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| Cholesterol is one of several wax-like lipids (fats) found both in the bloodstream and in the blood cells of the body. It's an important element in a healthy body. There are two lipids you should be familiar with. (1) Low density lipoproteins (LDL) are the bad guys, and (2) High density lipoproteins (HDL) are the good guys. |
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Cholesterol and the other fats in the bloodstream cannot dissolve and leave the body. They must be transported from the cells and the bloodstream to the liver where they can be broken down and expelled from the body. HDL is the "vehicle" the body uses to transport the LDL to the liver. The higher the HDL is in the blood, the better. So you want your HDL number as high as you can get it. Unfortunately, you can't significantly increase your HDL level through your diet. There are two ways HDL is increased in the body. The first is what you inherit from your family (genetics) and the second is the amount of physical activity (including exercise) you get.
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If too much LDL is in the bloodstream, it will build up along the walls of the arteries. This build up of cholesterol is called plaque. Over time, the build up can completely clog the artery. This is called "hardening of the arteries". It is very dangerous. If the buildup occurs in the heart it will result in a heart attack. If the build up occurs in the brain, a stroke will result.
Special arteries, called "Coronary Arteries" are the ones which bring oxygen rich blood back to the heart, where it is pumped through the aorta to the rest of the body. Narrowing of these arteries due to high cholesterol is especially dangerous. When the arteries narrow, blood flow is reduced. This is called coronary artery disease (CAD).
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| The body gets cholesterol two ways. The liver manufactures all the cholesterol the body needs. The body also uses the fat you eat to produce more cholesterol. The higher the fat content of the diet, the more cholesterol the body makes. Animal products have naturally occurring cholesterol. So a diet high in animal products will also increase the level of cholesterol in the blood. |
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Too much cholesterol in the blood is not a good thing. It's dangerous, and can lead to very serious illness. Heart Disease (and other diseases) result from too much cholesterol in the blood. It is the #1 killer of people in our country. Every minute of every day in the United States someone dies of a heart attack. Find out what your risk factors for high cholesterol are.
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What do the numbers mean?
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<200 is desirable
201 to 239 is borderline high
>240 is high risk |
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| Lowering the level of cholesterol in your blood lowers your risk for heart disease, and a heart attack. |
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