Preventing high cholesterol levels is important to preventing heart conditions. In order to know how to prevent high cholesterol, it is important to learn more about cholesterol as a whole and be able to tell the difference between good and bad cholesterol. Learning how to exercise properly and have dietary balance is a must in the fight against high cholesterol and heart disease that can cause stroke or heart attacks.
What is cholesterol?
Half of the battle of preventing high cholesterol is knowing what cholesterol is and what you can do to prevent your cholesterol levels from getting out of control.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance, also called a lipid, that is an important part of the cell membrane (outer lining) in animals. It is also circulating through the blood of humans. The cholesterol that is in our blood typically comes from two different sources, either in the food we eat or produced in the liver.
Foods that come from plants contain no cholesterol. The main sources of high cholesterol are dairy products, fish, poultry, and meat. Liver and other organ meats we eat have the highest cholesterol levels compared to other foods. Cholesterol is absorbed into the intestines and forms a type of protein "coat".
What is the difference between good and bad cholesterol?
When we talk about having high cholesterol, we refer to having high levels of "bad cholesterol" or LDL cholesterol. LDL levels are generally associated with heart problems and heart disease. The particular cholesterol type forms itself as hardened proteins on cell and artery walls which causes the formation of a thick substance that can eventually clog the arteries.
HDL cholesterol is known as good cholesterol. HDL cholesterol prevents heart problems by taking the bad cholesterol away from the artery walls and sending it to the liver for proper disposal. High levels of bad cholesterol and low levels of good would create an internal problem because the arteries become clogged and none of the LDL goes to the liver for disposal.
How do we determine high cholesterol?
High cholesterol levels really refers to whether the person has too much LDL cholesterol versus the better-for-your-body HDL cholesterol. By taking the sum of each level, as well as calculating in the intermediate density cholesterol, health practitioners can tell which type of cholesterol outweighs the other. When LDL has a comparatively high level to HDL, doctors diagnose high cholesterol.
Total cholesterol level can be determined through a simple blood test, and in fact, an at-home test kit is available and can be just as accurate as the standard tests procured in a doctor's office. So how do you know if you're at risk for heart disease or blood clots from cholesterol? The first step is to know your 'number'. In other words, have your cholesterol level checked.
240 mg/dL and over ? People with cholesterol levels over 240mg/dL are at increased risk for heart attack and stroke. If your cholesterol level is 240 mg/dL or greater, consult your doctor and follow his/her advice on lowering that level.
200?239 mg/dL ? Consult your doctor. Your doctor will be best equipped to interpret the results and test further for LDL andHDL levels.
Less than 200 mg/dL ? This is where your cholesterol level should be. Even so, to ensure that you have the right balance ? more HDL than LDL cholesterol ? you should follow the Guidelines for Healthy Living.
Although these levels are important guidelines, they do not give the whole picture ? they are really just rough guidelines. The LDL cholesterol level is a more important indicator of overall cardiovascular health, but having your cholesterol level checked will not necessarily give you your LDL cholesterol number.
LDL Levels
Less then 130 is optimal; 130-159 is borderline, increasing your risk for heart disease; 160 or greater puts you at greater risk for heart disease.
HDL Levels
Less then 40 increases your risk for heart disease; 60 or greater decreases your risk.
Traditional cholesterol testing is a good indicator for assessing heart disease and stroke risk; however, there are many variables that can not be controlled in this traditional testing, such as genes, race, age and past medical history. A person may appear 'heart healthy', at a good weight, fit, and eating a balanced diet, and still have unacceptable cholesterol levels. On the other hand, another person may have acceptable cholesterol levels ? even acceptable HDL cholesterol levels ? and still be at risk for heart disease. There is still much research to be done on cholesterol and our bodies' manufacture and control of cholesterol levels.
Fortunately, there is another test available, rather than the traditional cholesterol testing, which provides a more in-depth study of cholesterol levels. This is the VAP, or Verticle Auto Profile. This test not only indicates the HDL and LDL cholesterol levels, but also provides an analysis of the many subclasses of cholesterol and it offers a more comprehensive indication of who may be at an increased risk of heart disease. In fact, statistics show that the VAP has a 90% detection rate for persons at risk for heart disease, whereas traditional cholesterol testing may miss up to 60% of the patients at risk! Please see the VAP website for more information on the importance of this test, especially for anyone at risk for heart disease, and for information on taking the VAP.
Both Samantha Evans & Elizabeth Mcnally are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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Elizabeth Mcnally has sinced written about articles on various topics from High Cholesterol. Elizabeth McNally is a certified RN and has worked in heath care for the past 30 years. For more information go to . Elizabeth Mcnally's top article generates over 1600 views. to your Favourites.