Cholesterol Level
If you have ever heard people talking about cholesterol you have probably heard it in the same sentence as “my doctor says my cholesterol level is too high and it needs to be reduced”. The general consensus is that too much cholesterol is bad for you. Unfortunately, having too little can be just as bad. To understand why, you need to understand how it works in the body and why it is so important to maintain a healthy level. Understanding Cholesterol First of all, you have to understand what cholesterol is and how it all works. Basically it is a substance that is quite waxy that is made by the liver and is found in the blood of your body. Humans aren't the only species that produce cholesterol. Most animals also produce some amount of cholesterol. This is why the most common method for controling your cholesterol is to control your diet, since most of what we eat has some cholesterol. Foods such as poultry products, egg yolks, dairy products, fish, and meats all contain cholesterol. Having some cholesterol is important since it is used by the body to build tissues, cell membranes, and hormones. However, if you have too much bad cholesterol (LDL) it can begin to build up in the arteries, leading to plaque that causes atherosclerosis. It's important that you have your cholesterol level monitored on a regular basis by having a lipid profile conducted on the fats that are in the blood. A lipid profile will let your health care provider know the levels of good and bad cholesterol in your blood.
Cholesterol Goals Ask any doctor and they will tell you that your cholesterol level and cholesterol ratio is a good measure of impending health problems. Having a LDL number that is too high or a HDL number that is too low is considered to be a bad thing. So, where should these numbers be? When it comes to low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is the bad cholesterol you need to watch out for, it's important to keep this number below 100. If you have other health issues, your doctor may even want this number below 70. When it comes to the high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), which is known as good cholesterol, you should have at least a number of 40. However, 60 or higher is an even better goal.
Many people find it difficult to naturally control their cholesterol levels. No matter what they try, their HDL and LDL numbers just won’t reach acceptable levels. Additionally, there are some people that just find it easier to take a pill. These people turn to a class of pharmaceuticals called statins. These drugs are being taken by millions of people and more and more people are jumping on the band wagon every day. Although statin drugs have been proven to be safe and effective, there are a few downsides to following this path. Like most pharmaceutics, statin drugs have side effects, the most common of these being muscle pain. Like most side effects, they will vary from person to person and range in effect from mild to severe. Another potential side effect of taking statins is liver damage. Statin drugs work by reducing the production of cholesterol within the body. Cholesterol is produced by the liver, so statin drugs alter the functioning of the liver. One of the direct effects of a statin drug on the liver, other than reducing cholesterol production, is an increase in enzyme production. If this occurs, a different statin drug or elimination of statin drugs is prudent. Long term effects of increased enzyme production can permanently damage the liver. Another less known side effect is that of CoQ10 reduction. This too is produced by the liver and studies have shown that statin drugs can cause CoQ10 reduction. This is important since CoQ10 is vital to maintaining the muscles within the heart. If you do begin to take statin drugs, ask your doctor if you should also take a CoQ10 supplement. As a rule of thumb, most doctors will closely monitor the liver after you begin taking statin drugs or if you need to increase the dosage.
Are there any other side effets? Other common side effect of statin drugs include rashes, skin irritations, diarrhea, constipation, or nausea. Additionally, you may also suffer from issues related to your digestive system. The other important thing to consider when you begin taking statin drugs is that once started, it is likely that you will never be able to stop taking this drug. Statin drugs are only one class of cholesterol controlling drug. Other classes include Bile acid binding resins, Cholesterol absorption inhibitors, Fibrates, Niacin (vitamin B-3, nicotinic acid), and several combination of these classes.
Naturally Controlling Cholesterol When you understand more about high cholesterol, you are better able to take measures to control and fix the problem. There are several different things that you can do to control this problem naturally. First of all, you need to make sure that you have your cholesterol level monitored on a regular basis so you know where you stand. Make sure that you talk to your doctor about the best possible plan for your needs too.
Eating a good diet can be a huge help as well, and eating foods that are low in cholesterol, trans fats, and saturated fats can have a huge effect. Also, the power of exercise is amazing. When you exercise on a regular basis, which is 30 minutes about 5 days each week, you can help to increase the good cholesterol in your body. Finally, taking the right daily supplement can also help to keep your cholesterol level in check by allowing your body to do what it was designed to do. So, if you keep these ideas in mind, you can work to naturally keep your HDL and LDL looking great.
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