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Home Health Health Controlling Your Cholesterol Levels
Controlling Your Cholesterol Levels PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ned Dagostino   
It is common knowledge that high cholesterol levels in the blood can cause a number of health problems, some of a very serious nature. It is in your own interest to reduce the level of blood cholesterol.

It is common knowledge that high cholesterol levels in the blood can cause a number of health problems, some of a very serious nature. It is in your own interest to reduce the level of blood cholesterol.

The name "cholesterol" refers to a family of compounds that are found in the body. Some of these cholesterols may be good (HDL), others may be bad (LDL) for you. The trick is to maintain a decently high level of the good and reduce the bad cholesterol.

Is a high level of cholesterol a disease in itself? No, it is not. A high level of bad cholesterol in the blood causes tissue degeneration and accumulation of fatty substances in the body. The arteries are most prone to the effect of high cholesterol levels. They become hard, and they get coated with a fatty substance from inside. This constricts the flow of blood in the body, which in turn, leads to high blood pressure, strokes, and heart attacks. If you are a patient of any of these diseases then you should learn how to cut down the level of bad cholesterol. It's easy, as easy as 1, 2, 3! Read on and you'll see how.

The body itself maintains the level of HDL and LDL in the blood. But if we ingest excess cholesterol then the body's regulatory system goes out of kilter. That's how most people develop LDL related ailments. A general diet is not indicated here. Restrict your intake of just those food articles that contain harmful levels of cholesterol, LDL particularly. These food articles are oils and fats, animal produce, and some substances like sodium. Meats, dairy produce, and poultry produce are all villains in this situation.

The second step is physical exercise. Include a lot of physical activity into your routine. Exercise and physical activity can help to control and reduce the level of blood cholesterol. The American Heart Association advises people who have high blood cholesterol to get at least thirty minutes of exercise every day. You are at liberty to choose your exercise break-up. Do it all at one go, or do it in three spells or whatever. Just be consistent and regular in exercising. Over exercising is as bad as not exercising at all. You can converge some of your daily activities into your exercise regime. For example, park your car at a (reasonable!) distance from your office, and then jog to the office. Take the elevator to the floor just below yours, and then walk up the last flight of stairs. Don't take the car to the park, ride a bike instead. If you like swimming, there's nothing like it for all round exercise.

A secondary cause of high cholesterol is smoking. Smoking raises the level of cholesterol in the blood. Even second hand smoke is harmful in this respect. So, if you do have a high cholesterol level, reduce or stop smoking, and avoid those places where there is a lot of second hand smoke.

Hereditary and genetic factors may also be the prime cause of high cholesterol levels in the blood. Sometimes it's not what you eat that causes high cholesterol levels. It's just the way you're built that does it! The body has natural mechanisms to control cholesterol. If these mechanisms misoperate then you're going to see high cholesterol levels in your blood. Consult your physician and he will prescribe appropriate medication which suits your personal requirements.

The level of cholesterol in your blood can seriously affect your life and lifestyle! Before that happens, it is better that you consciously work your way to a better lifestyle. Watch your diet, exercise regularly, and stop smoking; these are simple ways to get on top of your high cholesterol condition. Medication is always there if the simple methods don't work. Remember, high cholesterol can lead to life altering and even life threatening cardio-vascular conditions, such as strokes and heart attacks. Your general health goes down, and you can suffer from many other unrelated diseases. Therefore it is in your own best interest to get serious about controlling the level of cholesterol in your blood - for good!

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