Niacin Cholesterol Medication Can Lead To A Healthier Life

Cholesterol is on many of our lists to live and battle with everyday, as that is the only way to ensure it stays under control and in the right levels. Cholesterol is divided in two types, the good cholesterol (HDL) whose levels we need to rise and bad cholesterol (LDL) whose levels we need to lower or maintain as the case is.

Drugs for Increasing Good Cholesterol and Lowering the Bad

There are a vast number of drugs available on the market; some are used on a treatment basis to lower the bad cholesterol where as some are used to increase the good cholesterol. Niacin cholesterol medication is a type of drug that strengthens your immune system as well as help with increasing the good cholesterol levels.

Niacin cholesterol medication is also known nicotinic acid or vitamin B3. It practically repairs the DNA and energizes the entire body from the cell level. Niacin cholesterol medication can also be taken in order to boost the immune system and not only for cholesterol purposes.

Niacin cholesterol medication should not be administered without a prescription even if in drug stores it is considered a vitamin supplement as well as a cholesterol drug. All cholesterol medication can have side effects, which only your doctor can make you aware of due to the fact that he/she is familiar with your medical history and other existing conditions.

Niacin cholesterol medication cannot work wonders, therefore, if you are suffering from high cholesterol level, you will need to make other efforts as well besides following a treatment. Let us explore together the easy and simple ways in which you can change your life style.

Exercise and Eat Healthily

Being active and watching your diet is part of golden practices, which will always bring back rewards of good health. Because of the fact that there are many foods, which are considered healthy, yet carry high amounts of cholesterol, you will need to make choices and decides on portions as well.

Try and avoid eating foods that contain trans and saturated fat because they will only end up in your arteries causing blockage and bad cholesterol levels which even Niacin cholesterol medication cannot fight all the time.

Helpful Tip

Watch your weight, diet and conduct regular check ups in order to be in control of your cholesterol levels both good and bad. Start living the life you want, healthy and happy from all points of view.

Understanding Cholesterol Numbers

Today, one of the most useful tests an adult can take is the cholesterol test. The results of this test can indicate a possible problem when taken in conjunction with other risk factors. The usual cholesterol test is the lipoprotein profile. Cholesterol is made in your body by your liver.

It is a fatty substance that combines with protein and travels in bile into the intestine where it is absorbed and enters the bloodstream to help build and maintain cells, make hormones and strengthens nerves. At least that’s what good cholesterol does. Bad cholesterol builds plaque in the arteries constricting blood flow and causes heart disease and heart attacks.

Reading The Results

The results of the test show cholesterol numbers for low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density protein (HDL) and triglycerides as well as the total of all cholesterol. LDL is bad cholesterol. The density is the ratio of fatty cholesterol to protein.

Low density means that the ratio of protein is low and the cholesterol is high in fat. HDL, of course is the good cholesterol with high protein ratios. Triglycerides are fats traveling in the blood. Extra calories, alcohol and sugar convert to triglycerides and are stored in fat cells. Only the HDL is good for you.

The best LDL numbers are below 100 but 100 to 129 is good. Borderline high is 130 to 159. High LDL is 160-189 and over 190 are very high. If you have risk factors like existing heart or blood vessel disease, doctors believe that your LDL cholesterol numbers should be below 70. Less dangerous risk factors like diabetes allow LDL cholesterol numbers up to almost 100.

HDL cholesterol actually helps keep bad cholesterol down and cleans out artery clogs, so the higher, the better. If HDL cholesterol numbers are below 40 for men or 50 for women, it is considered too low and constitutes a risk factor. Your best HDL cholesterol numbers are above 60.

High triglyceride levels are a predictor for possible coronary artery disease. Normal levels are less than 150; borderline high is 150 to 199. They are high at 200 to 4999 and very high if 500 or over. Total cholesterol numbers should be below 200. If you have total cholesterol numbers from 200 to 239 you are border line high and at 240 or above you are at an extremely high risk. Together with your doctor, you can discuss how your cholesterol numbers fit with your personal risk factors and the results of other tests from a physical examination.

Before Using A Cholesterol Drug It Is Wise To Know Certain Facts

It is extremely important to educate ourselves on something in a complete way before we use any drugs. This is especially true if it's something like high cholesterol, which can turn out to be fatal if neglected. So juse what is cholesterol and how might a cholesterol drug save your life?

What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat like substance found in our cells and blood stream. It is important for our body as it produces a number of hormones, some cell membranes and assists digestion. This is high density lipoprotein (HDL) and is needed by our body to be healthy. "Bad" cholesterol(low density lipoprotein or LDL cholesterol) causes problems and can lead to heart disease. It causes clots to form within the arteries. It is this we need to worry about and reduce the level of with the use of cholesterol drugs. Our body produces cholesterol but we also accumulate it through the eating/drinking various food products such as: egg yolks, poultry, butter, cheese, whole milk and so on.

What is the Right Level of Cholesterol?

For most people their total cholesterol level should be below 5 mmols/l.However,for those at high risk of circulatory problems,or who already have these, it should be less than four. Cholesterol is not calculated by body weight, though if you are overweight there's a good chance you will high bad cholesterol levels.

Which is the Right Cholesterol Drug for you?

There are a number of cholesterol drugs available on the market some of which can be obtained over the counter. However you should always consult your doctor before you start taking any medication. Some cholesterol drugs can have serious side effects which in the long run may do you more harm than good. Only your doctor can advise which medicine is best for you as he/she knows your medical history and present state of health. You may also have to take more than one kind of medication. This is why it is important that you seek medical advice, because you will need to know what type of cholesterol drug is right for you.

Life Style Has An Impact

Your everyday life style can make a great difference to both types of cholesterol levels, good and bad. Therefore take a moment to understand what you can change today in order to have a better tomorrow. Eating healthily and exercising have always been the key to a good physical and mental lifestyle. Find out what works best for you and start practicing right away.

Making Sense of Your Cholesterol Reading

If you are older than 20, then your doctor has probably already taken a cholesterol test as part of a physical exam. You have probably already had your cholesterol reading explained to you and, if necessary, have discussed any necessary changes to your lifestyle outlined. By now, you should understand how your cholesterol reading impacts your life. Where do you go from here? You learn as much as you can about cholesterol.

Cholesterol Numbers

Your cholesterol reading should have LDL levels under 100 for the best results and below 130 for good results. LDL is the bad cholesterol and you have to keep that number low. If your cholesterol reading shows LDL of 130 or above, your doctor has very likely suggested an improvement in diet or exercise.

Your cholesterol reading should have HDL levels above 60. HDL is the good cholesterol and you have to keep that number high. If you are a man and your HDL is below 40 – 50 for a woman – then your doctor has suggested ways to improve it. Your cholesterol reading for triglycerides should be under 150. Triglycerides are fats from excess calories, alcohol or sugar. They travel through your blood and can cause coronary artery disease. Your cholesterol reading should be below 200.

If you need to improve your cholesterol reading, you should be aware of the common misconceptions about cholesterol. It is important to avoid saturated fats and trans fats. There are butter substitutes that have very low levels of these kinds of fats, but most margarine isn’t among them. Look for specially labeled spreads but use all fats sparingly. Being overweight sometimes indicates high cholestrol.

That doesn’t mean however that thin people are safe from it. It really can be about the metabolism. If you are thin but eat cholesterol-rich foods or have a hereditary predisposition to high cholesterol, you will be much better off getting a test and knowing for sure.

Just because your doctor hasn’t mentioned high cholesterol, don’t assume you’re safe. Get tested and find out what your cholesterol reading means. If you think your doctor isn’t being proactive enough, double check the information on the Internet. To be on the safe side, adopt a low fat diet and exercise regularly. Don’t smoke. The label may say “low-cholesterol” but check the nutrition label too. Avoid saturated and trans fats.

Be sure to check the serving size. If it is half or a quarter the size you thought it was, remember to multiply calories and fat grams by that number to get a realistic idea. Some people believe that cholesterol isn’t a problem if you are taking cholesterol medication, if you are a woman or if you are young. All of those beliefs are wrong. The best thing you can do is find out the facts, take the test and understand your cholesterol reading.

A Guide to Good Cholesterol Foods

There are two types of cholesterol – good and bad. Bad cholesterol can lead to heart attack by clogging the arteries, whilst good cholesterol can reduce the likelihood of a heart attack. Therefore, the challenge is to increase good cholesterol levels and lower or maintain bad cholesterol levels at the desired level.

What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is basically a wax like substance which is necessary for our body to produce cell membranes and hormones. Good cholesterol (HDL) should be no less than 40mg/dL and bad cholesterol (LDL) should not be more than 200mg/dL. Cholesterol is not calculated by your body weight. Therefore, it's possible to have high levels of bad cholesterol even if you are slim or under weight.

Good Cholesterol Food

Vegetables, fruits, cereals and whole grains are considered good cholesterol foods. Foods that do not contain saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol are also considered good cholesterol food products and can be consumed safely.

Some foods that contain cholesterol include eggs, poultry, milk and cheese. For a full list check the other articles in the cholesterol diet section of this website.

It is difficult to eat only good cholesterol food and therefore you need to follow a diet that will combat and lower your bad cholesterol as well. Normally, in a healthy diet, you will consume eggs, milk and poultry so, you need to determine how much of each you can have in order to maintain a healthy cholesterol level.

If you are not sure what good cholesterol foods to have and which to avoid, consult your doctor or a dietician who will discuss your health history and present level of physical fitness in order to design a diet that is just right for you.

Staying informed about your body, health and the hazards you face if you neglect them is the key to a healthy and long life. Awareness is key.

The more interest you show in your health and body the less risks you will face. In the the long run you will also be able to pass your knowledge on to your family which in turn help them become responsible for their own health issues. Follow good practices and set an example, which others will enjoy followinging.