What Everyone Needs To Know About High Cholesterol
You could be one of many people who are at risk for high cholesterol and not even know it. There are two types of cholesterol, and they are referred to as HDL and LDL. HDL is the "good" type of cholesterol, and LDL is the "bad" type that can cause major health problems. It is important to keep your bad cholesterol levels low because this type of cholesterol has the propensity to cause arteries to clog, which can obstruct blood flow and cause serious cardiovascular issues such as a stroke to occur. The following are three things that most people can do to encourage better cholesterol levels in their bodies.
Determine whether or not you are at risk or already have a high cholesterol level.
It is important to go to your doctor to have a test administered to determine your risk or whether you already have high cholesterol. Many people have high cholesterol, but they do not show any signs of having it. For example, they may not feel ill, but they are still at risk for the serious consequences of having undiagnosed or untreated high cholesterol.
The test that is administered will involve submitting a blood sample for analysis. Your physician may instruct you not to eat anything for a few hours prior to the testing because eating within a certain time frame of the test could render false results.
Focus on exercise and the foods you consume.
Exercise has many benefits, and one of those benefits is lowering and stabilizing bad cholesterol levels. Being overweight can result in lower levels of good cholesterol, and exercise helps people lose weight. Exercise can aid in having proper levels of good cholesterol in the body. Exercise may also lower your risk for major health problems later in life such as high blood pressure and age-related high cholesterol.
Cholesterol levels are also affected by diet. This means that consuming foods with cholesterol, trans fats and saturated fats can all contribute to high levels of bad cholesterol. Limiting your consumption of foods high in these fats can provide additional benefits such as lowered risk of diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Consume fruits and vegetables, lean meats, low-fat or fat-free dairy products, egg whites and whole grains as part of a healthy eating regimen and low cholesterol diet.
Discuss the benefits of regulating LDL with a medical professional.
Your doctor or a pharmacist are both good resources to use if you try to make lifestyle changes but continue to have high LDL. They can help you better understand the prescription medications that are available from pharmacies like Camelback Pharmacy. Your doctor may prescribe you pills to control your cholesterol levels. There are also injections that can be administered to lower LDL. Even if you go on a prescription medication, it is important to implement healthy lifestyle choices for the most optimal cholesterol levels.