High Cholesterol

What is high cholesterol?

Whether you just found out or you’ve known for years that you have high cholesterol levels, you’re scared and for good reason. High cholesterol dramatically increases your chances of getting a heart attack or stroke resulting in paralysis, brain damage, and even death. It is a leading cause of heart disease and clogged arteries.

Cholesterol is produced by the liver and is a fat-like waxy substance. Although cholesterol is often thought of as a “bad thing”, the truth is that cholesterol also has purposes important to your overall health and body function. Every cell within the body is formed to varying degrees from cholesterol. When the cholesterol level becomes elevated, it can be dangerous. However at the appropriate levels, it plays a vital role in many functions of the body.

High Cholesterol in more detail?

Some cholesterol is produced in your body while eating saturated foods made from animal-based foods such as dairy, meat, and eggs while foods such as fruits, vegetables, and grains do not contain cholesterol. More than 50% of adults worldwide have levels of cholesterol that are too high, which substantially increases their odds of a heart attack, stroke, and coronary disease.

A cause of high cholesterol varies depending on lifestyle. There are several factors that all contribute:

Diet high in saturated fats – To reduce high cholesterol, the first line of defense is to limit consumption of foods high in animal saturated fats.
Over weight – Carrying around excess weight generally increases the level of “bad” cholesterol.
Little or no exercise – Regular exercise helps lower cholesterol and keeps your body functioning well.
Age and Gender – Cholesterol levels begin to increase as age increases with men generally developing high cholesterol levels earlier.
Heritage – Family genes is a big determinant of your susceptibility to high cholesterol. If your parents have a history with coronary disease, chances are you may too.

Other factors – Smoking, over indulgence of alcohol, and stress also are major contributors.

It is a fact that millions of adults including some younger people worldwide and especially Americans, either have high cholesterol levels or are taking cholesterol lowering drugs.

High cholesterol levels is a serious situation. Untreated it can cause severe health problems including stroke, kidney damage, blindness, and heart attacks. On average people with uncontrolled high cholesterol are:

Three times more likely to have a heart attack
Six times more likely to develop congestive heart failure
Seven times more likely to have a stroke


	Enter supporting content here