In humans, cholesterol in correct amounts is necessary for a healthy body. In fact, your system uses cholesterol to create body chemicals that are necessary for maintaining good health. Excessively high cholesterol levels can be unhealthy and even create long term cardiovascular problems.
When do you accept that drugs may be needed to maintain your cholesterol level chart?
Before committing to a doctor prescribed pharmaceutical to lower your cholesterol numbers, several baseline issues need to be resolved. Initially, your doctor will calculate the levels of lipids and fats in your blood. A simple blood test can evaluate the levels of both cholesterol types found in humans: LDL or BAD cholesterol including triglycerides or HDL regarded as good cholesterol which protects against heart disease by removing the dangerous LDL from our circulatory network.
A physician will study your risk of heart disease and choose whether to prescribe statin medication as a solution for your problem. To make a proper diagnosis, they must consider all of these areas:
Age and Sex – cholesterol worsen as both men and women get older. Ladies must monitor LDL cholesterol levels which usually increase after age 50, specifically after menopause. Of course, each person is an individual and our bodies react differently to aging. If a woman starts early menopause she should check her cholesterol levels on a regular basis to be aware of any developing problems.
Weight – the probability of heart disease rises by being too heavy. For most people who lose weight, bad LDL cholesterol numbers will be reduced. Good HDL cholesterol levels usually rise simultaneously which moderates your risk of a heart attack. In addition, triglyceride levels will also start to drop as you lose weight. When you are overweight, your cholesterol levels become imbalanced. Losing weight is critical in your efforts to control cholesterol. Once again, obesity and elevated cholesterol substantially increase the risks of suffering from cardiovascular disease (as well as contributing to high blood pressure which further strains the heart).
Heredity – It has been noticed that cholesterol problems are often found in family trees. Be sure and indicate any genetic connections to your primary health care provider. Also, remember that the medications that helped lower the cholesterol levels in your family members may also work for you.
Physical Activity – Regular exercise reduces your LDL cholesterol levels and helps maintain a healthy weight which raises HDL levels and reduces triglycerides. As little as thirty minutes daily will improve your cholesterol numbers. Exercise triggers a biochemical change that decreases LDL and raises HDL.
Diet – daily food intake has a powerful impact on cholesterol. If you are living on high cholesterol menu choices that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol, you can expect unhealthy cholesterol levels. Since the primary factor is saturated fat, it is suggested that you cut down on the amount of saturated fat in your diet. For high LDL levels, your doctor may prescribe a low cholesterol diet for six months and observe the resulting changes. Change the type of foods you eat and concentrate on reducing high cholesterol content. Instead of eating highly saturated fatty foods, switch to a low cholesterol meal plan that has less unsaturated fats.