How Do I Raise My Hdl
Cholesterol Levels Defined
High Cholesterol Recipes
Vitamin E And Ldl
Cholesterol
HDL LDL
caprylic triglyceride
3:1 for Total:HDL and 1. Bad cholesterol causes blockage in the arteries leading to the heart and brain, resulting in a heart attack or stroke. Whether you already have high cholesterol or would just rather prevent your levels from becoming unmanageable in the first place, a cholesterol home test would be a great investment for anyone wanting to live a long, healthy life. Everyone has heard at one time or the other how we must lower our cholesterol, how it is bad for you, and there have been cases when people have been taking a cholesterol-lowering drug without even knowing what their cholesterol level was.
cholesterol and triglycerides
The good cholesterol is the one that the body needs in order to perform its daily functions, and the bad cholesterol is the one that will eventually stop the body from defending itself. The higher the reading of LDL and VLDL, the more danger you are exposed to in terms of possible cardiovascular disease; this also constricts the arteries by building plaque and increases the possibility of atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries one of the major reason for heart problems. Some ten years back you would have needed a lot of planning and all; however, today, all shops are conscious what this food may give your cholesterol and so on. Of course, some people try and still cannot lower their cholesterol.
LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, cholesterol has been dubbed bad cholesterol. This bad cholesterol is bad because high level of LDL cholesterol levels in your blood over time can build up in the walls of your arteries that feed the organs in your body. Plaque causes the arteries to become narrow and less flexible, a condition called atherosclerosis. If an artery becomes too narrow or becomes completely blocked by a clot heart attack and stroke can be the result.
A cholesterol test revealing a measured bad cholesterol level of between 130-159 mg/dl is considered to be borderline high. LDL cholesterol blood levels of 160 mg/dl or higher are considered high. Bad cholesterol levels should be held down to 129 mg/dl or lower, anything less than 100 mg/dl is optimal.
Controlling Bad Cholesterol
Controlling high levels of bad cholesterol can be difficult by dietary means alone. Reading labels and ingesting low fat, cholesterol free foods along with increasing regular exercise can help lower LDL cholesterol levels. But having high levels of bad cholesterol also comes from genetics. If your parents and their siblings and their parents generally have higher than normal cholesterol levels it is likely that you will too.
There are many prescription medicines that can help lower bad cholesterol. If you have made proper dietary and lifestyle changes with no result, cholesterol-reducing drugs, known at statins, can be taken. As with any medicine, statins have side effects. Mild side effects such as stomach upset, gas, constipation and cramping usually go away after taking the drug for a short while. Serious side effects while taking statins are rare but include liver problems and muscle pain and weakness. Liver function tests are regularly given to patients using statin drugs to monitor for problems.
Good Cholesterol Must Be Monitored Also
When your cholesterol levels are tested another type of cholesterol, known as high-density lipoprotein or HDL, is measured also. HDL cholesterol is commonly though of as the good cholesterol. Unlike bad cholesterol, low levels (40 mg/dl or less) of HDL cholesterol can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. An HDL cholesterol level of 60 mg/dl is desirable.
Increased Risks As You Age
Monitoring your cholesterol and maintaining healthy levels becomes more and more important as we get older. Aging brings about changes that increase our risks for health problems such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Age related diseases such as arthritis cause people to become less active when they get older. So controlling your cholesterol levels become even more important later in life to ensure a long vigorous life.