EARLY Trial	UCSF School of Nursing
	Endothelial Assessment of Risk from Lipids in Youth	University of California, San Francisco

Take a Quiz!

1. Most of your blood cholesterol is produced by:
   1. Your liver
   2. Your pancreas
   3. Food consumption
   4. Your kidneys
2. Which of the following foods will NOT raise cholesterol?
   1. Lean white meat
   2. Fish
   3. Whole-wheat bread
   4. Bananas
3. All I really need to know is my total blood cholesterol number.
   1. True
   2. False
4. You know you have high cholesterol when:
   1. You have a lot of headaches.
   2. You start to gain weight.
   3. Your blood pressure is high.
   4. You have it checked by a doctor.
5. If I have high cholesterol, the only thing I can do about it is take medication.
   1. True
   2. False
6. High cholesterol levels put me at risk for:
   1. Obesity
   2. High blood pressure
   3. Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
   4. Diabetes
7. Other major risk factors for heart disease and stroke include:
   1. High blood pressure
   2. Smoking
   3. Family history of heart disease
   4. All of the above
8. Which of the following foods may hold a "hidden" source of cholesterol?
   1. T-bone steak
   2. Eggs
   3. Bran muffin
   4. Broiled salmon
9. I know my HDL and LDL cholesterol numbers and my triglyceride level, and I know what I need to do to keep them in the low-risk range.
   1. True
   2. False

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Answer Key for Quiz

1.   a. Your liver.
   • Your liver produces about 1,000 mg of cholesterol a day. Another 200 to 500 mg can come from the food you eat. The cholesterol that your liver produces is all the cholesterol your body needs.
2.   d. Bananas.
   • Bananas don't have any cholesterol. Plants don't contain cholesterol. Cholesterol comes from meat, fish, dairy foods and other animal products. Some whole-wheat products contain hydrogenated oils -- a source of trans-fats. These fats, along with saturated fats, are the main dietary causes of high blood cholesterol.
3.   b. False.
   • Your blood cholesterol is made up of two different types of cholesterol: HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and LDL (low-density lipoprotein). HDL is known as the "good" kind of cholesterol because it helps remove "bad" cholesterol from arteries and prevent blockage. LDL is the "bad" kind of cholesterol because when too much LDL cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. You also need to know about your triglyceride level. Triglyceride is a form of fat. It comes from food and is also made in your body. People with high triglycerides often have high total cholesterol, high LDL cholesterol and a low HDL cholesterol level.
4.   d. You have it checked by a doctor.
   • You have it checked by a doctor. High cholesterol has no symptoms, so the only way you know your cholesterol levels is by having them checked.
5.   b. False.
   • First and foremost you should check your lifestyle habits. Are you a smoker? Do you consume too much fat? Are you physically inactive? All of these modifiable factors can affect your cholesterol levels. Before starting you on medication, your physician will probably address your diet, exercise and smoking habits. Then, if heart-healthy eating, 30 - 60 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week and quitting smoking don't lower your cholesterol, your doctor may prescribe medication. Even if you're taking medication, it's important to maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle.
6.   c. Atherosclerosis.
   • High cholesterol levels put you at risk for atherosclerosis, which can block the blood flow to a part of the heart muscle and cause a heart attack. A high LDL level (more than 160 mg/dL or 130 mg/dL or above if you have two or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease) indicates an increased risk of heart disease. Atherosclerosis in arteries in or leading to the brain can result in stroke.
7.   d. All of the above.
   • You can also include diabetes and increasing age. Risk factors for heart disease and stroke amplify one another rather than just adding up. The more risk factors you have, the higher your risk for heart disease and stroke.
8.   c. Bran muffin.
   • Bran muffins and all baked goods may hold a "hidden" source of cholesterol. The nutrition label may list the cholesterol content as none or low, but watch for hydrogenated fats and oils in baked goods. These are known as trans-fats, which -- along with saturated fats -- are the main dietary causes of high blood cholesterol. Currently, the law doesn’t require that food labels contain the amount of trans-fats, so it's necessary to read the ingredients listings. Learning to read and interpret food labels is important in limiting your intake of saturated fats.
9.   (see below)
   • If you answer True,
     you're probably already choosing a heart-healthy diet, getting 30-60 minutes of physical activity most days of the week and staying away from tobacco products.
   • If you answer False,
     you need to have your cholesterol checked by your healthcare provider, learn all of your numbers and change your lifestyle if the numbers are borderline high or high. If lifestyle changes alone don’t lower your cholesterol level, talk to your healthcare provider about medication. And if you're on medication now, remember that you still need to continue with a heart-healthy lifestyle and take your medication exactly as your doctor has prescribed.

Source:  American Heart Association website (http://www.americanheart.org) 2003.

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For more information, contact:  marguerite.engler@nursing.ucsf.edu           Version 1.7 · 17 Jan. 2006