Do You Have High Cholesterol Levels?
Keeping Track of Your Cholesterol Levels
It is always a good idea to monitor your cholesterol regularly so that you will know right away in case you are at risk for high cholesterol. The usual way of doing this is to undergo regular lab checks with your doctor but obviously, this method can be quite expensive over time, not to mention inconvenient for most people. Fortunately, there is an easier way of keeping track of cholesterol levels, and that is by using a home test kit.
Getting Your Own Cholesterol Count
A home cholesterol test kit is not difficult to use at all. It may not give reports that are as detailed as those you can get from a lab but it is still quite accurate. If the home test kit shows that you have normal or low cholesterol, then everything is fine.
However, if the results you get are in the high range, then it is recommended that you see your doctor and undergo a more thorough cholesterol test.
Once your high cholesterol count has been confirmed, your doctor will talk to you about the things you can do in order to bring this number down to more healthy cholesterol levels. Although each case is different, the causes of high cholesterol are usually due to lifestyle. Practically everyone can benefit from some positive lifestyle changes. This would include:
- Regular exercise
- Reducing alcohol consumption and quitting smoking.
- Dietary changes are also very effective for reducing high cholesterol numbers. Fatty and greasy foods are often responsible for the rise in bad cholesterol levels so you should avoid these as much as possible.
- It is also mandatory that you stay away from saturated fats and trans fats and instead opt for unsaturated fats, like those that can be found in vegetable oils, seeds and nuts.
- You may also want to try baking or grilling your food instead of frying them, which can actually increase your cholesterol rather than bring it down.
When it comes to exercise, there is no particular routine that you are required to do. Generally, you should just try to keep moving and stay as active as you can. Simple exercises like jogging, running, walking or dancing will already do wonders for your cholesterol count and your overall health if you do them regularly.
Finally, you can take prescription medications for cholesterol if your doctor feels that this is the best move for you. However, it is not advisable to take medications right away. It would be good to try lifestyle changes first and only turn to medications when these changes don’t have any effect on your high cholesterol count.
More serious cases may require the use of medication to reduce high cholesterol levels and to keep it down, although you may prefer to try a natural cholesterol lowering supplement first.
High Cholesterol Levels and Its Effects on Your Health
Maintaining Healthy Cholesterol Levels Is Very Important
We all know that having high cholesterol levels is not good for our health but how many of us are really aware of what high cholesterol can do to our body?
Today, more and more people are experiencing cholesterol-related health problems like strokes, heart attacks and other cardiovascular complications.
It is therefore evident that now is a good time to start educating ourselves about the dangers of cholesterol and to begin taking steps to prevent these problems from happening.
When you go in to have your cholesterol levels measured, the results will be given to you in numeric form. This number, which is often measured in milligrams, is your cholesterol count. There are many uncontrollable factors that can affect your cholesterol count, including your race, your age, your gender and even your lifestyle practices. Smoking and heavy drinking, for instance, can considerably increase one’s cholesterol levels.
Contrary to what many people think, not all kinds of cholesterol is bad – there is also the good cholesterol called HDL or high density lipoprotein. This type of cholesterol is actually needed by the body in order to function properly. What you want is to lower bad cholesterol (low density lipoprotein) while keeping your HDL count in the healthy range.
Ideal Cholesterol Levels
The exact number of ideal cholesterol levels varies with each individual but there is a general acceptable range for everyone. For most people, a cholesterol count of less than 200mg is considered good. Once you exceed this without going over 239mg, you are said to be a borderline case for high cholesterol.
Now, if your cholesterol reading is 240mg or higher, you should seriously start doing something to reduce cholesterol levels because you are already at high risk of developing heart problems and other cholesterol-related illnesses. It is recommended that you consult with your doctor, who can prescribe the right medications and also suggest dietary changes that will help you reduce cholesterol.
You can also help yourself, by starting your own healthy cholesterol diet and if you are into natural supplements, you may prefer to try a natural cholesterol lowering supplement. Even if you don’t have any visible cholesterol problems, it is advisable to start practicing healthy lifestyle habits. You can begin by eating a balanced diet everyday, getting plenty of exercise, drinking at least 8 glasses of water daily, quitting smoking and keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum. Such practices will not only help you avoid high cholesterol levels but improve your overall health incredibly.
