Do you know what your primary care provider is looking for when he or she sends you for a test to measure your blood cholesterol levels?
Or were you aware that elevated cholesterol is one of the top two risk factors for heart attack—second only to smoking—worldwide?
Even if you do know what the two major types of cholesterol are and how they can influence your risk of heart disease, the subject can be confusing.
For instance, depending on other factors, a certain level might be considered acceptable for one person, and potentially dangerous for another.
To learn more, check out my most recent health feature for Good Times magazine: ‘Cholesterol 101’.
My heartfelt thanks to the interviewees who so generously shared their time, stories and expertise:
- Dr. Todd J. Anderson, dean of the Cumming School of Medicine; professor in the Department of Cardiac Sciences and a member of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute in Calgary, AB.
- Opal Desmarais, a registered nurse and senior manager of Health Systems with the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Victoria, BC.
- Carol Dombrow, a Toronto registered dietician and consultant with the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
- Cheryl Strachan, a registered dietitian; owner/operator of Sweet Spot Nutrition in Calgary, AB., and author of the 30 Minute Heart Healthy Cookbook: Delicious Recipes for Easy Low-Sodium Meals (Rockridge Press, 2019).
- Janet Pritchard of Calgary, AB.
Additional Resources
Image by Fakhruddin Memon from Pixab