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Eat better. Experts recommend that you try to get no more than 7 percent of calories from saturated fat and less than 200 milligrams of dietary cholesterol a day. Foods low in saturated fat include fat-free and 1 percent dairy products, lean meats, fsh, skinless poultry, whole-grain foods, fruits, and vegetables.

Foods that are good sources of soluble fber (such as oats and dried beans) and foods that contain plant stanols or sterols (like special buttery spreads) may make this diet even more efective, according to the NHLBI. 2 Get more exercise. At least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week may help lower your LDL cholesterol and raise your HDL cholesterol. Regular exercise is especially important for people with high tri-glyceride or low HDL levels who are overweight and have a large waist. 3 Manage your weight. If you’re overweight, losing extra pounds may help you lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and raise HDL cholesterol levels. If lifestyle changes alone are not enough to get or keep your cholesterol and triglyceride levels in a healthy range, your doctor may recommend that you take medications.

Cardiovascular disease is the nation’s No. 1 killer of both men and women. Yet most of us only think of heart attacks when we look at the statistics. But vascular disease involves the entire circulatory system— not just the heart—and, if left undetected, can cause strokes. If you are older than 50 and have any of the risk factors below, you should make the time to be screened for vascular disease—it could add years to your life: High blood pressure. ➜ High cholesterol. ➜ Obesity. ➜ Diabetes. ➜ Smoking. ➜ Family history of vascular disease. On Friday, June 24, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. , Beaufort Memorial is ofering a complete vascular screening package for $60. It includes:

✓✓ Carotid artery scan.

✓✓ Abdominal aortic aneurysm scan. ✓✓ Ankle-brachial index scan.

Screenings are performed by a registered vascular technologist, and you will receive your results at that time. Our vascular surgeon, Chad Tober, MD, oversees the screenings. To make an appointment, call 843-522-5635. Tere are a limited number of appointments, so call early to reserve a spot.

Heart disease is the most common cause of heart attacks, and it’s the No. 1 killer of women in the U.S. Some factors can increase your risk of developing heart disease. For example, a family

history of early heart disease in an immediate family member—before age 55 in men and age 65 in women— increases your chance of developing it.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a woman’s risk of heart disease is also high if she: ➜ Is older than 55. ➜ Has a high total cholesterol or high LDL (bad) cholesterol level. ➜ Has high blood pressure. ➜ Smokes cigarettes. ➜ Does not exercise regularly. ➜ Is overweight. ➜ Has diabetes. High levels of stress may also increase your risk of heart disease, according to the U.S. Ofce on Women’s Health.

Some lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and getting daily exercise, may help reduce your risk of heart disease.

Exercising and quitting smoking can also help reduce high blood pressure. In addition, your doctor may pre-scribe blood pressure medications.

If you have high cholesterol, eating a low-fat diet that is flled with fruits, vegetables and high-fber foods might bring it down. If lifestyle changes alone don’t change your cholesterol numbers, you may need to take medications.