Cholesterol, like fat, can not move around the bloodstream itself because it can not mix with water. The bloodstream carries cholesterol in particles called lipoproteins that are like blood-borne cargo trucks delivery of cholesterol to various body tissues to be used, stored or removed. But too much of this circulating cholesterol can injure arteries, especially those that supply the coronary artery. This leads to the accumulation of cholesterol-laden "plaque" vessel lining, a condition called atherosclerosis.
When blood flow to the heart is blocked, the heart muscle becomes starved for oxygen, causing chest pain (angina). If a blood clot totally inhibit coronary arteries affected by atherosclerosis, heart attack (myocardial infarction) or death can occur.
Are you at risk? Heart disease is still one of the biggest health problems affecting Western countries. According to the American Heart Foundation, more than 70 million Americans have cardiovascular disease (CVD). National cost nearly $ 400 billion, and every 45 seconds States has a stroke.
Certain risk factors increase your chance of developing cardiovascular disease.
1. overweight
2. High blood cholesterol
3. The lack of physical activity
4. High blood pressure
5. Cigarettes
6. Excessive intake
7. diabetes
Many people have multiple risk factors for heart disease and the risk level increases with increasing number of risk factors. By reducing your risk factors can largely prevent the onset of cardiovascular disease. High blood cholesterol itself does not necessarily problems, but coupled with one or more other risk factors for heart disease, it is often the straw that broke the camel's back.
It is, therefore, very important to know what your cholesterol level and to keep them at a healthy level before you have a problem.
High risk cholesterol
If the total cholesterol level of 240 or more, is very high. You have a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. In fact, you should have LDL and HDL cholesterol tested. Ask your doctor for advice. Close to 20 percent of the US population has high blood cholesterol levels.
High limit risk
People whose total cholesterol is 200-239 mg / dL have high cholesterol limit. About a third of American adults are in this group, while almost half of adults have total cholesterol levels below 200 mg / dL. In fact, people who have a total cholesterol of 240 mg / dL have twice the risk of coronary heart disease as people whose cholesterol level of 200 mg / dL. Does physical activity affect cholesterol?
Other factors that influence blood cholesterol levels:
Descendants - High cholesterol often runs in families. Although the specific genetic cause has been identified in only a handful of cases, genes still play a role in influencing blood cholesterol levels. If your parents have high cholesterol, you need to be tested to see if your cholesterol levels are also increased.
Age and sex - before menopause, women tend to have lower total cholesterol levels than men of the same age. Cholesterol levels naturally rise as men and women age. Menopause is often associated with increased LDL cholesterol in women.
Stress - the study does not show the stress to be able to direct the ink to lower cholesterol levels. But experts say that because people sometimes eat fatty foods to entertain yourself when you are under stress, this can lead to higher blood cholesterol.
Weight excess - excess weight tends to increase blood cholesterol levels. Losing weight has been proven to help lower levels. Greater risk of increased cholesterol occurs when extra weight is centered in the abdominal area, compared with the legs or buttocks.
When blood flow to the heart is blocked, the heart muscle becomes starved for oxygen, causing chest pain (angina). If a blood clot totally inhibit coronary arteries affected by atherosclerosis, heart attack (myocardial infarction) or death can occur.
Are you at risk? Heart disease is still one of the biggest health problems affecting Western countries. According to the American Heart Foundation, more than 70 million Americans have cardiovascular disease (CVD). National cost nearly $ 400 billion, and every 45 seconds States has a stroke.
Certain risk factors increase your chance of developing cardiovascular disease.
1. overweight
2. High blood cholesterol
3. The lack of physical activity
4. High blood pressure
5. Cigarettes
6. Excessive intake
7. diabetes
Many people have multiple risk factors for heart disease and the risk level increases with increasing number of risk factors. By reducing your risk factors can largely prevent the onset of cardiovascular disease. High blood cholesterol itself does not necessarily problems, but coupled with one or more other risk factors for heart disease, it is often the straw that broke the camel's back.
It is, therefore, very important to know what your cholesterol level and to keep them at a healthy level before you have a problem.
High risk cholesterol
If the total cholesterol level of 240 or more, is very high. You have a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. In fact, you should have LDL and HDL cholesterol tested. Ask your doctor for advice. Close to 20 percent of the US population has high blood cholesterol levels.
High limit risk
People whose total cholesterol is 200-239 mg / dL have high cholesterol limit. About a third of American adults are in this group, while almost half of adults have total cholesterol levels below 200 mg / dL. In fact, people who have a total cholesterol of 240 mg / dL have twice the risk of coronary heart disease as people whose cholesterol level of 200 mg / dL. Does physical activity affect cholesterol?
Other factors that influence blood cholesterol levels:
Descendants - High cholesterol often runs in families. Although the specific genetic cause has been identified in only a handful of cases, genes still play a role in influencing blood cholesterol levels. If your parents have high cholesterol, you need to be tested to see if your cholesterol levels are also increased.
Age and sex - before menopause, women tend to have lower total cholesterol levels than men of the same age. Cholesterol levels naturally rise as men and women age. Menopause is often associated with increased LDL cholesterol in women.
Stress - the study does not show the stress to be able to direct the ink to lower cholesterol levels. But experts say that because people sometimes eat fatty foods to entertain yourself when you are under stress, this can lead to higher blood cholesterol.
Weight excess - excess weight tends to increase blood cholesterol levels. Losing weight has been proven to help lower levels. Greater risk of increased cholesterol occurs when extra weight is centered in the abdominal area, compared with the legs or buttocks.