High cholesterol is one of the risk factors for atherosclerosis along with smoking, overweight and having high blood pressure. High cholesterol is defined according to your age, so what’s high for you may not be high for your parents.
High cholesterol is defined as a total cholesterol level higher than 5.2 mmol/L which is 200 mg/dL in American units. The numbers differ because the measurements are taken differently on both sides of the Atlantic.
You have two types of cholesterol in your blood – the good and bad. High cholesterol is called as a silent disease because there are often no visible symptoms – until something serious happens.
If high cholesterol is left untreated it can lead to serious complications, sometimes even death. That makes it very important to have your cholesterol checked – properly – by your doctor. It won’t go away on its own. Before you think about taking medication you may want to consider lifestyle changes – they can be easy to make and can have dramatic results.
LDL is called the bad cholestrol and it has a higher fat-to-protein ratio than HDL – which is usually called the good cholesterol. Cholesterol from LDL is the main source of buildup and blockage in your arteries. So the more LDL cholesterol your blood contains the greater your risk of heart disease.
If you manage to lower your cholesterol levels it can slow, stop, or even reverse the buildup of plaque. It can also reduce your risk of a heart attack. For starters, learn all you can about high cholesterol foods.
As with anything medical, you should consult your physician for his advice before you consider making any changes, or taking any medications. General texts like this are not intended as a substitute for competent, professional medical advice.
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