Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.


When it comes to your health, the sooner problems are detected and treated, the better the outcome is likely to be. This week on Health Watch, we'll talk about early intervention — ways doctors may be able to help you if you seek help.

One way to help prevent heart problems is by keeping your cholesterol levels low throughout your life. Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas found that people whose genes cause them to have lower levels of bad cholesterol at all ages have much lower chances of heart problems later in life, even if they have other risk factors. Dr. Scott Grundy, director of UT Southwestern's Center for Human Nutrition, says this shows the benefits of maintaining low cholesterol by eating a low-fat diet and maintaining a healthy body weight. Some people may need medication to help keep their cholesterol levels low enough to prevent disease.
 

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^April 2006

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