Lower Cholesterol and Reduce Your Risk of a Heart Attack or Stroke
Obesity and Cholesterol
Lower cholesterol has close ties to obesity. When you are obese or overweight you are often under greater stress to try and achieve a lower cholesterol level.
By achieving this lower level you would substantially decrease your risk of having a heart attack, a stroke or suffering from high blood pressure (hypertension).
Heart disease and stroke are considered major causes of death and disability and yet they can be controlled.
What is your cholesterol (level)?
This is a question we as adults often hear.
One of the common myths concerning cholesterol is that high cholesterol is dangerous.
What this belief fails to do is, differentiate between the two main types of cholesterol.
Of these two main types of cholesterol, a high level of one – Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) - is very harmful and can lead to you suffering from heart disease.
On the other hand, a high level of the other type – High-density lipoproteins (HDL) – is beneficial and protects you from heart disease.
The reason for this difference is that these two types, HDL and LDL, have completely different (in fact opposite) effects on your blood vessels and their propensity to getting clogged.
HDL – High-density lipoproteins is often termed "Good Cholesterol"
LDL – Low-density lipoproteins is often termed "Bad Cholesterol"
Keep in mind the following:
High HDL = GOOD
High LDL = BAD
Note: Even though two people may have the same total cholesterol levels in their blood, their level of risk of heart disease may differ.
The reason for this is that the one person could have a very high concentration of HDL, the healthy cholesterol, leading to a healthy heart and arteries.
The other person could, on the other hand, have a higher concentration of LDL, the unhealthy cholesterol, making that person more prone to heart disease.
Therefore the healthy objective is to maintain high levels of HDL and low levels of LDL.
What is Cholesterol?
This is a waxy, non-soluble, fat-like substance produced by your body. It is important for the development of hormones, cell walls and nerve sheaths. Your liver supplies over 80 percent of the body's requirements with the remainder being supplied by the food you eat.
The difference between the two main types:
HDL (high density lipoproteins) or 'good' type;
LDL (low density lipoproteins) or "bad" type.
The blood transports the Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) type to the cells of the body where it gets utilized. The excess amount usually accumulates in your arteries and could ultimately create a health risk.
The High Density Lipoproteins(HDL) type collects the excess LDL and transports it back to the liver where it is broken down before being eliminated.
Your Need to Lower Cholesterol
When you have a high LDL level, the excess amounts accumulate in the arteries as cholesterol plaque sticking to the walls of your arteries. This restricts your blood flow and can even create a blockage causing you to experience a heart attack. If this blockage occurs in a blood vessel supplying your brain, you experience a stroke.
Factors Affecting Your Cholesterol Level
These include:
Genetics - hereditary factors,
Age - your level could increase with age,
Food - what you eat does have an effect on your level,
Overweight - being overweight can lead to increased levels,
Physical Exercise - exercises that help control your weight would also help to reduce your level.
Lowering Cholesterol Level
The ideal level occurs when your LDL level is as low as possible while your HDL level is as high as possible.
Note: When doing a cholesterol test, focus on the ratio between the LDL and HDL levels.
Lower Cholesterol and Help Prevent a Heart Attack / Stroke
Heart disease / strokes are the biggest cause of death and disability in western society, and yet ironically it is one of the easiest to control. In spite of this, the statistics indicate the situation is getting worse.
There are also other related risk factors which can increase the incidence of a heart attack, or stroke such as:
