How Do I Lower My Ldl
Cholesterol
High Cholesterol Medication
Causes Of High Triglyceride Reading
High Hdl Foods
Hormone Deprivation Therapy And High Cholesterol
Cholesterol
HDL LDL
triglycerides increase with tpn
It has been found that using alcohol in moderate quantities increases good cholesterol level in blood. These fast food items are unhealthy as they are high in fat and saturated fat. According to the National Institutes of Health, the desirable level of total cholesterol in blood should be under 200 mg/dL (5. Weight control, physical activity, and low-fat diet all increase the proportion of HDL in blood. The incompatibility of the two factors leads to a build-up on the arterial walls and can lead to such medical conditions as strokes, coronary heart disease, heart attacks, and arteriosclerosis. You may not like to go to the doctor everytime you want to know whether your cholesterol levels are within limits or not, so in the meantime, what other means can you adopt to keep a track of your cholesterol?
effects of high cholesterol and alcohol
Men usually have higher cholesterol levels than women until age fifty, after which women overtake men in the reading of cholesterol. However, totally changing your diet to a vegetarian diet is something to be considered carefully and discussed with your doctor. It significantly increases their risk for heart disease and diabetes as an adult. In order to keep track of your cholesterol levels, you will need to run at least a yearly test. Our health is the most important possession we have, and investing in keeping it is the best investment one can make that will always pay off. A cholesterol monitor can come in different sizes, so you can easily place it in a handbag or briefcase without attracting much attention.
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.