High Cholesterol affects roughly 42 million Americans and an additional 63 million have borderline high cholesterol. Why is it that 50% of the population suffers from this potentially fatal problem? Some doctors believe that people simply aren't educated about good fats and bad fats, nor do they see a doctor to be specifically screened for cholesterol trouble.
The bad cholesterol you've probably heard so much about is called Low Density Lipoprotein. The good type goes bad when it stops transporting and oxidizes from exposure to free radicals, leading to conditions like atherosclerosis. If you have 160mg or more of LDL per day, then you have a high level of harmful cholesterol. By contrast, high density Lipoprotein (or HDL) is known as "good cholesterol." It helps one-fourth to one-third of blood cholesterol to be carried from the arteries to the liver by HDL. Doctors recommend that you have more than 40mg of HDL to lower your risk of heart disease.
Calories are converted to triglycerides before your tissues can use them as energy. However, like cholesterol, your triglyceride levels can be excessive if you are overweight, a smoker, are inactive or consume a lot of alcohol. Usually people with high levels of triglycerides have high LDL and low HDL levels. You have high triglycerides if your levels are more than 200mg.
There are a few common misconceptions about cholesterol. For instance, some people think that simply switching from butter to margarine will help. However, both are still high in fat and should be used sparingly. Secondly, just because your food labels brag that there is no cholesterol, that doesn't mean that there aren't high levels of saturated fat. Be sure to check labels before you go gobbling! Thirdly, being young or on medication doesn't prevent you from needing to exercise and watch what you eat. Meeting with a dietician is a short, painless experience that can add many years to your life!
As we get older there are essential numbers that start to weigh heavily upon us. We have to worry about our blood pressure, weight and our cholesterol level. Things we may have ignored our entire lives now all of a sudden they have significant importance. But these are things that should not have been ignored. A lifetime of misuse on the body establishes only unfavourable things when left unrestrained.
Your cholesterol level is without question essential if you wish to remain in good health and your body working the right way. High levels can lead to heart attacks and stroke, both things you do not want to have to deal with. Being mindful in regards to your cholesterol level is not simply for the aging. It is something both young and old have to worry and be cognisant of if they hope to to conduct a healthy lifestyle. In this article we will go over the fundamental principles of cholesterol and hopefully you will realize just how crucial a healthy level is to your body as well as peace of mind.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a lipid that is found in the bloodstream of humans and all animals. It can be there from two different sources. The first source is your body itself. The body naturally produces cholesterol. The second source of cholesterol is the food that we eat. It may surprise you to know that not all cholesterol is bad for you. There is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. But you have to know the difference if you want to protect your health and your heart.
What happens when cholesterol gets too high?
Well when LDL gets too high then the cholesterol begins to accumulate on the artery walls and then hardens into plaque. The build up continues until the entire artery is blocked off. This added blockage makes it hard for blood to get to the heart where it can be pumped to the rest of the body. It can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
When HDL levels are high this is a good thing because researchers believe that HDL helps rid the body of cholesterol build-up. That is why a diet rich in foods that promote HDL is always heavily recommended.
How is the blockage from the arteries withdrawn?
The first stage is through medicines but if there is a crucial constricting or blockage in the artery or blood vessel then a somewhat more intrusive operation is required. The actual procedures might change but one common method is through a balloon angioplasty. The mechanical device is introduced into the artery and then naviagted to the closure where the plaque build up has happened. The balloon is then inflated to clear the passage. Nowadays the routine is minimally intrusive and the majority of patients are able to going home that day.
Does a diet rich in fish really help lower my cholesterol?
You may be surprised but a diet rich in fish, particularly salmon, can help you lower your overall LDL cholesterol while helping raise the HDL cholesterol. It is the omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to help the body. But do not stop at just salmon. There are other great foods that can help you reduce your LDL's and raise your HDL's such as: avocados, garlic, black beans, uncooked soy and even Shitake mushrooms.
To find out additional information High Cholesterol Diet also Cholesterol Control as well as High Cholesterol Zocor
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