Lipid disorders actually increase your risk for both atherosclerosis and heart disease.
It is not unusual for high cholesterol to be hereditary. High cholesterol is also associated with:
1/ High fat diets
2/ Diseases including diabetes, hypothyroidism and kidney problems
3/ Different medications which include birth control pills, corticosteroids, estrogen, some diuretics and beta blockers
4/ Different lifestyle factors that include lack activity and alcohol abuse
Combining smoking with an existing high cholesterol condition puts you at greater risk for heart disease
You will find that lipid disorders are more common with men than women.
The tests that doctors use to diagnose lipid disorders include:
a- Lipoprotein Test
b- A Lipoproteina Analysis
c- A test for HDL
c- A test for LDL
The type of treatment you receive will depend on your age, backround & whether or not you smoke. Other risk factors taken into consideration include:
* Diabetes
* An existing high blood pressure condition
* If there is a family history of heart disease
You can take steps to lower your cholesterol levels. This can help to prevent heart disease and even the risk of a heart attack. The following are some steps that you can take:
1- Eat a diet that is low in saturated fat. Include whole grains, beans, vegetables and fruit in your diet.
2- A daily exercise regimen and sticking to it.
3- Of course, if you are overweight, lose it.
4- If you smoke, quit.
5- If you drink alcohol, reduce your consumption.
6- See your doctor for regular cholesterol screenings.
If lifestyle changes alone do not significantly reduce your cholesterol, your doctor will very likely recommend medication.
The group of drugs most commonly prescribed by doctors to lower cholesterol art statins. They are very successful in lower cholesterol levels in a relatively short amount of time, usually within a couple of months. The bad news is that they are know to cause serious side effects.
A different approach is to use herbal supplements. There are herbs used to lower cholesterol that are both mild and effective. They may take longer to work, sometimes up to six months. They do not cause; however, harmful side effects.
If you have high cholesterol you will have to continue with your improved diet and treatment, whatever it is, for the rest of your life. Reducing your cholesterol levels will slow the progression of atherosclerosis. This process can even be reversed with the right dietary changes.
