Cholesterol, a waxy, fat-like substance, is crucial in cell wall building and hormone production of estrogen and testosterone. Our body naturally produces cholesterol in the liver, as do animals which is why animal products like cheese, eggs, meats and milk themselves contain cholesterol. As one of a variety of fatty substances in the body, cholesterol falls into the category "lipids". It is transported through the bloodstream attached to proteins, forming complexes called lipoproteins. Cholesterol is needed by the body - that is, if it's in the right amount and there is no lack or excess of it. Too much of a good thing can sometimes be a bad thing and high cholesterol falls under this category.
When the body can't use or remove the excess, we have a person with a high cholesterol level and around the world, high cholesterol is known as one of the many threats to a healthy heart. When too much of this lipid builds up along the artery walls there is a high risk of blockage and this blockage can lead to heart attack or stroke. There are several factors though, which influence the development of a high cholesterol level, and ultimately, a heart condition. Some of the factors are controllable, while some are not.
Uncontrollable Risk Factors:
* Age: Risk of high cholesterol increases as a person gets older. Men 45 years and older and women 55 years and older have an increased risk of high cholesterol.
* Family History: The risk increases if it "runs in the family", i.e. if your father or brother was affected by early heart disease (before age 55), or your mother or sister was affected by early heart disease (before age 65) your own risk increases.
Raised cholesterol levels may also be due to diabetes or hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) that might be rooted in one's genes.
* Gender: A woman's LDL-cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) level goes up after menopause - and the increase of LDL-cholesterol increases her risk of high cholesterol and heart disease.
Controllable Risk Factors:
* Diet: An unbalanced diet - especially one that leans more to protein and fat-saturated food like meat raises the LDL-cholesterol level and the overall total cholesterol level.
* Physical Activities: Increased physical activity helps to lower LDL-cholesterol level and raise the HDL-cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) level. It also helps in weight loss.
* Weight: Obesity, or even just being overweight, raises the LDL-cholesterol level and lowers HDL-cholesterol level
High cholesterol, when in extreme excess, causes xanthomas - a yellowish skin growth - to develop near the eye area. It can also set off impotence in some men as cholesterol begins to clog up arteries. So before anything as dire as these things happen to you take control of your cholesterol level. Your best retaliation against high cholesterol is a change in lifestyle including eating a balanced diet - one that is low in cholesterol, regular exercise and weight control.
Sue Burchill writes about a number of health topics from a lay person's perspective. Visit her site for loweringcholesterolhelp.com help lowering cholesterol and more information about how high cholesterol affects your health. Learn about an loweringcholesterolhelp.com/cholesterol-cure alternative cure for high cholesterol, as well as the different types of cholesterol, treatment for high cholesterol, what is a low cholesterol food, how your diet effects your cholesterol levels and much more.
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