The Truth About Cholesterol Levels

Answer 1

All over the news and television advertisements, there are more and more people advocating lowering your cholesterol level. Other people say you should increase your good cholesterol level and lower your bad cholesterol. It can be hard to know who trust if you don't know the basic facts about what your cholesterol level defines and what it should be. Your total cholesterol is made up of a combination of your high density lipoproteins (HDLs) and your low desnity lipoproteins (LDLs). When combined, these give your your total cholesterol score. For maximum heart healthiness, you should seek to keep your total cholesterol below 200.

LDLs, more commonly known as the "bad" cholesterol, build up on the sides of your arteries, causing blockages and reduced blood flow, increasing your overall risk of Heart disease. Doctors recommend and LDL level of below 100 with any level above 160 being considered high. To decrease the amount of LDL in your total cholesterol level, medical professionals recommend a diet primarily composed of whole grains, fish, and plants mixed with an increased in exercise. If this fails in bring down an overly high LDL cholesterol level, a doctor may also prescribe a cholesterol lowering medication to be taken in conjunction with the aforementioned lifestyle changes.

HDLs, also known as the "good" cholesterol, help your cardiovascular health by protecting your heart from bad cholesterol building up in your arteries and potentially causing clots. In short, the higher your HDL count, the better. Doctors usually prescribe a HDL count above 60 for optimum cardiovascular results. Any number below 50 for women and 40 for men is considered a risk factor for heart disease. To increase your overall level of HDL, health professionals say that yous hould stop smoking, lose weight, and make sure that no more than 7 percent of your daily fat intake comes from saturated fat.

Before you can take action about your cholesterol levels, you first have to know what they are. Contact your doctor and ask for a baseline cholesterol test. This will give you a breakdown of your total cholesterol level and your amount of the different kinds of cholesterol. After taking this test, you and your doctor will better be able to discuss approaches to address your cholesterol level concerns for your maximum heart healthiness. Cholesterol levels can cause concern, but through knowledge and some lifestyle changes, your cholesterol can be put on the right path.