Causes of High Cholesterol

Self Assessment

-High Cholesterol
-Coronary Heart Disease
-Women and Heart attack
-High Triglycerides
-Cardiac Arrhythmia
-Cholesterol Lowering Drugs
-Satin Drugs List
-MVP syndrome
-Obese Heart

Cholesterol Treatments

-Cholesterol Lowering
-External Counter Pulsation
-Chelation Therapy
-High Cholesterol Treatment
-Benefits Of Policosanol
-Cholesterol Lowering Foods
-Congestive Heart Failure
-PAD Treatment

Tips and Guidance

-Lowering LDL cholesterol
-HDL cholesterol
-Cholesterol Self Test
-Myocardial Infarction
-Advanced Heart Care
-TMR Test
-Aortic Valve Stenosis
-Atherosclerosis Disease
-Prevention Of Heart Attack
-Tackle Obesity
-Cardiac Rehabilitation

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Small Lapses on Your Part Can Lead To High Cholesterol Levels!

There are many reasons to fall prey to cholesterol. High stress, alcoholism, food that contains high fat are some of the causes attributed to cholesterol. So understanding the causes and clearing misconceptions about cholesterol could save your time and money. The article discusses in detail about some of the causes and cure for cholesterol. Check out.

This article covers

What causes High Cholesterol?
Symptoms of High Cholesterol
Supplementary Treatment For High Cholesterol

What causes High Cholesterol? Hypercholesterolemia, literally meaning high blood cholesterol, is the presence of high cholesterol levels in the blood. Advanced studies of its treatment with supplements like policosanol and of the side effects of policosanol, and of the effects of diet and cholesterol, of stress and cholesterol and of alcohol and cholesterol, have helped millions of patients over the world who are coping with this medical condition.

To understand the causes of high cholesterol, it is important to realize that a high cholesterol level in the blood is not a disease. Instead this medical condition can be likened to a metabolic derangement that could be secondary to many diseases and could contribute to specific types of disease like cardiovascular disease. It is closely related to the medical terms

1. hyperlipidemia ( enhanced levels of lipids) and
2. hyperlipoproteinemia ( high levels of lipoproteins)

Symptoms of High Cholesterol

High blood cholesterol comes with no warning signs. Though it poses a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease which could lead to a heart attack or a stroke, people diagnosed with this medical condition often feel fine, and do not take the illness seriously. Unhealthy levels of cholesterol are almost always linked to a poor diet, physical inactivity, obesity/being overweight, drinking alcohol excessively, smoking, stress, age, heredity and other causes:

Poor Diet: Unhealthy foods like saturated fats and transfatty acids are most likely to raise the LDL or Low Density Lipoprotein level in the blood. Saturated fats include animal products like beef, pork, whole milk, ice cream, cheeses, egg yolks, and other foods that are made out of these products. Transfatty acids are mostly present in margarines, processed and fried foods, and in commercial baked goods. With regard to diet and cholesterol, those suffering from high cholesterol levels should be eating plenty of fiber, especially soluble fiber, identified in beans and oats, fruits and vegetables.

Physical Inactivity

Lack of exercise is one of the major causes of high cholesterol. Alternatively, regular physical exercise can enhance good cholesterol and reduce the risk of bad cholesterol and heart disease, and contribute to improvement of overall health.

Being Overweight

People who are overweight, do not have enough HDL or High Density Lipoprotein ( good) cholesterol, and their triglycerides( calories that are eaten but not used up immediately are converted into triglycerides, and then sent to fat cells for storage) are usually too high. So are their LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. Further, obesity enhances the risk of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure- which are linked with heart disease.

Drinking alcohol Excessively

With regard to alcohol and high cholesterol, it would be wise to cut down on alcohol intake and raise HDL. Moderate alcohol intake is limited to no more than 2 drinks per day for the men and for women - alcohol consumption is limited to one drink per day.

Smoking

Concerning the effects of smoking and high cholesterol, if the individual who has high cholesterol levels in the blood is also a smoker, it would be smart to quit smoking altogether.

Stress

Concerning the issue of stress and cholesterol levels, a stressful lifestyle plays quite an important role in determining cholesterol blood levels to rise, and exposes the individual to the increased risk of heart disease. Most physicians recommend moderate lifestyle changes, from a frenetic to a more relaxed pace, along with a good diet, as part of the treatment for those suffering from high levels of cholesterol. There are many non-pharmaceutical stress relief products on the market to help 'take the edge off' at the end of a stressful day..

Old Age

As both men and women grow older, their cholesterol levels also tend to rise. This is crucial since heart disease is the number one killer in both men and women. On an average, men tend to develop cardiovascular disease at least 10 to 15 years earlier than women. They also face an increased risk of dying from diseases of the heart at a much younger age than women. In women, good cholesterol levels tend to decrease and bad cholesterol levels tend to increase, with the onset of menopause. At this phase in her life, she is now exposed to an increased risk of heart disease.

Heredity

Heredity, along with age and gender, is a part of the uncontrollable factors that cause cholesterol levels in the blood to rise. Genetics plays a hugely important role in determining the blood cholesterol levels of an individual. If family members have had a history of early heart disease( for men, before age 55 years signifies early heart disease, and for women – before age 65 years) or total cholesterol levels that are greater than 240mg/dL, children and teenagers should actively consider getting their cholesterol levels checked.

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