Information on High Cholesterol

High cholesterol is too much of a fatty-like substance that is found in the blood. Having too much of the substance can lead to a thickening or hardening in the walls of the arteries, resulting in blood clots. Everyone has a certain amount of cholesterol flowing through our blood to help keep our bodies functioning normally. Being aware of how much cholesterol is in our system is imperative for good health. Once the cholesterol has reached high levels, treatment of the condition to lower these levels are necessary. Below is information pertaining to the causes and treatments of high cholesterol.

Causes

• Basically there are two types of high cholesterol. There are causes of high cholesterol you can control and others you cannot. If you have a family history of high cholesterol, you may be more prone to developing the condition. Other factors you cannot control are things, such as your sex and age. Women entering menopause are more likely to notice their cholesterol levels raise. Also certain diseases, such as hypothyroidism and kidney disease, may cause your cholesterol levels to raise. Even medications, such as diuretics, estrogen, corticosteroids and beta-blockers, may cause a rise in cholesterol levels. Causes of high cholesterol you are able to control are things such as weight, lack of exercise, your diet, stress, as well as smoking and drinking alcohol. By making changes to these things, you will be able to reduce the amount of bad cholesterol levels in your blood and raise your good cholesterol.

Types

• There are two types of cholesterol levels that are measured in tests. These are LDL, or bad cholesterol and HDL, otherwise known as good cholesterol. You want your LDL to be low and your HDL level to be high. Even if you have a high HDL level, a high LDL level of cholesterol will lower your HDL level. When testing cholesterol levels, a good score should be 200 or below. You are considered borderline if the score is 200 through 239 and considered to have high cholesterol if the rating is above 240. A LDL level of 129 and lower, is the best rating your can have. A score of 130 to 159, is considered borderline high and a score of 160 through 189, is considered high. Anything above a 190 is considered very high. With HDL cholesterol, a score of 60 or higher is best and protects against developing heart disease. A score of 40 or higher is good and a score of lower than 40 is bad, meaning there is chance of developing heart problems.

Testing

• To test for high cholesterol, a blood test is needed. This test will measure the levels of HDL, LDL and triglycerides in your blood. You will more than likely have to fast for 12 hours before having the test, so your levels of these substances can be correctly measured. After you receive the results of the blood test, your doctor will be able to make a plan for treating your high cholesterol.

Treatment

• Your doctor may suggest you try to make lifestyle changes before putting you on medications. If after three months your cholesterol levels remain high, medication will be added to control these levels and bring them back into a normal range. A person suffering from coronary artery disease or peripheral arterial disease, diabetics, or have had either a heart attack or stroke, will be put on medication immediately. At this time statins are the most effective treatment in controlling levels of cholesterol. Statins have been shown to reduce the risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke. They also reduce this risk for people who are at a high risk of developing these conditions.

Foods High in Cholesterol

• Unfortunately, many foods we consider comfort foods are high in cholesterol. Such things as macaroni and cheese, ice cream, cake, cookies, red meat, eggs and processed foods are high in LDL cholesterol. Basically the saying, "If it tastes good it's bad for you", is true. Generally foods that taste really good to us, are loaded with high levels of LDL cholesterol. Hydrogenated oils that are found in margarine, salad dressing, cooking oils and many pastries, are also bad for you.

Foods Low in Cholesterol

• If trying to lower your cholesterol levels, there are many foods you can add to your diet to help do so. Vegetables, such as onions, garlic and ginger are known to lower your bad levels of LDL. In fact, some people swear by eating at least seven cloves of garlic a day, will reduce your levels of HDL. Add good fats to your diet that contain Omega-3 oils, such as olive oil, coconut oil and nuts. Foods containing whole grains and fiber, will also help reduce your bad levels of cholesterol.