Cholesterol: The Silent Killer

Everyone's always talking about cholesterol, you hear it everywhere; at the doctor, on the news, and in commercials. But, what is cholesterol and how do you get too much of it. Well, quite simply cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance made in the liver and found in certain foods like meat from animals, dairy products, and eggs. There are two types of cholesterol that blood analysis test for, ones good for you and the other is bad. One of these forms of cholesterol is known as LDL (low density lipoprotein) in high amounts it's very bad for your health , the other is HDL (high density lipoprotein) which in high levels is good for you and helps in reducing the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. It does this by acting as a scavenger removing harmful LDL cholesterol from where it doesn't belong.

People with high cholesterol are at serious risk of getting heart disease. This can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Only about 25% of cholesterol comes from the foods you eat. The other 75% is made by the body. Factors such as age and family history affect how much cholesterol your body makes. So, if you have high cholesterol you shouldn't feel bad because it's mostly based on genetics. If you have high cholesterol your not aloneThe American Heart Society estimates that 102.2 million adults in the united states have unacceptable blood cholesterol levels putting them at extreme health risks.

No one wants to be debilitated from having a stroke and potentially losing partial control of their motor skills, speech, cognitive function, paralysis, or even death. Heart failure is no fun either, out of nowhere the silent killer cholesterol can have one short of breath with pains in the chest, shoulder, and back. These are the signs of a heart attack brought on by clogged arteries from cholesterol. It's called the silent killer because there are no real ways to know that your cholesterol levels are out of control unless you either have a heart attack or stroke and/or get blood cholesterol tests done on a semi-annual basis.

So, if you have found out that you have high cholesterol; what can you do to lower it? Well, there are a number of natural things you can do to lower your cholesterol without medication aids such as Lipitor, but you'll need to get a firmer grasp on the contributing factors below:

Cholesterol And Genetics
To some extent, your genes will determine your cholesterol levels. Some people inherit a condition called familial hypercholesterolemia, basically a condition that states that high cholesterol is in your genes. Other people, especially those with a family history of diabetes inherit high triglyceride levels known as hypertriglyceridemia. Triglycerides are another type of blood fat that can also raise cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol And Diet
Eating too much saturated dietary fat (the kind found in high-fat meats and dairy products) and cholesterol foods and products high in cholesterol can cause your body to make more cholesterol, raising your blood cholesterol levels. You can lower your cholesterol level by switching to a lower-fat diet, reducing intake of animal fat and other fats and eating foods rich in starch and fiber, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and especially things like oatmeal or Cheerios.
Cholesterol And Exercise
Regular exercise not only reduces the total blood cholesterol, but it lowers LDL cholesterol (bad) while raising HDL cholesterol (good). With a better diet, exercise reduces weight/obesity, another cholesterol-risk factor. Try a brisk walk for at least 30 minutes a day 5 days a week, this will help considerably in getting that plaque from your arteries. Remember to start off slow though, too much exertion to early on can aslo be harmful to you.
Cholesterol And Obesity
Being overweight contributes to rising blood cholesterol levels. Following a strong diet and losing weight can reduce cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol, Smoking And Hormones
Smoking is an important risk-factor for raised blood cholesterol levels and heart disease. Quitting smoking now will greatly reduce the risks of a heart attack or stroke and also lung cancer. Women get an increase in their HDL cholesterol from their hormones until they reach menopause. After menopause, taking estrogen can help maintain higher HDL (good) cholesterol levels.

**When you have a blood test done below are the guidelines that determine you cholesterol criteria.
Below 180 - your blood cholesterol level is perfect.
180-199 - your blood cholesterol level is normal
200-219 - your blood cholesterol level is a bit on the high side
220 or higher - your blood cholesterol level is dangerously too high

http://www.annecollins.com/cholesterol-diet.htm
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=514