Why and How to Best Lower One's Cholesterol

Symptoms of High Cholesterol High cholesterol does not cause any symptoms and this is why people are unaware of their high cholesterol levels. Low cholesterol levels reduce the risk of developing heart disease and the chance of a heart attack. It is important that we know our cholesterol levels as lowering cholesterol levels should be a priority. Every adult over the age of 20 should get his/her lipoprotein profile done every 5 years. This is a blood test to check cholesterol levels. Total cholesterol level should ideally be below 200 and anything above 240 is considered ‘very high'. HDL should be more than 60. This is the desirable level to lower the risk of heart disease. HDL less than 40 is a major risk factor. LDL should ideally be less than 100 and the upper limit of 190 is considered ‘very high'.

Lowering Cholesterol Levels Liver makes all the cholesterol that our body needs. Cholesterol produces hormones, builds new cells and insulates nerves. Animal-based foods like milk, eggs and meat are the dietary sources through which cholesterol enters our body. The diet we eat plays a major part in promoting cardiovascular diseases by raising cholesterol levels. We need to look for low fat recipes for our daily food intake. Too much cholesterol in our blood builds up and clogs our arteries. The process of build up - atherosclerosis - causes the arteries to harden. The clogs narrow the arteries and reduce or block the blood flow into the heart. If enough oxygen-carrying blood does not reach the heart, we may suffer chest pain and if the blood supply is cut off, a heart attack follows.

Atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis is a process of build up of cholesterol on the walls of the arteries. ‘Atherosclerosis' is used to refer to larger arteries and ‘Arteriosclerosis' for arterioles or small arteries. Often the more familiar ‘Arteriosclerosis' is a parent term for both these terms. Atherosclerosis is generally referred to as hardening or furring of blood vessels, but is much more complex. It is found in most major arteries and characteristically begins in later childhood. As it is asymptomatic, it is generally not found by normal diagnostic methods. It is considered the most important cause of heart attacks, various heart diseases including congestive heart failure and most cardiovascular diseases. Atherosclerosis interferes with the coronary circulation supplying the heart and the cerebral circulation supplying the brain.

The first step in treating cardiovascular diseases, such as Atherosclerosis, is usually medicines. Medical treatments often focus on symptoms and if atherosclerosis leads to symptoms, such as angina pectoris, symptoms can be treated. Clinical trials have proved, however, the benefits of taking Omega 3 oils from salt-water fish meats, exercising and losing weight, to address the cause of the diseases. Despite not having atherosclerotic disease that can be clinically detected, there is increasing evidence that diabetics have more debility from atherosclerotic events than non-diabetics, who have already suffered from atherosclerotic events. Diabetes is increasingly being viewed as an equivalent of advanced atherosclerotic disease. It is imperative that in our fast-paced, stressful lifestyle, we pause to ponder on the havoc cholesterol can cause, and re-style our lives towards lowering its risks.