weight;
• being physically active;
• maintaining healthy cholesterol levels;
• stopping smoking;
• limiting your salt intake;
• limiting your alcohol and caffeine intake; and
• visiting your doctor regularly.

There are also other factors that you cannot control but should be aware of because they place you at a higher risk:

• Age. As you age, your risk for high blood pressure increases.
• Ethnicity. Those of African American descent are more likely to have high blood pressure than Caucasians, Native Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, or Hispanics.
• Sex. High blood pressure is more common in men; however, after the age of 60, it is more common in women.
• Family history. If you have a family history of high blood pressure, your risk automatically increases.