High blood cholesterol levels can be a cause of alarm. The higher the cholesterol content in your blood stream, the higher your chances for developing heart conditions and stroke.
Many people silently suffer from high blood cholesterol levels - silently in the sense that high cholesterol oftentimes does not show any symptoms at all. In fact, in healthy individuals, the only way to determine whether or not your cholesterol levels are high is through a blood cholesterol test. Although mild symptoms like headaches and light-headedness can indicate high cholesterol, the symptoms are oftentimes not regarded seriously.
But what are considered high cholesterol levels? By definition, our cholesterol levels are considered high if blood test results reveal that our total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides are more than 240, 160 and 200 milligrams/deciliter (mg/dL), respectively. Levels of HDL or good cholesterol, on the other hand are best maintained at higher levels (at least 60 mg/dL) as they help counter the effect of bad cholesterol.
The Risks of High Cholesterol
And what risks do high levels of cholesterol indicate? If someone has high blood cholesterol, it means that they have enough cholesterol and fat levels in their body to cause them to deposit onto arterial walls to form plaques.
These arterial plaques can build-up and restrict the normal flow of blood in the arteries. This can lead to a condition called atherosclerosis which can eventually lead to cardiovascular disease. When a blood clot forms, the flow of blood can become temporarily blocked and a heart attack or stroke happens.
Causes of High Cholesterol
High blood cholesterol amounts in the body can be caused either by environmental or hereditary factors. Some people are born with genes that dictate high cholesterol; they have the condition called familial cholesterolaemia. On the other hand, levels of cholesterol can also be influenced by the environment, which includes the lifestyle you lead, and the food you eat. Diets rich in saturated fat and trans fats can significantly increase cholesterol.
High cholesterol can also be linked to a wide range of diseases and pre-existing conditions such as kidney problems, diabetes, cigarette smoking, and reduced metabolism caused by thyroid abnormality.
Treatment of High Cholesterol
Lowering your cholesterol levels is necessary if you want to reduce your risks for developing a cardiovascular condition. Cholesterol lowering medicine is a main-stay for reducing cholesterol levels and is usually recommended to those who have already been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease.
Medication for high cholesterol is almost always accompanied by changes in lifestyle and diet. Your doctor will probably recommend a low cholesterol and low fat diet to ensure your cholesterol doesn't shoot up to uncontrollable levels. Smoking and intake of alcohol is usually discouraged, and exercise is a must to maintain a healthy heart.
Fortunately, high blood cholesterol levels can be treatable and preventable. Understanding cholesterol and knowing the facts is an important first step.
Make sure to have your cholesterol checked regularly so you will know when it's time to work harder to keep the numbers within an optimum range.
And when you talk to your health care professional about heart health, be sure to talk about why fish oil is one of the most popular supplements taken to support a healthy heart and cardiovascular system. This writer takes fish oil every day and recommends it to all of her family and friends too.
Susan Goodwin writes about fish oil health benefits at pureconcentratedfishoil.com pureconcentratedfishoil.com where you can get a free report about fish oil and heart health. Be sure to choose a pureconcentratedfishoil.com pure concentrated fish oil supplement that will provide you and your heart all the health benefits possible.
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