We have all heard so much about cholesterol, but most of us (even those with high cholesterol levels) don’t really know what it is. Here is just a quick over view of cholesterol, if you have more questions or need information just contact your doctors office. You usually don’t even need an appointment – just ask if they have any pamphlets about cholesterol. They you can just pick them up when you have a few minutes.

What is cholesterol and why should I even care about it? I can’t see it, so is it really going to hurt me?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found among other fats in the arteries. Although cholesterol plays an important role in the building of cell membranes and other tissues, a high cholesterol level is widely considered one of the major factors in the development of heart disease. When you have too much cholesterol in your body, it collects on the walls of your arteries and could cause clotting, which might lead to a stroke. Most experts recommend you maintain a cholesterol level below 200 mg/dL, which can usually be accomplished without the use of drugs through a diet consisting of high fiber, low-cholesterol foods.

In order to combat cholesterol and its harmful effects, many experts recommend we eat at least three servings of fruit or vegetables each day, and five is even better. These foods are low in cholesterol and high in fiber. One simple way to increase your intake of fruits and vegetables is to include them in snacks, salads, side dishes, deserts and entrees. You can add a wide variety of vegetables to most meat dishes, or occasionally plan completely vegetarian meals.

So the solution is simple. However, the only problem with any simple solution is it’s also just as simple not to use it.

Now you know the answer, but what are you going to do about it?

Are you watching your cholesterol levels?  Concerned about heart disease?

Read any article about high cholesterol these days and you’re likely to find horror stories of how such things will doom you to a future of strokes, heart attacks and other heart disease. But did you know some experts claim the data indicates cholesterol may not be an important factor in the development of heart problems? Experts are in fact torn between these two opposing views about the dangers of high cholesterol.

The Framingham Heart Study claims to show a cause-and-effect relationship between high cholesterol levels and coronary heart disease. This study indicates those with higher levels of blood cholesterol are more likely to develop coronary heart disease (CHD) than those with lower levels.

It shows coronary heart disease is unusual at low cholesterol levels, and therefore claims proof that low cholesterol levels are the key to overall heart health. Another recent series of trials studied the effects of statin drugs (a type of cholesterol-lowering medication) and claimed lowering the total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol reduces the risk of heart attack, angioplasty (a bypass that requires surgery) and death from coronary disease.

But other experts disagree with the findings of the cholesterol-equals-death crowd. Some experts do not see a cause-and-effect relationship between too much cholesterol and heart disease in these studies. These experts go as far as arguing there is no such thing as “bad” cholesterol or “good” cholesterol.

They have observed that mental stress, physical activity and a change of body weight may all influence blood cholesterol levels and conclude that a high cholesterol level is only the reflection of an already unhealthy condition. Cholesterol is seen like a fever: if you remove the flu, then the fever will go away too. Instead of, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?”  these experts ask, “Which came first, the high cholesterol levels or the poor health?”

Whichever view seems correct to you, it is undisputed these conditions are often present when heart disease is identified:

•    High total cholesterol levels
•    Low HDL (good) cholesterol and high LDL (bad) cholesterol levels
•    Smoking
•    High blood pressure
•    Diabetes
•    Physical inactivity
•    Obesity or excess body fat

Since so much disagreement exists among experts and their interpretation of cholesterol-related studies, the best answer could very well be to stay on the safe side.

If conditions such as hypertension, obesity, high cholesterol and smoking are in fact present in many people with heart disease, it might be wise to remove as many of these factors as possible. Take steps to lower your blood pressure, lose weight, reduce stress and quit smoking, and you’re likely to experience a better life whether high cholesterol has anything to do with it or not.

It could be argued exercise, proper diet, and healthy lifestyle habits all carry their own reward so continue on with your healthy lifestyle –you’ll feel better.

Watch any TV news story or read an article about high cholesterol these days and you’re likely to hear stories of how it will cause you to have a future of strokes,  heart attacks and other such heart diseases.

But did you know some experts claim the data actually indicates cholesterol may not be such an important factor in the development of heart problems after all?

The experts can’t seem to agree on whether or not high cholesterol levels are truly related to the various heart diseases.

Whichever of these opposing views you seem to agree with, researches have found certain traits which are higher in those who have heart disease and they are:

•    High total cholesterol levels
•    Low HDL (good) cholesterol and high LDL (bad) cholesterol levels
•    Smoking
•    High blood pressure
•    Diabetes
•    Physical inactivity
•    Obesity or excess body fat

If conditions such as hypertension, obesity, high cholesterol and smoking are in fact present in many of the people who develop heart disease, it might be wise to remove as many of these suspicious factors as possible.

Take steps to lower your blood pressure, lose weight, reduce stress and quit smoking, and you’re likely to experience a better life whether high cholesterol has anything to do with it or not.

It could even be argued that exercise, proper diet, and healthy lifestyle habits all carry their own rewards.

A simple blood test is all it takes to find out if you have a normal cholesterol reading or if you need to make some changes to get it under control. But just what is a normal reading and how do you know if your numbers are to high? There are two schools of thought when it comes to this; one based on the total blood cholesterol levels and the other on the ratio of good to bad cholesterol.

The good, or HDL (high density lipoproteins), is primarily responsible for removing the bad, or LDL (low density lipoproteins) from the blood stream and returning it to the liver where it is removed from the body as waste. High levels of LDL in the blood stream leads to plaque build up in the arteries. Plaque deposits can clog arteries which is a symptom of coronary artery disease. A total blockage can cause a heart attack. If a plaque deposit breaks free as a blood clot it can cause a stroke.

Total cholesterol readings are obtained by combining the total amount of both high density and low density lipoproteins. From this total your doctor can make an informed decision as to whether or not you need to take measures to bring this number down. Another number that your doctor will look at is total LDL cholesterol. This number is important because LDL’s cause the damage that can lead to heart disease.

The breakdown range of total and LDL cholesterol numbers is as follows.

1. Normal Cholesterol Readings – A total level less than 200 mg/dl or LDL level less than 130 mg/dl is considered normal. People in this range have little risk of heart disease or stroke from cholesterol problems.

2. Borderline-High – A total level between 200-239 mg/dl or LDL level between 130-159 mg/dl is considered borderline-high. People who test in this range are recommended to make some lifestyle changes based around a healthy diet and exercise plan to reduce their levels to normal. People in this range usually do not need to be prescribed medications as simple lifestyle changes can usually bring about the desired results.

3. High Cholesterol Reading – Any test returning a total level above 240 mg/dl or LDL level above 160 mg/dl is considered high. People who test at this level must make some serious dietary changes along with starting an exercise program. They will also probably be given a prescription for a cholesterol lowering medication by their doctor.

For those who use the idea that the ratio between good and bad cholesterol is a good way to determine if levels are to high it works like this. Take the total cholesterol reading and divide it by the HDL level. This will give a ratio that if it’s more than 4 then it is time to take steps to lower the overall and LDL cholesterol levels.

If you feel you may not have a normal cholesterol reading then make an appointment with your doctor. A simple blood test is all it takes to determine if it is something you need to be worried about.

To learn more about cholesterol readings please visit the website Lowering Cholesterol by clicking here.

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