Learning about cholesterol, no matter one's age, is very important. The general myth surrounding cholesterol is that it only seems to affect those aged forty and up. The truth is, for adults, their cholesterol levels are directly related to how healthy they are.
For many, the only exposure they have to the potential dangers that can be posed by certain types of cholesterol is television advertising touting the latest cholesterol drugs. But understanding the types of cholesterol and the impacts they have on one's circulatory system can be an important factor in improving quality of life or adding years to one's lifespan.
Bad cholesterol, also known as LDL (low-density lipoprotein) is normally associated with eating foods high in cholesterol, but increasingly the medical profession is stressing that family genetic history is also an important factor in how one's body processes LDL. LDL is called "bad cholesterol" because at high levels it can reduce blood flow because of plaque buildup on arterial walls.
Good cholesterol, also known as HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is called "good cholesterol" because it aids the body in the removal of LDL. The higher your HDL number is, the less likely one is to have heart disease.
While changes in diet can lower LDL levels, genetic propensities can make it difficult for some to use diet alone to reduce LDL top generally accepted "safe" levels. For those individuals, doctors typically prescribe one of several medications designed to work with changes in diet to lower one's LDL levels.
It is important for adults to have their cholesterol levels checked routinely so that changes in diet can be charted to determine whether changes in diet alone will be sufficient to control the LDL for a specific individual.
If changes in diet are not sufficient to control LDL, then drug treatments can be chosen to assist the body in reducing LDL levels.
Especially in the United States, cholesterol is considered a major health issue, linked to segments of the population that are overweight. Public efforts to lower cholesterol include attempts to disclose the cholesterol levels of foods sold in stores and in restaurants in some states, as well as public advertising campaigns by drug manufacturers promoting both their cholesterol-controlling drugs and the importance of reducing LDL.
Consumers should discuss with their primary physician whether their personal cholesterol levels require changes in diet or the possibility of medication. For more information about HDL and LDL cholesterol, please visit vasacor.com vasacor.com.
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