If Cholesterol Is Necessary Why Do We Have To Worry About How Much We Have
Having enough cholesterol to meet your needs is important. Having too much cholesterol can cause problems. If your cholesterol levels are high, the condition is called hypercholesterolemia. If your cholesterol levels are low, the condition is called hypocholesterolemia. It is not common to have cholesterol levels that are too low, but it can happen.
What Causes High Cholesterol In Women The Causes Of High Cholesterol And How To Lower It
Cholesterol affects women differently than men in general this is why
High triglycerides, another type of blood fat, can also mean youre at risk of heart disease, liver disease and diabetes.
Having elevated levels of either substance in your blood is a concern for both men and women but it generally the risk manifests differently in women.
This is an overview of the effects of high cholesterol and triglycerides in women, the causes, and what you can do to lower your levels.
What Is Normal Cholesterol
The normal blood test to establish your total cholesterol is called a lipid profile, the figures are taken from a measurement of HDL, LDL and triglycerides so what should normal cholesterol be?
A desirable level of LDL would be less than 100 mg/DL for women the HDL level should be more than 50 mg/DL your triglycerides ideally below 150 mg/DL adding the three together gives a total cholesterol level of 200 mg/DL which is ideal.
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Myth #4 Cholesterol Levels Go Down After A Woman Hits Menopause Because She Has Less Estrogen In Her Blood
False: After menopause, a woman should always expect her cholesterol levels to go up. This is not only because LDL tends to increase during this stage but also because post-menopausal women gain, on average, 8-10 pounds and often become more sedentary. The earlier you can address your cholesterol the better so you can prepare yourself for the changes to come.
Prevention Of High Cholesterol
Regularly monitoring your cholesterol levels can also help prevent your numbers from getting too high or low. In general, healthy adults should check their cholesterol every four to six years, but your doctor may ask to check your cholesterol more often depending on your age, overall health, and other risk factors. There are other ways to prevent high cholesterol, too
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Heart Disease Is Complicated Forward Can Help
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What Should My Cholesterol Be At 60
When it accumulates over time, it may result in a heart attack or stroke in your fifties or forties. You are more prone to develop heart disease if you have high cholesterol for a lengthy period of time. Those who had high levels for 11 years or more, according to one study, had a twofold increased risk compared to those who had high levels for ten years or less.
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Can High Cholesterol Be Prevented Or Avoided
Making healthy food choices and exercising are two ways to reduce your risk of developing high cholesterol.
Eat fewer foods with saturated fats . Choose healthier fats. This includes lean meats, avocados, nuts, and low-fat dairy items. Avoid foods that contain trans fat . Look for foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These foods include salmon, herring, walnuts, and almonds. Some egg brands contain omega-3.
Exercise can be simple. Go for a walk. Take a yoga class. Ride your bike to work. You could even participate in a team sport. Aim to get 30 minutes of activity every day.
Which Foods Increase Ldl Cholesterol Levels
Your diet plays a massive role in determining your cholesterol levels. Foods high in trans fats, saturated fats, and salts can be especially dangerous. These include:
- Red meats
- Donuts, cookies, crackers, and other baked goods
- Fast foods
- Chicken with the skin on
- Cured or processed meats
Many food items you find in the store may have trans and saturated fats and high sodium, so make sure to carefully read the nutrition information before buying.
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What Health Problems Can High Cholesterol Cause
If you have large deposits of plaque in your arteries, an area of plaque can rupture . This can cause a blood clot to form on the surface of the plaque. If the clot becomes large enough, it can mostly or completely block blood flow in a coronary artery.
If the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart muscle is reduced or blocked, it can cause angina or a heart attack.
Plaque also can build up in other arteries in your body, including the arteries that bring oxygen-rich blood to your brain and limbs. This can lead to problems such as carotid artery disease, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease.
Why Should I Lower My Cholesterol
Evidence strongly indicates that high cholesterol can increase the risk of:
- narrowing of the arteries
- transient ischaemic attack often known as a “mini stroke”
- peripheral arterial disease
This is because cholesterol can build up in the artery wall, restricting the blood flow to your heart, brain and the rest of your body. It also increases the risk of a blood clot developing somewhere in your body.
Your risk of developing coronary heart disease also rises as your blood’s cholesterol level increases. This can cause pain in your chest or arm during stress or physical activity .
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Home Remedies To Lower Cholesterol Naturally
In some cases, you may be able to lower your cholesterol levels without taking medications. For example, it may be enough to eat a nutritious diet, exercise regularly, and avoid smoking tobacco products.
Some people also claim that certain herbal and nutritional supplements may help lower cholesterol levels. For instance, claims have been made about:
- ground flaxseed
However, the level of evidence supporting these claims varies. Also, the Food and Drug Administration hasnt approved any of these products for treating high cholesterol. More research is needed to learn if they can help treat this condition.
Always talk with your doctor before taking any herbal or nutritional supplements. In some cases, they might interact with other medications youre taking.
You cant control the genetic risk factors for high cholesterol. However, lifestyle factors can be managed.
To lower your risk of developing high cholesterol:
- Eat a nutritious diet thats low in cholesterol and animal fats, and high in fiber.
- Avoid excessive alcohol consumption.
- E.xercise regularly.
- Avoid smoking.
Follow your doctors recommendations for routine cholesterol screening. If youre at risk of high cholesterol or coronary heart disease, they will likely encourage you to get your cholesterol levels tested on a regular basis.
Is 236 Total Cholesterol High
It is considered healthy for people to have total cholesterol levels that are less than 200 milligrams per deciliter . A blood sugar level between 200 and 239 mg/dL is considered borderline high. A blood pressure level of 240 mg/dL or above is considered high.
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How Often Should You Get Screened For Cholesterol
Your first cholesterol screening should take place between the ages of nine and 11. After that, get a complete lipid panel every five years unless your doctor recommends more frequent screenings due to certain risk factors. Once men reach the age of 45 and women reach the age of 55, get screened every two yearsmore often if your doctor recommends it. After age 65, everyone should have an annual cholesterol screening.
What Should My Cholesterol Levels Be
Blood cholesterol is measured in units called millimoles per litre of blood, often shortened to mmol/L.
As a general guide, total cholesterol levels should be:
- 5mmol/L or less for healthy adults
- 4mmol/L or less for those at high risk
As a general guide, LDL levels should be:
- 3mmol/L or less for healthy adults
- 2mmol/L or less for those at high risk
An ideal level of HDL is above 1mmol/L. A lower level of HDL can increase your risk of heart disease.
Your ratio of total cholesterol to HDL may also be calculated. This is your total cholesterol level divided by your HDL level. Generally, this ratio should be below four, as a higher ratio increases your risk of heart disease.
Cholesterol is only one risk factor. The level at which specific treatment is required will depend on whether other risk factors, such as smoking and high blood pressure, are also present.
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Lack Of Physical Activity
Certainly related to the above, insufficient physical activity can also drive LDL higher. The good news, however, is that even modest increases in the amount of exercise you get can help a great deal. Ideally, doctors may want you getting up to 90 minutes a day of physical activity however, even 30 to 45 minutes regularly can be helpful.
At bare minimum, the surgeon general recommends that adults get 2.5 hours of moderate exercise every week. This can include:
- Biking
- Swimming
How Can I Lower My Cholesterol
There are two main ways to lower your cholesterol:
- Heart-healthy lifestyle changes, which include:
- Heart-healthy eating. A heart-healthy eating plan limits the amount of saturated and trans fats that you eat. Examples include the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes diet and the DASH Eating Plan.
- Weight Management. If you are overweight, losing weight can help lower your LDL cholesterol.
- Physical Activity. Everyone should get regular physical activity .
- Managing stress. Research has shown that chronic stress can sometimes raise your LDL cholesterol and lower your HDL cholesterol.
- Quitting smoking.Quitting smoking can raise your HDL cholesterol. Since HDL helps to remove LDL cholesterol from your arteries, having more HDL can help to lower your LDL cholesterol.
- Drug Treatment. If lifestyle changes alone do not lower your cholesterol enough, you may also need to take medicines. There are several types of cholesterol medicines available, including statins. The medicines work in different ways and can have different side effects. Talk to your health care provider about which one is right for you. While you are taking medicines to lower your cholesterol, you should continue with the lifestyle changes.
NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
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Cholesterol And Women: Top 5 Myths Debunked
As I have mentioned in many of my previous Straight Talks, keeping your cholesterol in check is one important way to lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. As simple as this may sound, Ive found that many people, including women, have bought into some of the cholesterol myths and legends, making it difficult to make heart-healthy decisions. Lets debunk a few of those cholesterol myths!
Treatment And Medication Options For High Cholesterol
Although having high cholesterol numbers can contribute to the long-term risk of heart attack and stroke, you can lower your cholesterol through changes in your lifestyle habits, including adopting a heart-healthy diet, increasing your physical activity level, and quitting smoking. These long-term lifestyle changes can also prevent your cholesterol levels from changing in the first place.
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Myth #2 Foods High In Cholesterol Are What Increase My Cholesterol Blood Levels
False: Over 80% of the cholesterol in your blood is made by your own liver. The rest comes from food. It is actually foods rich in saturated fats that should be avoided because they will increase your cholesterol levels. These include butterfat in milk products, fat from red meat, and tropical oils such as coconut oil.
High Cholesterol Is The Leading Cause Of Death In Women According To Health Expert
While high cholesterol and heart disease is said to be a man’s illness, research from Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute shows more women have high cholesterol than men and account for more than half of heart disease events.
In an interview with SBS Filipino, Dr. Lorie de Leon who specialises in womens health says high cholesterol is the leading cause of death among women.
High cholesterol in women is the number one cause of death. High levels of cholesterol can include the risk of developing heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure, or stroke.”
Highlights
- Research from Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute shows more women have high cholesterol than men and account for more than half of heart disease events.
- Higher blood cholesterol levels can increase the risk of developing heart disease or having a heart attack.
- While high cholesterol does not have symptoms, the doctor says the only way to monitor one’s levels is through a regular blood test.
In fact, a past study from Hopkins medicine.org says approximately 45 percent of women over the age of 20 have elevated cholesterol levels.
While cholesterol is needed by our body to function, too much cholesterol is not a good thing adds Dr. De Leon.
“High cholesterol can affect other organs in our body. The number one cause of high cholesterol is obesity, unhealthy diet, and an inactive lifestyle.”
LDL vs HDL
Dr. De Leon says our cholesterol is composed of HDL, the good cholesterol, and LDL, the bad cholesterol.
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Why Is Cholesterol Important To Our Bodies
Every cell in the body needs cholesterol, which helps the cell membranes form the layers. These layers protect the contents of the cell by acting as the gatekeeper to what things can enter or leave the cell. It is made by the liver and is also used by the liver to make bile, which helps you digest foods. Cholesterol is also needed to make certain hormones and to produce vitamin D. Your liver makes enough cholesterol to meet your bodys needs for these important functions.
Physical Signs Of High Cholesterol You Should Know About
Cholesterol is a fatty substance which is developed naturally in the body. It performs several vital functions like rebuilding walls surrounding the bodys cells and converting basic materials into certain hormones.
You only need a small amount of cholesterol and almost all of them are produced by your body. Most of the cholesterol in your body is produced in your liver. The rest of them come from your diet. This kind of dietary cholesterol is present in foods such as eggs, meat, and dairy products.
If you have too much cholesterol in your bloodstream, you have high cholesterol. High cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. For this reason, knowing the cholesterol levels in your blood is quite important to prevent any future heart disease and blockages of blood vessels.
There are two main types of cholesterol you should be aware of:
- high-density lipoprotein , or good cholesterol
In other words, high levels of LDL cholesterol can cause more plaque accumulation and increase the risk of a heart attack, stroke and other diseases. On the other hand, high levels of HDL cholesterol can actually help prevent heart attacks and strokes. HDL gains its good name by removing LDL cholesterol from the arteries and tissues and bringing it back to the liver where the excessive LDL cholesterol is broken down.
Risk Factors for High LDL Cholesterol
Physical Signs of High Cholesterol Levels
1. Sore Hands and Feet
2. Frequent Tingling
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What Causes High Cholesterol And Are You At Risk
Cholesterol is a type of fat that travels in your bloodstream attached to lipoproteins. Low-density lipoproteins, more commonly known as LDL cholesterol, are the bad guys that stick to the walls of your arteries and harden into plaque, reducing or blocking the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your organs and tissues. High-density lipoproteins, hailed as the good HDL cholesterol, moves along and picks up as much LDL as it can and takes it back to the liver, where its processed and expelled from the body.
Triglycerides arent cholesterol, but theyre another type of fat found in the blood. Triglycerides are created from the extra calories you consume, and theyre stored in your fat cells until your body needs them for energy. A lipoprotein known as very low-density lipoprotein, or VLDL, carries the triglycerides from your fat cells to your tissues for fuel. Once the VLDL drops off the fuel, it becomes LDL cholesterol and adds to the plaque buildup in your arteries.
Having high levels of bad cholesterol generally means you have high cholesterol, which increases your risk for cardiovascular disease. High triglyceride levels and low good HDL cholesterol also increase your risk for cardiovascular diseases.
But how do LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels end up so high?
Make The Changes Worth Making
If you have high blood cholesterol, making lifestyle changes is a great first step to lower your risk of heart disease. If those steps dont reduce your risk enough, your doctor may prescribe medications to help.
Remember: Making even modest changes now can help to prevent significant medical issues later. Do all you can to reduce your risk for the serious effects of heart attack and stroke.
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Ldl Cholesterol Or Bad Cholesterol
LDL cholesterol is often called bad cholesterol. It carries cholesterol to your arteries. If your levels of LDL cholesterol are too high, it can build up on the walls of your arteries.
This buildup is also known as cholesterol plaque. This plaque can narrow your arteries, limit your blood flow, and raise your risk of blood clots. If a blood clot blocks an artery in your heart or brain, it can cause a heart attack or stroke.