Check Cholesterol For A Happy, Healthy Life!

By Ned Dagostino

Cardio-vascular diseases top the list of major diseases the world over. Medical experts opine that a high cholesterol level in the bloodstream is the single major causative factor in this group of diseases. So what causes high levels of cholesterol in the blood, and what can you do to prevent that from happening to you? Let's find out.

The name "cholesterol" refers to a family of compounds that are found in the body. Some of these cholesterols may be good (HDL), others may be bad (LDL) for you. The trick is to maintain a decently high level of the good and reduce the bad cholesterol.

There is a general perception that a high level of cholesterol is itself a disease. This is false. But yes, high levels of bad cholesterol increase the risk of some very serious, even life threatening, cardio-vascular diseases. Some of these diseases are: atherosclerosis (which hardens the arteries), heart arrhythmias, strokes, high blood pressure, and heart attacks. We'll tell you how to control the level of cholesterol in your blood.

The body itself maintains the level of HDL and LDL in the blood. But if we ingest excess cholesterol then the body's regulatory system goes out of kilter. That's how most people develop LDL related ailments. A general diet is not indicated here. Restrict your intake of just those food articles that contain harmful levels of cholesterol, LDL particularly. These food articles are oils and fats, animal produce, and some substances like sodium. Meats, dairy produce, and poultry produce are all villains in this situation.

A sedentary lifestyle is equally bad news. Inactivity makes the circulatory system sluggish, and the evacuation of LDL is impaired. So the LDL accumulates to dangerous levels. The American Heart Association has advised a minimum of thirty minutes of exercise every day to keep heart disease at bay. You are free to do it in one spell or to spread it over two, three or more spells. Be regular in exercising. Thirty minutes every day means thirty minutes every day, come rain or shine! Maintain a comfortable exercise regimen. Don't get carried away and strain yourself. Jogging, going for long walks, cycling, and swimming are favored exercises. Make exercise a part of your schedule. Be moderate, be comfortable, be sensible!

Cigarette smoking is favored by a large number of people. This habit is definitely injurious in general and especially for people who suffer from elevated cholesterol levels. Even exposure to secondary smoke can aggravate the level of bad cholesterol in the blood. So stop smoking yourself, and avoid frequenting places filled with cigarette smoke.

Sometimes, very rarely, but still often enough, it's not your diet or your lifestyle that causes the LDL level to skyrocket. It's your body itself, its regulatory mechanism that is malfunctioning! This happens due to genetic factors which may even be hereditary. The way out of this situation is medication. Your physician will prescribe medicines that are suitable for your condition.

The level of cholesterol in your blood can seriously affect your life and lifestyle! Before that happens, it is better that you consciously work your way to a better lifestyle. Watch your diet, exercise regularly, and stop smoking; these are simple ways to get on top of your high cholesterol condition. Medication is always there if the simple methods don't work. Remember, high cholesterol can lead to life altering and even life threatening cardio-vascular conditions, such as strokes and heart attacks. Your general health goes down, and you can suffer from many other unrelated diseases. Therefore it is in your own best interest to get serious about controlling the level of cholesterol in your blood - for good! - 32002

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