High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a complex waxy substance that is an essential component of walls of body cells. Most cholesterol is made by the liver and is important for human body but if the body has high cholesterol, excess will be stored in arteries in form of plaque. When this plaque builds up, it can cause arteries to narrow and harden. In time, this reduces blood supply to important parts of the body which can lead to heart attack, stroke and other serious health problems.

If the total cholesterol level of a person is higher than 200 mg/dl of blood, heart attack risk rises sharply. Doctors recommend regular checks on blood cholesterol levels to reduce risk of heart diseases. The best way to reduce high cholesterol is to lower intake of fats, particularly saturated fats, exercise regularly and lose weight.

High cholesterol causes

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High cholesterol symptoms

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High cholesterol is often referred to as a “silent disease”, as there are no obvious symptoms. Most people are unaware they have a cholesterol problem until they have a blood test to check...More>
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The dangers of high cholesterol

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How to lower high cholesterol levels

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High cholesterol levels are the leading cause of atherosclerosis, which is the leading cause of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. Reducing cholesterol levels below 2...More>
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Links between high cholesterol and stroke

by Dr Pandula Siribaddana

High cholesterol levels or higher lipid levels are becoming an increasing problem for many individuals and there are many factors originating from the environment as well as within ourselves which wou...More>
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High cholesterol: Symptoms and treatment

by Kelly Szymanski

High Cholesterol: Symptoms and treatments High blood cholesterol, which is also known as hypercholesterolemia, typically has no symptoms. There are certain risk factors that, if present, would indicat...More>
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High Cholesterol : Prevention and treatment

Eat healthy food that is low in saturated fats and rich in fiber, beans, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, nuts and fish.
Avoid eating margarine, vegetable shortening, baked goods, deep fried chips, fast foods, alcohol and too much red meat.
Exercise regularly and lose weight if obese.
Take cholesterol-lowering medication after consultation with a physician.
Quit smoking and adopt a healthier, more active lifestyle.

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High Cholesterol : Quick Facts

The medical term for high blood cholesterol and triglycerides is lipid disorder.

An estimated 25% of Americans have cholesterol levels high enough to place them at risk for heart attack.
High cholesterol levels can cause narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis), heart attack and stroke.
The amount of cholesterol in the blood (both LDL and HDL) can be measured with a blood test.
According to Mayo Clinic, adults over the age of 20 should have a lipid profile test done once every 5 years to insure that the cholesterol levels are within healthy levels.
The total cholesterol number should ideally be below 200 mg/dL.