Before recommending any pharmaceutical treatments to help cholesterol reducing, your physician will suggest a diet and lifestyle change. Usually, through changing what you eat coupled with regular exercise, you can lower your cholesterol level in a matter of months. Proper diet and exercise has been shown to be the most effective way to cholesterol reducing.
However, if this regimen doesn’t work after a few months, your physician may switch over to other medical treatments. Research has shown that medication can decrease cholesterol levels.
If your physician suggests medication to lower your cholesterol, be sure that you get all the information about it. Make sure you understand how the medication will affect your body. Also, make sure you are aware of any possible side effects and risks to your organs such as your liver.
Statins
Statins are used to decrease Low Density Lipoproteins. They can also decrease the risk of heart disease and also contribute to lowering triglyceride levels. Statins increase the liver’s ability to remove cholesterol from the bloodstream. It takes a few weeks to see changes in your cholesterol level.
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Cholesterol is a fat-like, waxy substance needed for the body to function properly. The liver produces cholesterol throughout the body. When cholesterol is at a good level, it can produce estrogen and testosterone hormones. However, if too much cholesterol is in your system, you put yourself at risk for clogged arteries. If not diagnosed, clogged arteries, in turn, can result in serious heart ailments.
Cholesterol travels throughout the body by way of lipoproteins. Lipoproteins are molecules and there are two forms:
HDL, or High Density Lipoproteins, are considered “good cholesterol”. High Density Lipoproteins carries cholesterol back to the liver so it can be removed. High Density Lipoproteins can also protect you from a heart attack or a stroke, provided they remain at a high level. These lipoproteins contain more protein and helps to remove Low Density Lipoproteins from the arteries.  Read the rest of this entry »
When it comes to a diet for lowering cholesterol, most people are confused as to exactly what they should be eating and just as importantly, what they should not be eating.
Here I will outline a brief idea on what sorts of foods you can eat that will assist in lowering your cholesterol. I am not providing a complete sample diet for lowering cholesterol, but this is something you can work off and work to include in your diet on a day to day basis. If you follow these guidelines and include most, if not all of these foods, then your cholesterol should start to lower. You can check your cholesterol every few months to see if your new diet is having a positive effect. If it is not and you have ruled out other causes of your high cholesterol, then you will most likely need to refine your diet even further by completely eliminating any foods that increase your cholesterol. Read the rest of this entry »
Symptoms of high cholesterol often go by unnoticed by the sufferer or those around him. Normally high cholesterol is confirmed by a blood test, not by exterior examination. It is often assumed that an overweight person will also be suffering from high cholesterol however this is not always the case.
Symptoms of High Cholesterol are more likely to be symptoms of a more serious illness which is caused by the high levels of bad cholesterol in the body. For example, stroke, coronary heart disease and peripheral vascular disease can all be caused by high cholesterol and will display symptoms of their own.
Coronary disease is also known as angina. Symptoms of this are most often just chest pain or a tightening or pressure in the chest. All instances of this feeling should be an indication that the person needs to seek immediate medical treatment. Read the rest of this entry »
To maintain a healthy heart, you must adapt to a cholesterol-friendly diet. By implementing changes in your diet, your cholesterol level can be reduced as much as 15 percent or more.
Fats consumed should be no more than 35% of your daily calories. Total calories from saturated fats should be less than seven percent. Try to consume enough calories to maintain a lower cholesterol level. However, if you have a high cholesterol level, check with your physician for fat intake recommendations.
You should actually limit your salt (sodium) intake to 2400 milligrams a day. Reducing your intake is preferred; However, sea salt can be used if necessary. Too much salt intake can cause high cholesterol levels.
To keep your cholesterol levels down, eat foods that contain soluble fiber. Soluble fiber is fiber that digests slowly. Some examples of this are oat bran, barley, beans, peas, fruits and vegetables. If there is still more Low Density Lipoproteins than needed, you can eat more soluble fibers to lower your cholesterol level. Read the rest of this entry »
