Understanding Bad Cholesterol Levels
improve HDL cholesterol levelsIf you just received your first lipoprotein report, you are most probably slightly stressed by the values. Your doctor might have described the different terms and values, but who can concentrate on that when they’re told that they have a high risk of developing a heart condition? This article aims to give you some understanding about what the different terms and values are and what you should do to fix them.
High cholesterol level is the new diabetes. It’s a modern disease and it’s gained some notoriety in the last few decades. What are the main concerns and why is it considered to be so bad? There are two main groups of lipoproteins you should know about. The high-density lipoprotein or HDL is the good one. You always want to improve HDL cholesterol levels as it helps clear up the clogs in your arteries by carrying the excess material. It’s thought to be helpful and there are minimum desired levels rather than maximum levels described.
LDL or Low-Density lipoprotein on the other hand has to be kept at bay. You will want to know how to lower LDL cholesterol levels as LDL cholesterol builds up in arteries and causes the walls to thicken, thus disturbing the normal flow of blood. It can cause a heart disease, like coronary thrombosis, which is best avoided.
The above two values with triglycerides make up your total cholesterol level, which is determined as an mg/dL value in the States. It should be kept below 200, or under 240 if the HDL to LDL ratio justifies the increased figure. In case you have a borderline high cholesterol level, your doctor will further investigate the LDL and HDL values to see if you need to take extra measures to reduce your risk factors.
LDL should be below 100, especially for those who are in the very high risk group. Smoking, family history, high blood pressure and a history of heart condition all put you into this category. Sometimes it’s enough to stop smoking and eat more fibrous plants, such as beans to maintain a healthier ratio, but there are cases when the doctor will prescribe medication to keep your condition under control.
High cholesterol levels don’t kill people, but they should be taken as a warning of underlying problems and bad tendencies. Don’t just throw your report away, but take it as a sign that you need to work some more for your health.