Mecholesterol

Cholestrol Levels and How To Use Them

What are Cholestrol levels and lowering your cholesterol levels?

Cholestrol levels are the difference between life and death. You must reduce your cholestrol levels. A high cholestrol level means you will have a heart attack.

Cholestrol fact, or cholestrol fiction?

The answer is both simple and complex! Simple, in that cholesterol levels themselves are not the problem. Complex, because cholestrol levels signify a different problem (albeit an easy one to resolve).

What are cholestrol levels

Simply put, when your doctor measures your cholesterol level, he discovers how much of the varying types of cholestrol are circulating in your blood. As your doctor would have you believe, high cholestrol levels are bad and low cholestrol levels are good – because that’s what he’s paid to tell you!

Regardless of the amount of cholestrol in your diet, your liver will make however high or low a cholestrol level your body needs, period. High cholestrol diet or low cholestrol diet, your cholestrol levels will be the same – why? Check out our cholestrol page for full details.

Put simply, it doesn’t matter whether your diet is high in cholestrol or low in cholestrol – cholestrol is so important to your body that it can, and does make your cholestrol levels exactly what it needs them to be.

Does it matter that you have “high cholestrol levels”?

Of course it does, but not for the reasons you think. High cholestrol levels signify that you are deficient in Vitamin C, which is used to repair the continual damage to your arteries. If you can’t fix them, the body needs to do something else and high cholestrol levels show that your body is using its “reserve” repair material instead of its first choice, nothing more, nothing less. Brian-Adamson_3909

As explained on our cholestrol page, the issue is not your high cholestrol levels, it is your dietary lack of vitamin C that causes high cholesterol levels, so stop worrying about your and cholesterol levels and start worrying about your vitamin C intake!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Adamson

Cholesterol Gallstones

Gallsontes are crystalline bodies that are formed inside of the body by accretion (“growth or increase in size by gradual external addition”) or concretion (“a spherical or ellipsoidal nodule formed by accumulation of mineral matter after deposition of sediment”) of normal and abnormal bile components.

The largest single makeup of gallstones are cholesterol stones, which are generally green, but have been found to be white/yellow in color. Cholesterol stones account for approximately 80 percet of all gallstones, and are composed primarily of cholesterol.

The remaining twenty percent is composed of pigment stones. Pigment stones are small, dark stones that are composed of calcium salts that can be found in bile. Both cholesterol stones and pigment stones make up gall stones. There is alot of risks that are apparent with pigment stones such as cirrhosis, biliary tract infections, and hereditary blood cell disorders, such as sickle cell anemia.

Although there is the two distinct stones above , it isn’t unusual for stones to exist that are mixed in origin. Gallstones aren’t limited to one particular section – they can occur anywhere within the bilary tree. The bilary tree includes the gallbladder and the common bile duct. Gallstones vary greatly in size and numbers. It is possible for the gallbladder to develop one single stone that is as big as golfball, or for it to create several thousand which can be as small as a grain of sand.

Feel free to reprint this article as long as you keep the article, this caption and author biography in tact with all hyperlinks.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_Fyfe

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More High Cholestrol Info
Cholestrol is known for causing heart diseases and focusing on lowering LDL while raising HDL should be taken in consideration by every male or female.

Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
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<a href=”http://mecholestrol.com”>mecholestrol.com</a> – The diet to lower cholesterol can work and can possibly save a person’s life. It can be safe, easy to use and effective. However, diet alone is not the only factor that will reduce bad LDL cholesterol levels.

The cholestrol readings

Doctor’s now recommend that anyone over the age of 20 get a blood test done to find out their cholestrol readings. Once you know what your readings are you and your doctor can decide what lifestyle changes you will need to make, if any.

There are two types of cholestrol that are looked at when you get tested, LDL and HDL. LDL stands for low density lipoproteins; this is known as the bad cholestrol. Too much LDL can cause a plaque build up which can lead to clogged arteries. HDL stands for high density lipoproteins, otherwise known as the good cholestrol. HDL is responsible for removing LDL and taking it to the liver where it will be metabolized into bile and removed from the body. Your cholestrol readings will tell you how much of each lipoprotein you have in your system.

After the blood test is done your doctor will combine the amount of HDL and LDL that you have. This is the basis for any further treatment needed to reduce cholestrol. There are different ranges of cholestrol readings, ranging from normal-high.

A normal cholestrol reading will have a total level of 200mg/dl or less with LDL levels falling around 130mg. If you fall into this range you’re considered to have normal and healthy cholestrol. Hearing this might make you want to run out to the closest McDonalds, but don’t. Continue to have a healthy diet and exercise, so that your cholestrol will maintain its current level. There are some vitamins on the market that can even help you to maintain your current cholestrol.

If your reading comes out to a total cholestrol level between 200-239mg/dl and a LDL level that ranged from 130-159mg/dl you fall into the borderline group. People in this category need to make some minor adjustments to their lifestyle. Doctors’ will suggest a healthy diet consisting of lean meats, low fat dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Beginning a cardio vascular workout, would also be a good suggestion for someone in this group.

A reading that has a total cholestrol of 240mg/dl and higher and a LDL of 160mg/dl is considered high. Anyone that falls into this range is at a risk of getting heart disease, having a stroke or heart attack. Depending on the patient and the extent of risk, doctors would most likely prescribe medications at this point. If a diet and exercise program is not already in place, one is not only suggested but highly enforced. Sometimes cholestrol can be lowered with diet and healthy alternatives instead of medications like statin drugs that have side effects.

Cholestrol readings are important, and since there are no known symptoms of high cholestrol it’s important to get tested early. If your cholestrol is normal continue to get checked every five years and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

A cholestrol test

Doctors’ now recommend that everyone over the age of 20 should have their cholestrol tested. If going to the doctor is too much of a hassle, you can now purchase an over-the-counter cholestrol test that can be done at home. Some of the newer tests are even able to provide a more accurate reading on your LDL and HDL levels, then before.

When getting your cholestrol tested it’s important to remember to fast for at least 9-12 hours before you’re scheduled to take the test. You can drink water, coffee and tea but with no sugar or cream in it. Whether at home or at your primary physician’s office all tests use blood to check your cholestrol levels.

If using an at home test that came in a kit, there will be a finger pricker. The instructions are easy enough to follow and can be performed at any time or place. Make sure you have a watch or timer that can be used to time the test. Before using the finger pricker wash your hands with soap and water, and then massage them to increase blood flow. The finger pricker is a one time use only, so make sure you are ready. When you’re ready to start prick your fingertip with the pricker. Inside the finger pricker is a needle that will draw blood and retract back into the pricker.

In the kit came a test with a designated area for you to drop your blood on. Squeeze your finger over the correct spot onto the test and then follow the rest of the directions. Once you have finished the test check your readings with your doctor, if you have any questions. Some home tests will be able to tell you your total cholestrol and HDL while others will just tell you your total level.

The at home cholestrol tests are fairly cheap and can be bought at almost any drugstore. Some common brands are Cardiochek, Home Access, Q-Steps and First Check, all ranging in pricing for $20.00 or less. When buying an at home test if you have any questions, talk to the pharmacist before deciding to purchase one.

If you opted to go to your doctor’s to have the test done they’ll use a needle to draw out the blood. The procedure is simple and takes only minutes. By wrapping an elastic band around your arm, the nurse is able to swell a vein and take a sample. Having the test done at your doctor’s is better then just doing an at home kit. At your doctor’s you can discuss what your readings mean, what steps you will need to take to reduce your cholestrol and what medications you might need if your readings are high.