Protecting your organs

First and foremost, you must protect your transplant—you know how important this is. And this means keeping up with your medications, even if you are feeling great. Your medications are part of what is helping you feel so good. Remember, no matter how many years it has been since you received your transplant, rejection is always a concern.

Be sure to keep in constant contact with your transplant team, and always discuss your options. There may be an opportunity for you to reduce the number of medications you require or how often you have to take certain medications as your body becomes more used to your organ.

Protecting your heart

Some of the immunosuppressive medications you are taking may increase your cholesterol levels and/or your blood pressure. If cholesterol levels get too high, blood vessels may become partially clogged, slowing or blocking the flow of blood. This increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Eating foods that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol can raise your blood cholesterol to unhealthy levels. There are three main types of blood cholesterol or blood lipids: low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)

This is referred to as the “bad” kind of blood lipids. It is usually connected to your diet, how much you exercise, and your family history.

How to Interpret Your LDL Level*
Optimal Less than 100 mg/dL†	Near optimal 100–129 mg/dL
Borderline high 130–159 mg/dL	High 160–189 mg/dL
Very high 189 mg/dL or higher

Source: www.americanheart.org

*In some medical situations your target levels may be lower. Ask your doctor what your target levels should be.
†Millimeters per deciliter.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL)

This is often referred to as “good” cholesterol, because it can help reduce potentially harmful fatty deposits in your arteries.

How to Interpret Your HDL Level
Optimal 60 mg/dL or above	Too low (men) 39 mg/dL or below
	Too low (women) 49 mg/dL or below

Source: www.americanheart.org

Triglycerides (TG)

Triglycerides are often measured as a reflection of fat (lipid) ingestion and how fats are metabolized by your body. Higher triglyceride levels may be associated with higher risks of heart disease and stroke.

how to interpret your triglyceride level
Normal Less than 150 mg/dL	Borderline high 150–199 mg/dL
High 200–499 mg/dL	Very high 500 mg/dL or above

Source: www.nih.gov

High blood pressure

Some transplant recipients also develop high blood pressure (also called hypertension) because of their immunosuppressive medications, but there are a number of ways to increase your cardiovascular health and lower blood pressure, including:

• Stop smoking
• Eat a low-salt, low-fat, high-fiber diet
• Exercise
• Manage your weight
• Take blood pressure–lowering medications

Source: www.nhlbi.nih.gov
**Millimeters of mercury (a unit of pressure)

Be sure to talk to your doctor about your immunosuppressive medications and the risk of increasing cholesterol and blood pressure levels. And explore some of the tips on this site for living healthy. There’s a lot you can do to keep yourself well.

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