You Have To Read This If You Have High Cholesterol
Table of Contents
Have you been feeling tired often? Is going up and down the stairs becoming a hassle? Are you perspiring while you are resting? If you answered yes for all the above questions, you might have high cholesterol levels in your blood.
It’s time to get your LIPID PROFILE test done. Wait !! Before jumping into conclusions, learn all there is to know about blood cholesterol and tips to control it at home.
What Is Blood Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fat composition that is present in our body which helps in framing the cell membrane and regulates the production of certain types of hormones like aldosterone, testosterone etc.
It is usually a free flowing composition in the blood. The normal level of cholesterol in the blood is 100 mg/dL for LDL. The levels of 100 to 129 mg/dL is acceptable in individuals with no history of health issues but may be of concern for individuals with heart disease or risk of heart disease. Blood cholesterol levels that rises above 130 to 159 mg/dL is borderline and 160 to 189 mg/dL is high risk for heart diseases.
The Cholesterol in our body are of two types:
High density Lipoprotein: It is also referred to as the “Good Cholesterol” as it helps in not letting the cholesterol build-up occur in arteries causing blocks and heart attacks.
Low density Lipoprotein: It is also referred to as the “Bad Cholesterol” as it is the main causative factor for fat and lipid build up in the arteries that causes heart attacks and heart diseases.
Adding to these cholesterol is the triglycerides. High triglycerides in the blood indicate a reduction of the HDL in the blood. High triglycerides and LDL levels in the blood cause heart diseases.
High Cholesterol levels increases the risk of heart diseases and heart attacks.. You can improve your cholesterol levels with STATIN medications. It is also advised to practice the following lifestyle changes along with doctor prescribed medications in order to curb your cholesterol levels:
Eat your way into lowering your cholesterol levels: Even if you been eating unhealthy for years, making a conscious effort to eat healthy and changing your unhealthy eating habits will prove to show drastic changes in reducing your cholesterol levels. Reduce consumption of saturated fats, found primarily in red meat and dairy products as it tends to raise your cholesterol and LDL levels. Always be sure to eat white meat and consume low fat dairy.
Exercise to reduce weight and cholesterol: Mild to moderate physical activity like brisk walking, jogging, yoga etc helps in increasing the level of HDL in the body. It helps in restricting fat build up in the arteries. Exercising regularly also helps in reducing weight.
Quit Smoking: Studies suggest that smoking causes increase in the level of LDL in the body and also increases your risk of heart disease drastically. Quitting smoking also prevents lung cancer.
Drink in moderation: Although there are various negative repercussions to consuming alcohol, studies have suggested that drinking alcohol has been linked to increase in HDL levels. It is advised to abstain from more than 1 drink of any type of alcohol as it causes high blood pressure and sometimes, an alcohol overdose can cause stroke and liver problems.
Need more tips to control your blood cholesterol levels? Consult an expert in less than 30 minutes only on DocsApp.
Help is just an app away!
Team DocsApp.
