Do you know that a certain level of cholesterol aids in the production of bile acids, hormones, vitamin D and also improves the metabolism of a person? Liver usually contributes in the production of this cholesterol and the remaining cholesterol is gained by the diet that is taken by an individual. This is the HDL cholesterol, which is healthy for the body. On the other hand, high cholesterol levels can also be very harmful for an individual. LDL cholesterol is the bad cholesterol that brings with it a long trail of diseases.
LDL or bad cholesterol
This is the cholesterol that doctors and people generally refer to when they talk about health risks associated with high cholesterol levels. It often increases the risks for coronary artery disease as it leads to the hardening of arteries. This obstructs the normal blood flow in the brain as well as heart of the patient. Hence, high LDL cholesterol is also a warning sign for the risks of stroke and other health diseases.
Risky LDL levels
However, the good news is that an increase in HDL cholesterol in the body greatly helps in reducing the negative effects of LDL cholesterol. Diabetes patients can benefit a lot by keeping a check on their levels of LDL cholesterol. Nonetheless, before that, it is imperative to check the LDL levels of an individual. 130 to 158 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter of blood) is the borderline for LDL cholesterol levels. And any value above this is considered to be very risky for the health of the patient. Total level of cholesterol should always be below 200 mg/dL.
Regular cholesterol tests for timely diagnosis
One alarming thing about high cholesterol level is that the symptoms are not very noticeable. As a result, it becomes mandatory to get the regular check ups done after a certain age or if you are more exposed to its risk factors like smoking, family history among others. The advisable age to start cholesterol tests for an average man is 45 years and for a woman, it is 55 years and above. This is essential because if it isn’t diagnosed in time, it may lead to angina, arteriosclerosis and similar fatal consequences. Lipid profile and LDL cholesterol tests are usually conducted by doctors to know the patient’s bad cholesterol levels.
How to lower LDL cholesterol levels?
Lifestyle changes are necessary to lower these unhealthy cholesterol levels. This includes keeping a check on smoking habits, regular exercises along with some importance dietary changes. Healthy food in this condition would be foods that are high in polyunsaturated and mono unsaturated oils.
In addition to this, proper medication and treatment is recommended. Beta carotene, Calcium citrate and Policosanol are the herbal treatments that are believed to be beneficial to lower LDL cholesterol to an optimal level. Statin drugs are another effective medication that proves to be useful to treat high LDL levels.
Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors are also available that eliminates the absorption of LDL cholesterol in the stomach, thereby reducing its levels tremendously. They are usually taken along with statin drugs for a better treatment.
So, make sure that you get regular cholesterol check ups done to ensure good health in the coming years and not to fall pray to fatal diseases due to your carelessness to diagnose warning LDL levels on time.
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