Medicine Raise Hdl
Cholesterol Levels Canada
Causes Low Hdl
Sarcoidosis And High Cholesterol
Best Diets For High Cholesterol
Triglyceride Monitor
Lipitor Raise Hdl
Cholesterol
HDL LDL
high blood cholesterol lower levels
The cholesterol ration is read by the Total: LDL and HDL:LDL, where LDL means low-density lipoprotein and HDL means high-density lipoprotein. A low cholesterol diet is one of the best ways to decrease your bad cholesterol levels; read food labels and be conscious of what goes into your body. According to the above guidelines a healthy person should maintain a cholesterol ratio of TOTAL: HDL of 3. For most adults the optimum cholesterol level will fall below 200. When selecting those items to include on your high cholesterol diet it is best to review the packaging information on products to determine the nutritional facts. Response to this medical concern includes many options, of which the simplest is to adhere to a diet to lower cholesterol.
niacin to help raise hdl
Part of the success of the cholesterol diet is that it makes you conscious of everything that goes into your body; of course, this doesnt necessarily have to encompass food alone. Main types of bile acid sequestrants prescribed are cholestyramine, colestipol, and colesevelam. Optimally the LDL should stay below 100 mg/dl and the HDL should be above 40 mg/dl; the total should stay within 200 mg/dl. This is why the numbers of this type of cholesterol should be as high as possible. The HDL or the good cholesterol should always be encouraged in the body, while the LDL should be discouraged.
When an individual is seen by their family doctor often an exam that is ordered by the physician is a blood cholesterol level test. This test requires the drawing of blood. When the test results come back they usually indicate the levels of cholesterol that are in the patient's bloodstream. These levels are indicated by measuring the LDL and HDL levels within the bloodstream.
In order to address levels of cholesterol within an individuals bloodstream, it is important to understand a number of factors surrounding cholesterol. Those factors include understanding what is cholesterol, how testing is accomplished and the treatment of LDL cholesterol.
What Is Cholesterol?
First of all, it is important to understand that production of cholesterol in the body is an important element in the proper functioning of the body's metabolism. The liver is the main organ that produces cholesterol. The importance of cholesterol is seen as it combines with proteins that are found in the bloodstream. This combination of cholesterol and the protein is called a lipoprotein. It is this combination of cholesterol and proteins that gives movement of cholesterol within the bloodstream.
In addition, there are two different types of cholesterol found within the human body. HDL cholesterol or high-density lipoproteins is required by the body and therefore can be classified as good cholesterol. LDL cholesterol or low-density cholesterol is the other type of cholesterol found within the human body and can be classified as bad or lousy cholesterol.
This type of cholesterol has a fatty texture and as such does not allow for proper assimilation within the bloodstream. It is because of the nature of LDL cholesterol that this low-density cholesterol adheres to the inside walls of the arteries.
How Testing Is Accomplished
An individual can be tested for cholesterol and specifically LDL cholesterol through a clinical laboratory process. This laboratory procedure requires the technician to draw a blood sample. After the sample has been drawn the LDL cholesterol within the bloodstream is measured by determining the percentage of the LDL cholesterol in proportion to the cholesterol molecule.
This medical exam can only be ordered by licensed medical personnel and is utilized by the doctor to measure the patient's risk for a stroke, coronary heart disease or arteriosclerosis. The greater the LDL cholesterol level the greater the risk for the patient to experience these conditions.
A standard operating procedure prior to an individual having their blood tested for cholesterol is for the patient to fast. This requires that no food is eaten 12 hours prior to the exam.
Treatment Of LDL cholesterol
There are three effective ways that the medical community can effectively treat LDL cholesterol. The most effective way to combat LDL cholesterol is through a diet that is high in fiber and low in saturated fat.
The second effective way to reduce LDL cholesterol is through exercise. The additional treatment method that may be used in conjunction with a proper diet and increased exercise is through the use of medication. There are certain medications that can work with the liver or the digestive system to help reduce the levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood system.