Cholesterol
Cholesterol is one of the body's fats
(lipids). Cholesterol and another lipid,
triglyceride, are important building blocks in the
structure of cells and are also used in making
hormones and producing energy.
To some extent, the cholesterol level in
blood depends on what you eat but it is mainly
dependent on how the body makes cholesterol in the
liver.
Having too much
cholesterol in the blood is not a disease in itself,
but can lead to the hardening and narrowing of the
arteries (atherosclerosis) in the major vascular
systems.
For the sake of simplicity, there are two
sorts of cholesterol: a 'good' sort called high
density lipoprotein (HDL) and a 'bad' sort called low
density lipoprotein (LDL).
HDL has a useful effect in reducing tissue
cholesterol and taking it back to the liver. HDL
actually protects against atherosclerosis. LDL may
contribute to diseases of the arteries
(cardiovascular disease).
It is the proportion of LDL-cholesterol to
HDL-cholesterol that influences the degree to which
atherosclerosis is likely to cause problems
(cardiovascular risk).
LDL-cholesterol level can be lowered by
eating a low fat diet and, if required, taking
medication. HDL-cholesterol level can be raised by
exercising.
Cholesterol
Count
When the cholesterol level is measured in a
blood sample (taken after the patient has fasted for
several hours), the levels of all forms of
cholesterol can be calculated. Cholesterol levels in
the blood rise slightly with age, and women generally
have a higher HDL-cholesterol level than
men.
The levels of total cholesterol fall into
the following categories:
Ideal level:
cholesterol level in the blood less than
5mmol/l.
Mildly high cholesterol
level: between 5 to 6.4mmol/l.
Moderately high cholesterol
level: between 6.5 to 7.8mmol/l.
Very high cholesterol
level: above 7.8mmol/l.
However, it is now recognised that the
significance of any particular cholesterol level
cannot be assessed without taking into account the
ratio between good and bad cholesterol (either
total-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio or
LDL-cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio) or the
presence of other cardiovascular risks, such as
smoking, diabetes and high blood pressure
(hypertension).
It is possible for someone to have a high
level of total cholesterol and still have a
relatively low cardiovascular risk because of an
absence of other risk factors or because their family
history is free from coronary disease.
Anyone with an established track record of
cardiovascular disease such as angina pectoris, a
previous heart attack, coronary angioplasty or
coronary bypass surgery should seek advice to keep
their total cholesterol level below 5mmol/l or their
LDL
below 3mmol/l.
Causes of high Cholesterol levels
(Hypercholesterolemia)
Cholesterol levels can run in families. If
the inherited cholesterol levels are very high, this
is called familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) or
familial combined hyperlipidaemia (FCH) where the
triglyceride levels are very high as well.
Levels can also be influenced by the part of
the world you live in: cholesterol levels in northern
European countries are higher than in southern Europe
and much higher than in Asia.
It is known that the relationship to food is
significant, but there is no doubt that genes also
play a part. High cholesterol is also seen in
connection with other diseases, such as reduced
metabolism (due to thyroid hormone problems, for
example), kidney diseases, diabetes and alcohol
abuse.
Cholesterol lowering
drugs
There are many cholesterol lowering drugs
now available online at cheap prices. One of the most
effective cholesterol lowering drug is Generic
Lipitor Atorlip.
Atorlip Generic Lipitor is a safe, FDA approved,
prescription medication that can naturally reduce the
levels of cholesterol.For people with high
cholesterol, Atorlip Generic Lipitor, in combination
with a low-fat diet, can reduce your LDL cholesterol
and triglyceride levels. Atorlip Generic Lipitor
blocks a key enzyme, HMG-CoA reductase, which is
responsible for the formation of
cholesterol.
For more information on Atorlip Generic Lipitor you can
visit http://www.genericpills4less.com/
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