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disease. Do not worry too much about the dangers of high
cholesterol. Knowing what cholesterol is and how it affects you
will undoubtedly help you avoid high cholesterol.
1. Cholesterol And Heart Disease
Your blood cholesterol is a major factor in the risk of
suffering from heart disease. In fact, the higher your
cholesterol level, the greater the chances you have of getting a
heart attack. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among
men and women in the United States. Every year more than a
million Americans suffer heart attacks, and half of that number
die from heart disease.
2. How Does Cholesterol Cause Heart Disease?
When your body has too much cholesterol, it builds up in the
walls of your arteries. This causes your arteries to harden.
Your arteries, as a result of this, narrow down or get blocked.
This reduces the flow of blood through your body. Oxygen is
carried throughout your body by blood. If an inadequate supply
of oxygen to your heart occurs because of reduced blood flow,
you may experience chest pains. And if the blood supply is
completely cut off, the result is a heart attack.
Unfortunately, high blood cholesterol has no symptoms. So it is
hard to gauge the status of your arteries. Whether or not you
suffer from heart disease, lowering your cholesterol is
important to maintain good health.
3. What Affects Cholesterol Levels?
How Cholesterol Affects You
We have heard many times from dieticians and doctors that lowering cholesterol is extremely important. Cholesterol is a substance that is waxy and fatty like. This is produced by the liver. The interesting fact is that cholesterol has a purpose and is central to your overall body function and health. Every cell in the body has cholesterol forming in it; at appropriate levels it plays a life support role in many functions of the body.
When at the correct levels it actually repairs cells and is involved in the production of hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. Cholesterol also produces ..
I. Diet
- Oils, Eggs, Margarine and Butter - Saturated fat - Fatty foods
II. Weight
Being overweight is also a factor for heart disease. There is a
correlation between weight and cholesterol levels. Following
that, losing weight can help lower cholesterol levels.
III. Physical Activity
If you are not physically active and have a sedementary
lifestyle, you have a greater risk for heart disease. Regular
exercise can help lower cholesterol level, and has many untold
physical benefits. Consult a doctor about a training regimen
that suits you. Overexertion is equally bad for the health.
IV. Age and Gender
Cholesterol levels rise as men and women get older. Before
menopause, women have lower total cholesterol levels than men of
the same age. After menopause these levels have been observed to
rise.
V. Heredity
High cholesterol levels are sometimes inherited from your
ancestors. If your family has a history of heart disease you may
want to consult a doctor regarding possible preventive medicine.
The Good, The Bad And The Truth About CholesterolWith all the talks of obesity and America s race for thin
bodies, cholesterol has suffered a beating. It is even one of
the main figures in the development of hypertension, that
contribute much to coronary heart disease. Often seen as the
culprit in fattening America, cholesterol has become a food
taboo, something that must be avoided at all costs.
What people do not know though is that there are two kinds of
cholesterol and one kind is actually beneficial to the body. In
fact, it is one of the essential substances that our bodies need
to maintain balance.
What is cholesterol? ..
4. Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC)
You can lower your cholesterol through the help of TLC. It is a
set of activities that can help lower your LDL (the bad part of
cholesterol). The main parts of TLC are:
I. Diet
- Eat low-fat, low-cholesterol meals - Eat fruits, vegetables
and high-fiber grains - High fiber foods are very effective at
'sweeping' away cholesterol
II. Weight Management
- Don't be overweight - Consult a chart to see the recommended
weight value for your height, gender, and age - Scan your body
to determine its fat percentage. Healthy bodies will contain fat!
III. Physical Activity
- Exercise for 30 minutes per day - Always consult a medical
professional regarding this regimen - Health is wealth
About the author:
For more great cholesterol related articles and resources check
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Paul GrahamKeep Your Cholesterol Down!
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