Even if you have high cholesterol levels you will generally continue to feel quite well. You may be quite unaware that you are at risk from heart disease as generally there are no warning signs of the lurking dangers.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance in your blood produced naturally by your body and is essential to the adequate functioning of all the cells in your body. While most of the cholesterol in your blood is produced by your liver, additional cholesterol also comes from some foods you eat, particularly those with high levels of saturated fats. The fats produced by your liver travel through your blood as particles. These particles are known as low-density lipoprotein [LDL] and high-density lipoprotein [HDL.
Of these two types of blood-borne particles, LDL is regarded as the bad cholesterol because it is likely to clog your blood vessels. HDL on the other hand, can help unclog arteries, minimizing your chances of heart disease, and hence is regarded a good cholesterol.
What does a high cholesterol level do?
The major cause of heart disease is a build up of fatty substances in the inner linings of the main arteries of your heart as a result of high levels of LDL cholesterol. This build up causes clogging of the arteries, preventing an adequate blood supply to carry oxygen to organs and tissues throughout your body.
What can I do about my cholesterol levels?
It is important to seek medical advice in order to have your LDL and HDL levels accurately assessed. Then, depending on what other risk factors you may have, you can make appropriate lifestyle changes to lower your cholesterol level.
The major factors in the development of high cholesterol levels are:
genetic factors you may have inherited;
a diet rich in saturated fats;
not getting enough daily exercise.
You can do little about the first of these yourself - you cannot change this! You can however, make significant changes in your lifestyle with beneficial effects on the other two of these major factors.
Reducing the amount of saturated fat in your diet will not only bring about lowering of your LDL levels but also help you maintain a healthy weight level appropriate for your body type and your age.
Ensuring you have an adequate level of daily physical activity will have a beneficial effect not only on your cholesterol level by helping you maintain your healthy weight but will also assist you to keep your blood pressure at a normal level.
If your doctor believes that, despite your lifestyle changes, you have some adverse genetic factors, he can prescribe medication which, together with suitable diet and adequate exercise, can make significant changes to your cholesterol levels.
Summary: keeping your cholesterol in control:
eat a healthy diet;
try to keep your weight at an appropriate level;
take part in some physical activity most days;
keep your blood pressure at a normal level:
take medication if prescribed by your doctor;
in addition, if you are a smoker - STOP.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Generally how long should one not use alcohol, so ...
By: terry | 11-07-2008
Generally how long should one not use alcohol, so it will not show up on a drug test, either blood or urine testing?
Both of my teenage daughters received the vaccine ...
By: Brxtech | 11-07-2008
Both of my teenage daughters received the vaccine last year. My older daughter has complained of being tired a lot and of having muscle weakness. I have taken her to the doctor several times in the last year. They tested her twice for mono, strep, and also did a routine blood count to check for other issues. What can I do to see if this is related to the vaccine? It scares me to think that her symptoms could become worse?
Burning and pain on bottom of foot
By: rachel | 11-07-2008
do you have pain and burning on bottom of foot with m.s.
Medication
By: NIP1 | 11-07-2008
Who may change patient medication? Are insurance companies allowed to change patients meds, without a Doctors approval?
Sedation for oral surgery
By: Pat | 11-07-2008
for people with lung problems how safe is profofol
Weight problems
By: rania | 11-07-2008
well,i'm 15years old (1.74 or 1.75m) but i don't feel that my weight goes with my length.it's not like i'm obese or something but other girls in my age are thinner 20kg i don't know if is it because of my length i mean 1.75m?!! it's a big number so what to do?!!
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