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January jobs report: Unemployment rate falls to 4%, wages rise more than forecast; Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel; Ten Commandments in public schools debate reaches South Dakota; Virginia ranks among worst states for wage theft; Mexican long-nosed bat makes appearance in Arizona.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

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During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

High cholesterol numbers seen in states such as ND

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Monday, September 30, 2024   

On this last day of Cholesterol Education Month, groups such as the American Heart Association are highlighting the importance of knowing your numbers. Experts hope the outreach resonates in states such as North Dakota, where rates are higher.

One number being emphasized is your LDL or bad cholesterol.

Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones, cardiologist and cardiovascular epidemiologist at Northwestern University and former president of the American Heart Association, said a medical professional can determine the levels through a blood test.

"You can't feel your cholesterol level," Lloyd-Jones pointed out. "There's only one way to know, and that is to directly measure it with a blood test. And so it is one of those things that is truly silent, and unless you actively pursue measuring it, you'll never know. It's not something you can see or taste or smell."

High cholesterol can be hereditary, but some cases can be controlled through diet and exercise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported North Dakota sits just outside the top 10 states with the highest cholesterol rates.

LDL or bad cholesterol, transports cholesterol particles throughout your body that build up in the walls of your arteries, making them hard and narrow, increasing your chances of heart attack or stroke. Lloyd-Jones noted your overall health also changes how cholesterol affects you.

"For one person, we might say, 'Well, for now, an LDL cholesterol of 140 is fine for you but we're going to monitor that and make sure that it doesn't go up.' But for another person who already has cardiovascular disease or who has diabetes, 140 is way too high," Lloyd-Jones explained.

Exercise helps boost your body's HDL, or the good cholesterol. Foods to lower your bad cholesterol include beans, nuts and whole grains. As for accessibility of testing, Lloyd-Jones added it is not as out of reach as some might think.

"It's often even easy to get these done at health fairs or at clinics in pharmacies, places like that," Lloyd-Jones noted.

On its website, the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services has preventive tips.

Disclosure: The American Heart Association contributes to our fund for reporting on Health Issues, and Hunger/Food/Nutrition. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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