Keeping Bad Cholesterol In Check

By Ned Dagostino

It is common knowledge that high cholesterol levels in the blood can cause a number of health problems, some of a very serious nature. It is in your own interest to reduce the level of blood cholesterol.

There is good cholesterol and there is bad cholesterol. The good cholesterol is called HDL and is required for healthy tissue growth and general health. The bad cholesterol is called LDL and accelerates tissue degeneration, leading to general poor health and some specifically dangerous conditions. The body itself regulates the level of both these types of cholesterol in the blood. You can unknowingly work against the body in this critical function and fall into the clutches of various real dangerous illnesses, or you can choose to act wisely and help the body to regulate these substances so that you are healthy naturally.

Is a high level of cholesterol a disease in itself? No, it is not. A high level of bad cholesterol in the blood causes tissue degeneration and accumulation of fatty substances in the body. The arteries are most prone to the effect of high cholesterol levels. They become hard, and they get coated with a fatty substance from inside. This constricts the flow of blood in the body, which in turn, leads to high blood pressure, strokes, and heart attacks. If you are a patient of any of these diseases then you should learn how to cut down the level of bad cholesterol. It's easy, as easy as 1, 2, 3! Read on and you'll see how.

The body regulates the level of cholesterol in the blood. As long as this regulation proceeds as required, there is no problem. There are times when this regulation fails. There are two common situations which lead to such failure. One is when we overdose the body with bad cholesterol. How? By eating of course! Oils, fats, animal produce, and some substances like sodium lead to a build up of bad cholesterol in the blood. Keep these villains off your diet and the bad cholesterol will drop back to normal level.

A sedentary lifestyle is equally bad news. Inactivity makes the circulatory system sluggish, and the evacuation of LDL is impaired. So the LDL accumulates to dangerous levels. The American Heart Association has advised a minimum of thirty minutes of exercise every day to keep heart disease at bay. You are free to do it in one spell or to spread it over two, three or more spells. Be regular in exercising. Thirty minutes every day means thirty minutes every day, come rain or shine! Maintain a comfortable exercise regimen. Don't get carried away and strain yourself. Jogging, going for long walks, cycling, and swimming are favored exercises. Make exercise a part of your schedule. Be moderate, be comfortable, be sensible!

Apart from dietary intake and a sedentary lifestyle, some lifestyle activities can be harmful for you as far as high LDL is concerned. If you smoke, then you'll do yourself a load of good by stopping that habit. Even secondary smoke is harmful, so avoid places where there's a lot of cigarette smoke.

There is another factor which can cause high levels of bad cholesterol. The problem is that the body's regulatory mechanism is not working properly. This is usually a genetic problem and it could be hereditary. The only way out of this situation is medication. Your doctor will do the needful.

Excessive levels of LDL in the bloodstream can have dire consequences on your health, your lifestyle, and your longevity. Before you are forced to make drastic changes in your lifestyle by your doctor, it is better that you prevent the situation from getting out of hand while you can do so at your convenience. You may have to alter or moderate your lifestyle a bit now. Make exercise a part of your schedule. Go easy on fats and animal produce. Don't smoke. Choose good health over bad health - keep those LDL levels in check! - 32389

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