Should You Be Concerned About Your Cholestorol Levels?

As we grow older, for some of us, we become more conscious of our health and general body functions, but sometimes one very important subject we tend to ignore is our body cholestorol levels.
This article explains what cholestorol means,
why we should pay more attention to our cholestorol levels and when it might be dangerous to our health or in some cases have life threatening effects.
Cholestorol is the type of fat present in our blood. Our cells need cholestorol, and our body makes all the Cholestorol we need, but we also get in addition to that, cholestorol from the food we eat.
If you have too much cholestorol it starts to build up in your arteries (vessels which carry blood away from the heart). This cholestorol build up is a slow process that worsens as you get older. Cholestorol build up in arteries can be likened to a clog formation in the pipe of a kitchen sink, the cholestorol build up narrows your arteries and makes it hard for blood to flow.

Cholestorol is measured by a blood test;
High Cholestorol is 240 or above
Borderline High is 200 to 239
Best is 200

What are The Different Kinds of Cholestorol?

• LDL is the 'bad' cholestorol, the kind that can clog your arteries, this the type you need to lower.
• HDL is the 'good' cholestorol, helps clear fat from your blood, a high HDL level can protect you from a heart attack.

What are the Symptoms?
High Cholestorol does not present with any physical symptoms or make you feel sick, so it is important to check your Cholestorol levels and start treatment immediately if necessary.

What are the Causes of High Cholestorol?

• the food you eat; if they contain to much saturated fat; like whole milk, eggyolks, butter.
• Being overweight or obese.
• Being physically inactive; not exercising enough.
• Age; Cholestorol starts to rise at age 20.
• Family History.

Posted by Tolu.
Source WebMD.com