Tips for Managing High Cholesterol We’ve all heard the terms "good” and “bad” applied to that waxy substance in our blood vessels we call cholesterol. But why does cholesterol seem to have a split personality? And more importantly, what can we do to accentuate the positive and eliminate, or at least drive down, the negative?
H
igh cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk factors for coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke, but it typically shows no symptoms. Understanding the role cholesterol plays, its potential risk factors, and how to manage it are vitally important to our health. LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein), or “bad” cholesterol, contributes to fat build-up in the arteries. HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein), or “good” cholesterol, on the other hand, can carry LDL cholesterol away from the arteries to be broken down and passed from the body. LDL cholesterol level is important to monitor. An optimal level is less than 100 for otherwise healthy people, according to the American Heart Association, which recommends adults age 20 or older should have their cholesterol and other risk factors checked every 4-6 years by their primary care physician with a simple blood test. Cholesterol management is not one-size-fitsall, however. Those who have already experienced a heart attack or stroke, or have a family history of high cholesterol, may need to have their cholesterol levels and risk factors checked more often and may need to make lifestyle changes or take prescribed medication to help manage cholesterol levels.
ABSOLUTELIVING
