Healthy Life: Cholesterol Numbers

Understanding Cholesterol Numbers

Cholesterol is a fat chemical made in the cells in your body and animals. Your body naturally has cholesterol, however too much can be dangerous.

Cholesterol levels should be measured at least once every five years in everyone over age 20. The screening test that is usually performed is a blood test called a lipid profile. Experts recommend that men ages 35 and older and women ages 45 and older be more frequently screened for lipid disorders. The lipoprotein profile includes:

Total cholesterol
LDL (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, also called "bad" cholesterol)
HDL (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, also called "good" cholesterol)
Triglycerides (fats carried in the blood from the food we eat. Excess calories, alcohol, or sugar in the body are converted into triglycerides and stored in fat cells throughout the body).

Results of your blood test will come in the forms of numbers. Here is how to interpret your cholesterol numbers. The first thing you need to know is that the numbers by themselves are not enough to predict your risk of heart problems or to determine what you need to do to lower that risk. They are, instead, one part of a larger equation that includes your age, your blood pressure, your smoking status, and your use of blood pressure medicines. Your doctor will use this information to calculate your 10-year risk for serious heart problems. Then the two of you will develop a strategy for reducing that risk.

LDL Cholesterol

LDL cholesterol can build up on the walls of your arteries and increase your chances of getting heart disease. That is why LDL cholesterol is referred to as "bad" cholesterol. The lower your LDL cholesterol number, the lower your risk.

If your LDL is 190 or more, it is considered very high. Your doctor will most likely recommend a statin in addition to making healthy lifestyle choices. Statins are medicines that can help lower cholesterol levels.

You may also need to take a statin even though your LDL level is lower than 190. After figuring your 10-year risk, your doctor will recommend a percentage by which you should try to lower your LDL level through diet, exercise, and medication if necessary.

HDL Cholesterol

When it comes to HDL cholesterol "good" cholesterol a higher number means lower risk. This is because HDL cholesterol protects against heart disease by taking the "bad" cholesterol out of your blood and keeping it from building up in your arteries. A statin can slightly increase your HDL, as can exercise.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are the form in which most fat exists in food and the body. A high triglyceride level has been linked to higher risk of coronary artery disease. Here's the breakdown.

Maintain Healthy Cholesterol Level..!!

A cholesterol causes heart attacks. An Individual is prone to heart attack when he has a higher LDL cholesterol from HDL cholesterol. Lipoprotein LDL causes cholesterol to stick to artery walls, causing the formation of hard and dense material called cholesterol plaque. Over time, cholesterol plaque causes thickening of the artery walls and narrowing of the arteries, a process called "atherosclerosis".

Coronary arteries supply blood and oxygen to the heart muscle. When coronary arteries are narrowed due to "atherosclerosis", it is not capable of supplying enough blood and oxygen to the heart muscle. Lack of oxygen to the heart muscle causes chest pain, also blood clot in the arteries that lead to channel blockage and lead to the death of heart muscle (heart attack).

HDL cholesterol particles prevent the process "atherosclerosis" by pulling cholesterol from the artery wall and remove them through the heart, to be discharged through the bile. It also interferes with the accumulation of cholesterol in the artery wall by LDL cholesterol particles.".

1.Soybean

- Contains 48 percent protein, lecithin, vitamins and minerals.
- Able to avoid heart disease and diabetes.
- Calcium and mineral content helps break down fat while reducing the levels of bad fat or low density lipoprotein (LDL) and raise levels of good fats or high-density lipoprotein.

2. Sun Flower Seed

- Rich in iron content.
- Practice of eating fresh watermelon seeds such as pumpkin seeds or sunflower for increase iron while reducing cholesterol.

3. Dried fruit
- Dates are rich in fiber and flavonoids content.
- Be able to get rid of excess fat, cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.
- Flavonoids are also found in tea, broccoli, tomatoes, onions and pomegranate.

4. Apples
- Eat an apple or juice every day can reduce cholesterol in the body.
- Eat fast food and then eat an apple or juice can compensate for nutrient content and prevent the formation of fat.

5. Tuna
- Source of omega-3 than salmon and sardines.
- Protect the body from increased levels of LDL cholesterol.

6. Peanuts

- Roasted peanuts contain healthy fats and rich in vitamin E.

- Vitamin E may help prevent free radicals from damaging the HDL content and can prevent a heart attack.

7. Mango

- Rich in vitamin C.

- Vitamin C in the body is able to prevent LDL.

- Other than mango fruit is a star, hog plum, papaya, rambutan, strawberry and kiwi.

8. Raisins
- Contains compounds that can lower cholesterol.
- 400grams diet each day of plum ca reduce blood cholesterol levels by 8 percent.

9. Guava
- Recommended eating guava in the amount of 400 grams or a day for four weeks.
- Can lower cholesterol levels by 18.8 percent and effective for women who want to lose weight.