Cholesterol is an essential substance in our body which contributes to producing a number of hormones and cell membrane however, when in high levels it can clog our arteries and lead to coronary heart attack.

How you can Spot a High Cholesterol Symptom

There are a number of high cholesterol symptoms but they are often associated with the fatal diseases they provoke such as heart attack and vascular diseases rather than just with high cholesterol. It could be anything from chest pains to trouble breathing but you will not be able to tell from those symptoms that you have high levels of cholesterol unless you take a blood test.

A blood test is the only way in which you will find out precisely your cholesterol levels and then you will be able to link a high cholesterol symptom with the physical problems you are experiencing. The trouble is you will only notice the symptoms of high cholesterol once the situation is critical. Therefore, it is wise to have regular check ups in order to closely monitor the levels of your cholesterol.

Managing Your Cholesterol Level

Don’t wait until you notice a high cholesterol symptom before you consider doing something about it. Instead, understand your body and learn how to manage and control your cholesterol level and so stay healthy.

The optimum levels of cholesterol are not dependent on your weight as some like to believe. You should have a maximum of 200mg/dL for LDL, which is the bad cholesterol and is responsible for causing you a number of heart related problems and the good cholesterol, HDL, should be no less than 40mg/dL or more as it is responsible for the good functioning of your body.

Eat Right and Stay Healthy

High levels of cholesterol are also caused by the food we eat and a little care in that department can help you a great deal in the long run. Here are a few points to consider when shopping for groceries:

- Read the labels that are available on each food item package _ Look for saturated and trans fats as well as cholesterol and avoid foods which are high in these

Make sure you have regular check ups on your cholesterol levels especially if you have been experienced a high cholesterol symptom in the past, as this is the only way to be aware of it. Also try to learn as much about your own body and ways to keep yourself healthy as you can. A few simple, everyday precautions can work wonders.

Causes High Cholesterol

September 8th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

What Causes High Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fatty, wax like substance that is present in our cells and blood steam. Cholesterol plays an important part in our body by producing cell membranes and contributing to a number of hormones as well. Why then are we told to avoid high levels of cholesterol and what causes it?

Two Types of Cholesterol

There are two types of cholesterol. One is good (HDL or high density cholesterol) and the other is bad (LDL or low density cholesterol). The good cholesterol should be in levels of minimum 40md/dL or more and the bad cholesterol should be less than 200mg/dL.

The bad cholesterol is responsible for causing clogged arteries and thus provoking coronary heart disease.

The Cause of High Cholesterol

The cause of high cholesterol is primarily due to eating an excess of food products which contain trans fat and saturated fats as well as cholesterol. This increases the levels of cholesterol in the blood stream. There is more than one cause of high cholesterol however, such as excess weight, genes, gender and age.

Obesity

Excess weight plays a big role in the cause of high cholesterol as it occurs when the body mass is mostly made up of fat which in turn contains cholesterol. Therefore, it is important to keep your weight under control at all times and should you have some pre-existing conditions which might lead to obesity you should consult a doctor for alternate options in order to control your cholesterol levels.

Heredity

Your family�s health history is transmitted to you in the genes so if anyone in your family has suffered from high cholesterol you may have a predisposition to the same. This situation can be controlled through medication as well but only under a doctor�s supervision.

Age

Men have been found to be prone to high levels of cholesterol in their teens and women after menopause. Both men and women can control and maintain a normal level of cholesterol if they act in time and with the right life style changes.

Preventing High Cholesterol

Mostly the cause of high cholesterol is our own negligence and therefore, if we pay more attention to what we eat as well as to how much exercise we actually do everyday we can prevent and improve the levels of bad cholesterol we have as well as maintain it at the right level. Start taking charge of your cholesterol levels today. Eat right, exercise and check your cholesterol level regularly.

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