Love Your Heart

Manage your cholesterol levels for optimal heart health.

November 3rd, 2015 by: Misty Miloto

In a recent celebration of World Heart Day, New Orleans East Hospital partnered with national organizations (CardioSmart — the patient education and empowerment initiative from the American College of Cardiology — and the National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention) to offer free cholesterol screenings and a free “Managing Your Cholesterol” Dinner & Learn event at NOEH. 

According to the National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention, heart disease is the No. 1 killer in New Orleans — and high cholesterol is a risk for heart disease. Also according to the organization, because the condition has no signs or symptoms, adults must be screened to find out if their cholesterol puts them at risk for heart disease.

Renowned cardiologist and New Orleans native Dr. Keith Ferdinand, who also serves as professor of Clinical Medicine at Tulane University School of Medicine’s Heart and Vascular Institute, led the World Heart Day Dinner & Learn event. Nearly 100 people were in attendance to hear Dr. Ferdinand speak about the basics of cholesterol, what cholesterol does to the arteries, ramifications Dr. Keith Ferdinand (pictured) from untreated cholesterol; what cholesterol treatment options are available; how their health care team can help them manage cholesterol; and where to go for additional resources for support.

“Elevated cholesterol will affect roughly one in two men and one in three women at some point in their lives,” Dr. Ferdinand says. “Yet many Americans do not know their cholesterol numbers, nor do they know if their levels put them at heightened risk for a heart attack or stroke. The “Managing Your Cholesterol” Dinner & Learn worked to fill that knowledge gap. In New Orleans, we love our food and we love our music, but we need to love our hearts as well.”