Tuesday, May 25, 2010

What is Cholesterol?

only when people get older that they realize the way that they abused their bodies really does affect their health. They suddenly start considering, among other things, cholesterol levels. These numbers, along with weight and blood pressure, become very important, if they are going to continue a healthy life. But a lot of people ask what is cholesterol, and what harm does it do?

They suddenly realize that their life spent consuming alcohol and fatty foods has got to be put in check. Controlling cholesterol levels is extremely important, if they want to keep healthy, and their body working as it should. If they have high levels of cholesterol, you are very liable to suffer a heart attack.

As a rule, it is only the elderly who have to worry about cholesterol. But maybe, if you consider it at an early age, there might never be any need for medication or surgery. It is a good idea that you understand the basics of cholesterol, and how it can be controlled without medication. And hopefully you will be able to maintain a healthy cholesterol level, and therefore a healthy future. There is bad cholesterol known as LDL, and good cholesterol, HDL.

So what does bad cholesterol do to you? While all cholesterol is carried about the body by lipoproteins, low density lipoproteins move within the bloodstream and allow the cholesterol to build up on your artery walls. This cholesterol starts to form plaque, and makes your arteries hard and inflexible. This can lead to a blockage of the arteries, followed by a heart attack or stroke.

There are medications prescribed for dealing with high cholesterol, but initially your physician will suggest a low-fat diet, and increase the amount of exercise you do. If this fails to lower your levels, then medication will be prescribed. The diet, exercise, and medicines all have the same goal, that is to lower the amount of LDL present in your bloodstream, thereby lowering the risks of your arteries becoming blocked.

If medicines have not been successful in removing the blockages from your arteries, then an invasive procedure might be required. The most common procedure is used angioplasty. This is where a small device is inserted into the artery, moved to where the blockage is, and then a small balloon is inflated to in order to open up the blocked passage. Though this surgery is invasive., it is unlikely that you will have to stay in hospital for more than a few hours afterward.

The only way to discover your cholesterol is to have a blood cholesterol test. This test is usually carried out every five years, unless you are regarded as high risk, then it might be every year. It is a lipoprotein profile, and involves fasting before the blood is taken. This test measures your total cholesterol level, and the LDL and HDL levels. Take some time to find out what these numbers mean.

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