What is cholesterol?
Why should I be concerned about cholesterol?
What’s the difference between “good” and “bad” cholesterol?
How much cholesterol is too much?
Can I lower my risk for heart disease if I lower my cholesterol?
What makes my cholesterol levels go up?
What can I do to lower my cholesterol?
What medications are used to treat high cholesterol?
If a product’s package reads “low cholesterol” does that mean that the product is low in fat and safe to eat?
At what age should people begin having their cholesterol checked?
1) What Is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that happens naturally in all parts of the frame and is made by way of the liver.
High Cholesterol: Frequently Asked Questions
Cholesterol also is found in foods we eat. People need cholesterol for the body to serve as most often. Cholesterol is present within the cell walls or membranes all over in the body, together with the brain, nerves, muscle tissue, pores and skin, liver, intestines, and heart.
2) Why Should I Be Concerned About Cholesterol?
Too much cholesterol for your body manner that you’ve got an increased chance of having cardiovascular sicknesses similar to center illness.
If you might have an excessive amount of cholesterol on your frame, the cholesterol can increase on the partitions of the arteries that carry blood on your heart. This buildup, which happens over the years, reasons much less blood and oxygen to get to your middle. This can cause chest pain and center attacks.
3) What’s the Difference between “Good” and “Bad” Cholesterol?
HDL (prime density lipoprotein) cholesterol is known as excellent LDL cholesterol. HDL takes the dangerous cholesterol from your blood and helps to keep it from build up for your arteries. LDL (low density lipoprotein) LDL cholesterol is known as bad LDL cholesterol because it could increase on the walls of your arteries and building up your probabilities of getting cardiovascular disease. When being examined for prime cholesterol, you wish to have a high HDL number and a low LDL quantity.
4) How Much Cholesterol Is Too Much?
Doctors recommend your LDL cholesterol stay below 200. Here is the breakdown:
Total Cholesterol Category
Less than 200 Desirable
200-239 Borderline High
240 and above High
LDL Cholesterol LDL – Cholesterol Category
Less than 100 Optimal
100-129 Near optimal/above optimum
130-159 Borderline top
160-189 High
190 and above Very high
HDL (excellent) LDL cholesterol protects in opposition to middle illness, so for HDL, upper numbers are better. A Level less than 40 is low and is considered a major possibility issue as it will increase your risk for creating middle illness. HDL ranges of 60 or more lend a hand to decrease your possibility for heart disease.
Triglyceride ranges which might be borderline high (150-199) or high (200 or extra) may require remedy in some folks.
5) Can I Lower My Risk for Heart Disease If I Lower My Cholesterol?
Your chance for center disease is lower when you’ve got low overall cholesterol and occasional LDL.
6) What Makes My Cholesterol Levels Go Up?
Eating foods reminiscent of meats, complete milk dairy merchandise, egg yolks, and some forms of fish could make your levels of cholesterol move up. Being overweight could make your bad cholesterol go up and your excellent LDL cholesterol pass down. Also, after girls undergo menopause, their dangerous levels of cholesterol have a tendency to head up.
7) What Can I Do To Lower My Cholesterol Levels?
You can lower your levels of cholesterol by making changes to your way of life. Here are some pointers.
• Eat meals with much less fats, saturated fat and cholesterol.
• Take off the outside and fats from meat, poultry and fish.
• Broil, bake, roast, or poach instead of frying foods.
• Eat numerous fruit and veggies everyday.
• Eat lots of cereals, breads, rice, and pasta constituted of complete grains, such as whole wheat bread or spaghetti.
• Get loads of exercise on a regular basis. Talk in your physician about what are the most secure and very best ways so that you can exercise.
• Lose weight if you’re obese.
• Stop smoking.
• Take your top blood cholesterol medicine as prescribed by your doctor.
8) What Medications Are Used to Treat High Cholesterol?
Cholesterol-lowering drugs include:
• Statins
• Niacin
• Bile-acid resins
• Fibric acid derivatives
Cholesterol-lowering medication is most effective when mixed with a low-cholesterol diet.
9) If a Product’s Package Reads “Low Cholesterol,” Does That Mean That The Product Is Low in Fat and Safe To Eat?
Not necessarily. Numerous foods marked “low cholesterol” can comprise oils that may be prime in saturated fats, which are not regarded as healthy. In addition, unsaturated fats like vegetable oil additionally can also be top in energy. The general amount of fat in your nutrition must be kept to about 20-30 % of your day-to-day intake.
10) At What Age Should People Begin Having Their Cholesterol Checked?
It is vital to have your cholesterol degree checked if you end up younger, since clogging of the arteries (atherosclerosis) is a gradual procedure that takes a few years. Total cholesterol will have to be measured at least each 5 years starting at age 20.
Note: If you may have high cholesterol and your physician has informed you there is also an underlying genetic reason, you might wish to have your youngsters, beneath age 20, get their cholesterol levels examined. Talk on your children’s health care suppliers about cholesterol checking out.