Everything You Wanted to Know About Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body. Your body needs some

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cholesterol to work properly. It forms part of the outer membrane that surrounds every cell. It is used to insulate nerve fibers (and so make nerve signals travel properly) and make hormones, which carry chemical signals around the body.
Too much cholesterol in the blood, however, increases the risk of coronary heart disease and disease of the arteries.

High cholesterol affects 42 million Americans, and 63 million more have borderline high cholesterol. This site Cholesterolallabout.com provides you in-depth cholesterol information.

Total Cholesterol Level	Total Cholesterol Category
Less than 200 mg/dL	Desirable
200–239 mg/dL	Borderline high
240 mg/dL and above	High

LDL Cholesterol Level	LDL Cholesterol Category
Less than 100 mg/dL	Optimal
100–129 mg/dL	Near optimal/above optimal
130–159 mg/dL	Borderline high
160–189 mg/dL	High
190 mg/dL and above	Very high

HDL Cholesterol Level	HDL Cholesterol Category
Less than 40 mg/dL	A major risk factor for heart disease
40–59 mg/dL	The higher, the better
60 mg/dL and above	Considered protective against heart disease

Source: Cholesterol Levels

5 points you should know to manage cholesterol

1. Most of your blood cholesterol is produced by your liver. Liver produces about 1,000 mg of cholesterol a day. Another 200 to 500 mg can come from your meal and snacks.

2. There is compelling evidence that shows that the atherosclerotic process (buildup of fatty plaque in arteries) starts in childhood and progresses slowly into adulthood. Children from high-risk families (parents with high cholesterol, or parents or grandparents with heart disease at 55 years or younger) should have their cholesterol levels checked regularly.

3. Your blood cholesterol is primarily made up of two kinds of cholesterol LDL and HDL. LDL (low-density lipoprotein) is the "bad" cholesterol because when too much of it circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is the "good" cholesterol because it helps remove "bad" cholesterol from arteries and prevent blockage.
Triglyceride is a form of fat. It is made in your body and comes from food. People with high triglycerides often have high total cholesterol, high LDL cholesterol and a low HDL cholesterol level.

4. You know you have high cholesterol when you have it checked by a medical professional. High cholesterol has no symptoms, so the only way to know your cholesterol levels is by having them checked. High cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk factors for coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke

5. If you have high cholesterol, you need to change your lifestyle, quit smoking; drinking alcohol and you have to avoid saturated fat. , trans fat or cholesterol? You need to start brisk waling everyday for 30 minutes.

High cholesterol levels put you at risk for Atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is fatty buildups of plaque in artery walls. These deposits can contribute to blocking the blood flow to a part of the heart muscle and cause a heart attack. . Atherosclerosis in arteries in or leading to the brain can result in stroke.

Additional Information on Cholesterol

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Cholesterol All About Home Page
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