Cholesterol Management Tips

Have you had your cholesterol checked recently? High cholesterol can contribute to many serious medical conditions, and if left unchecked is a leading cause of heart attacks and heart disease.

Cholesterol refers to a fatty substance that is not capable of being dissolved within the blood stream. Cholesterol is carried through the blood stream by lipoproteins. Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) have been named the “bad” cholesterol since too much of it within the arteries can lead to clogging. High Density Lipoproteins (HDL) have been named the “good” cholesterol. The body actually produces HDL as a protection mechanism to carry cholesterol away from the arteries. Understanding cholesterol, participating in preventative care, regular check-ups with your physician, and treatment if you develop high cholesterol are all important steps in the maintenance of your overall blood heath.

Understanding Cholesterol

Maintaining a healthy diet is a crucial piece of your overall health plan. When you consume a high volume of calories, the body will convert the unused energy into triglycerides. While most triglycerides are stored within the fatty tissue of the body, some are carried through the blood stream as LDL. Other leading causes of high triglycerides include age, a high fat diet, obesity, heredity, stress, diabetes, smoking and high blood pressure. The combination of high LDL levels and high triglycerides within the blood stream greatly contribute to your overall risk of heart disease.

Possible Health Effects Caused By High Cholesterol

• Arteriosclerosis
• Coronary Heart Disease
• Heart Disease
• Blood Clots
• Heart Attacks

While these are not the only health hazards caused by high cholesterol, they are the most prevalent. With proper health management, many of them can be avoided.

How Do You Lower High Cholesterol?

The medical field has revolutionized the ability to lower cholesterol with its continued improvement in the area of prescription drugs.
These are the most common classifications available:

• A new treatment option is a cholesterol absorption inhibitor. These drug options help to reduce cholesterol within the gut.

• Bile acid sequestrates which bind to bile within the intestines, causing them to be released through the stool.

• Nicotinic Acis lowers cholesterol with the use of Vitamin B.

• Fibrates are helpful in lowering triglycerides and with increasing HDL levels.

Seek the advice of a medical professional to determine the most appropriate treatment options for you.

Natural Treatments

It’s tough to keep up with what’s in and what’s out for health care, as there are multiple lists and sources that are frequently published. If you are interested in using natural treatment options, consider Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Carnitine, Chromium, Coenzyme Q10, Fiber or Soy supplements. Plant sterols and stanols have also been found to lower cholesterol in the blood and are often provided in the form of ordinary food, making it easy to add to your diet. Some foods to consider adding to your diet are:

• Oatmeal and oat bran
• Walnuts and almonds
• Fish and Omega 3- fatty acids
• Pomegranate Juice
• Orange Juice

This is a very short list to provide you with several examples to consider adding into your diet.

Each of these natural sources has been proven to aid in the reduction of cholesterol within the body.

Seek the advice of your medical professional and read all labels prior to adding any of these natural treatment options into your daily routine.

Cholesterol is a leading cause for many serious heart health and blood related issues. When discovered early and properly managed, many of these issues can be prevented.

Resources:
http://www.careurheart.com/heart-care-artic les/cholesterol-treatment.htm

http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthissues/heal thyheart/cholesterol/