Benefits Of Medium Chain Triglycerides
Ldl Chol
Non Hdl
Is Crab Meat High In Cholesterol
Cholesterol
HDL LDL
normal hdl and ldl
First and foremost is controlling the diet and adding more physical activity to your lifestyle. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is used by the body to make hormones, cell membranes as well as other tissues. Some of them are available over the counter, but unless you are very familiar with the cholesterol drug you are about to take, dont attempt to self-medicate. When and how your cholesterol should be treated depends on how much cholesterol one has as well as the types of cholesterol that are elevated.
ldl vs hdl
The bad cholesterol consists of the LDL, or the low-density lipoprotein, and the VLDL. In fact, high cholesterol can jeopardize ones health and may lead to a stroke or heart attack. While diet and exercise remain the major checks on high cholesterol levels, cholesterol lowering medication is prescribed in many cases, usually in combination with dieting and physical activity. This process allows for the liver to remove the cholesterol out of the body.
There are a few different names for cholesterol tests such as total cholesterol, lipid tests, lipoprotein test or lipid profile. These tests all do essentially the same thing, which is measure the amount of cholesterol or triglycerides in serums (blood).
Preparing For And Taking A Cholesterol Test
It is advisable to fast for nine to twelve hours before you go to the lab for a cholesterol test. Only water should be ingested during the fasting period because any other substances can possibly affect the test results. For adults, no other preparation is necessary. For infants and children requiring testing, explaining the steps of blood collection will help relieve some anxiety, but infants may still need to be restrained.
A sample of blood is needed to perform a total cholesterol test. For a quick simple test a lancet is used to prick a finger and a small amount of blood is applied to a test strip, slide or other small container. The results for this type of test can take mere minutes.
A more detailed cholesterol test requires more blood so the sample must extracted from a vein using a needle and collected in an airtight vial or syringe. It can take several days to get the results from this type of test.
Total Cholesterol Level Test Results
The results of a cholesterol test will help your doctor decide what treatments, if any, are necessary to reduce your risks of heart disease and stroke. Normal levels of total cholesterol are less than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl), while 200-239 mg/dl is considered borderline high and any reading 240 mg/dl or higher is considered high.
Cholesterol test results, other than total cholesterol, will give you the levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol and triglycerides.
Doctors Orders
Depending on the results of your cholesterol test your doctor may first prescribe that a new diet that is low in fat and cholesterol. Increasing the amount and frequency of regular exercise can also help lower your total cholesterol number. As always, smoking cessation is advised not only to control cholesterol levels but also to improve your health in general.
But if these lifestyle changes do not bring your total cholesterol levels into a normal range, prescription medications may be necessary. These drugs, known as statins, come in a variety of brand names. Your doctor has many choices and will advise you about potential side effects of any he may prescribe.
To truly get your cholesterol numbers under control and reduce your risks of premature heart attack or stroke you must watch your diet, exercise regularly and take your medicines as directed.