Monday February 11th 2008

12:10: The Health Roundup with Jay McQueen.

12:13: McMaster University physicians are offering Hamilton area residents the latest scientific information, tips and tools for good health at a Health Fair on Saturday, Feb. 16. The fair is an initiative of a new physicians’ group interested in having more information available for the public in an era when everyone must take more responsibility for his or her own health.
Guest: Dr. Aliya Khan, clinical professor of medicine, and the event organizer. 905.525.9140 x 20204.


12:20: Time for some teeth talk. If you think that sugar is the only thing that can damage your teeth, you’d be wrong. Foods and drinks containing significant amounts of acid can also do a job on your pearly whites.
Guest: Dr. Len Boksman, Adjunct Clinical Professor, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. 519.642.1184

12:35: To help better facilitate that dialogue on prostate cancer, researchers at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre have developed a unique online tool, the Prostate Cancer Risk Calculator. It will help men in consultation with their family doctor – talk more openly about individual risk for the disease, how to manage the disease and if needed, treatment options.
Guests: Dr. Robert Nam, lead investigator and urologic oncologist at Sunnybrook in Toronto. (calling us) 416.315.5083
Colin Graham, Patient (416) 408-5001

12:45: Rexall Radio Health Matters segment.
Guest: Irene.

What You Should Know About Cholesterol!

Cholesterol is necessary for our bodies to function and it is found in every cell in our body. About 80% of the cholesterol in our bodies is manufactured by the liver, while the other 20% is from the foods that we eat. Cholesterol is needed to maintain healthy cell membranes, to make hormones, vitamin D and bile acids which aid in fat digestion. With poor food choices results in high levels of cholesterol, high levels of cholesterol can clog arteries and raise your risk for coronary heart disease. Deposits of cholesterol and other fat-like substances can line the inner lining of blood vessels and cause scar tissue forming a cholesterol-rich bump in the blood vessel, also known as plaque. Plaque build-up narrows and hardens the blood vessel this process called atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. In order for your doctor to know your cholesterol level, a blood sample must be taken from your finger or arm. The blood sample will be tested for total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels. HDL cholesterol is often called the good or healthy cholesterol. LDL is considered the bad cholerterol. You don't have to fast or do anything special before having this blood test done.

Need to Know: A high blood cholesterol level is especially dangerous for smokers and those with hign blood pressure.
Need to Know: You should also have your blood level of another type of fat, triglycerides, measured at the same time you have your blood cholerestol levels checked. High triglycerides can also increase your risk for heart disease.
Need to Know: Being overweight, inactive and smoking increses levels of the harmful type of cholerterol.

Different Types of Cholesterol;
* High-density lipoproteins (HDL) contain mostly protein.
* Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) contain mostly cholesterol.
* Very-Low-Density lipoproteins (VLDL)contain mostly cholesterol and triglycerides.

Nadine Janacek
Blog Reporter Rexall
njanacek@rexall.ca