What is Cholesterol, and What Harm Does it Do?

It is only when people get older that they realize the way that they abused their bodies really does affect their health. They suddenly start considering, among other things, cholesterol levels. These numbers, along with weight and blood pressure, become very important, if they are going to continue a healthy life. But a lot of people ask what is cholesterol, and what harm does it do?

People have to make up for the way they have been abusing our body all our lives. And the most important of these is control our levels of cholesterol. If they do not, they will find that their body will not be functioning as they would like it to do. And high levels of cholesterol are a major factor towards strokes and heart attacks.

But worrying about cholesterol is not just for the elderly. If you start considering it while you are young, it will be less of a problem when trying to live a healthy life. So it is very important that you understand the basics of cholesterol, and why a healthy cholesterol level is important. There are two kinds of cholesterol, LDL, bad cholesterol, and HDL, good cholesterol.

So what is the difference between good and bad cholesterol? Well both kinds of cholesterol are transported around the body by lipoproteins. But low density lipoproteins allow cholesterol to accumulate within the bloodstream. But if the lipoprotein level is too high the cholesterol will start building up on the artery walls. The plaque formed causes the arteries to harden and become inflexible. This makes you susceptible to clots, and these cause heart attacks and strokes.

There are quite a few kinds of medication that you can have to help you combat high cholesterol levels. But before you start on medication, your doctor will probably prescribe more exercise and a healthier diet, especially one that excludes alcohol. If this does not work, then medication will have to be used. The medicine prescribed will aim to lower the quantity of LDL present in your bloodstream, and help remove the buildup and any blockages that have occurred.

If caught in the early stages, these medicines will be successful in removing blockages from your arteries. If the condition has reached a serious level, then you might need a surgical procedure. Angioplasty is the name of the most common procedure at this stage. This is where a device is implanted into the artery, and directed towards the problem, where a tiny balloon is inflated to open up the passage. Even though this procedure is invasive, the patient is usually allowed to leave the hospital the same day.

The only way to discover your cholesterol is to have a blood cholesterol test. This test is usually carried out every five years, unless you are regarded as high risk, then it might be every year. It is a lipoprotein profile, and involves fasting before the blood is taken. This test measures your total cholesterol level, and the LDL and HDL levels. Take some time to find out what these numbers mean.

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