The month of September is considered the best time to check on one’s cholesterol levels since it is the National Cholesterol Awareness Month. It would be advisable to have one’s health be evaluated for the possibility of having increased cholesterol levels.
The American Heart Association indicated that over 98 million Americans aged 20 years and above suffer from high blood cholesterol. This is considered as the most controllable factor connected to strokes and heart disease.
It is not easy to spot the symptoms for high levels of cholesterol. Due to this it is advisable to have one’s cholesterol levels checked once they reach twenty years old. However if there is a family history of ailments in the heart, it is advisable to make the assessment earlier.
The two kinds of cholesterol are high density lipoprotein, which is also called good cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein, which is also called bad cholesterol.
The risk of stroke or heart disease may be increased if good cholesterol levels are low or bad cholesterol levels are high. A cholesterol level that is lower than 200mg/dL is considered ideal for a majority of individuals.
Aside from cholesterol levels, blood fats or triglycerides also affect the health of a person. Fatty liver disease, diabetes, and coronary heart disease are normally linked to high levels of triglycerides. Triglyceride levels can be checked using the same test used for cholesterol.
Around 75 percent of the blood cholesterol is made up of the cells in the body. Low density lipoprotein is naturally produced by the body although it may also be inherited through the genes from one’s parents or grandparents which would contribute to the increase in the bad cholesterol levels. The remaining 25 percent of the blood cholesterol levels are taken in from the food consumed by a person
Controlling triglyceride and cholesterol levels may be facilitated through a healthy diet, exercise, maintaining one’s blood pressure and weight, and by avoid smoking.
