What are the risks of cholesterol?
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Cholesterol is actually produced by the liver and is a fat-like waxy substance.\n\nAlthough Cholesterol is often thought of as a "bad thing", and if too much is in the body it is, the truth is that cholesterol also has purposes important to your overall health and body function.\n\nEvery cell within the body is formed to varying degrees from cholesterol. When the cholesterol level becomes elevated, it can be dangerous, however, at the appropriate level, it plays a vital role in many functions of the body.\n\nCholesterol works to build and repair cells, produces hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, and produces bile acids proven to aid in the digestion of fat.\n\nIf you have too much cholesterol in your body, the levels build-up in the blood and cause clogging, which in turn raises the risk for heart disease and/or stroke.\n\nSome cholesterol is produced in your body while eating saturated foods made from animal-based foods such as dairy meat, eggs, which are essential components in the elevation of cholesterol. Foods such as fruits, vegetables, and grains do not contain cholesterol.\n\nMore than 50% of all adult Americans have levels of cholesterol that are too high. If you think about that, what that means is that the potential for having a heart attack and/or stroke is just teetering on the edge for millions of people.\n\nAs you will learn in this site, there are ways that cholesterol levels can be reduced. There is hope in that for every 1% you lower your cholesterol, your chance of having a heart attack and/or stroke is reduced by 2%. Not a bad ratio!\n\nThe best approach for managing your cholesterol level is to have it checked by your physician every three to five years. If you have elevated cholesterol, there are several ways you can lower your cholesterol before trying medication.\n\n\nSymptoms of high cholesterol usually are rare. High cholesterol levels are generally identified from a blood test. The symptoms seen are actually from the end-result of high cholesterol for health issues such as coronary disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.\n\nLet us break each of these down to look at the symptoms in depth.\n\nCoronary Disease\n\nThe primary symptom associated with coronary heart disease is called Angina (chest pain). When a person experiences this, they describe a feeling of "pressure", "squeezing", or a general feeling of "someone sitting on their chest."\n\nThese symptoms can spread to the jaw, neck, or arm regions of the body and although the primary symptom is the feeling of pressure in the chest region, some individuals experience that feeling of pressure in other areas and not the chest.\n\nIn addition to the reported pressure, other symptoms can include nausea, shortness of breath, sweating, lightheadedness or dizziness, and heart palpitations.\n\nAngina can be directly correlated to coronary heart disease and should be taken seriously. However, there are other stressors such as over-exertion, high-level of emotion, or even after eating a huge meal to be considered. In these circumstances a short period of rest, five minutes or so, will reduce or eliminate the symptoms. Again, if you have any of these symptoms, it is better to be checked out by a physician than to assume everything is fine.\n\nStroke\n\nThere are four primary symptoms pertaining to a stroke although often times this is a sudden event with little or no warning.\n\nThe sudden onset of numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body \nConfusion, difficulty speaking or understanding \nSudden trouble with vision in one or both eyes \nDizziness, loss of balance, lack of coordination \nOther symptoms can include:\n\nNausea and/or vomiting \nFever \nFainting, convulsions, and even coma \nPeripheral Vascular Disease\n\nThis is a disease consisting of the blood vessels. Arteries that carry blood to your extremities become narrow or clogged. The outcome is that the bl
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probably none... But her cholesterol will go up and puts her at an increase risk for heart disease.  Why did she stop?
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There are foods/supplements that help lower cholesterol:\n\n- Oatmeal. Like Quaker Oats.\n- Psyllium fiber.
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Yes...it will absolutely cause Erectile Dysfunction. Once my husband got his cholesterol down, it shot up (literally) lol.
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your cholesterol!\n\nJim Carry
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Cholesterol is a waxy fat like substance that is important for normal body functioning. Cholesterol is used for cellular functions and the production of hormones. Your body, in most cases, will produce enough cholesterol to maintain normal body needs. The liver is the major production factory for cholesterol (about 70%). Diets high in saturated fats, significantly increase the amount of cholesterol in the blood stream. Recommended daily intake of fat should not exceed 30% of calories, with a maximum of 10% being from saturated fat. Research indicates that diets high in saturated and total fat, play a significant role in the process of atherosclerosis (plaque build-up on the artery wall ).\n\nHigh cholesterol levels are strong indicators of those individuals that are prone to coronary heart disease. Elevated total cholesterol is a risk factor for coronary heart disease. The build-up of plaque in the artery may lead to narrowing (high blood pressure) or complete blockage (heart attack) of the vessel. As levels rise above 180 mg/dl, the risk for developing coronary heart disease increases. A cholesterol value of 220 mg/dl correlates to nearly a two-fold elevation in incidence of coronary heart disease as compared to 180 mg/dl. A reduction of 1% is shown to reduce the risk for coronary artery disease by 2% for levels over 200 mg/dl.\n\nTotal cholesterol is the sum of all the cholesterol in your blood. The higher your total cholesterol, the greater your risk for heart disease. Here are the total values that matter to you. \n\n\n\nTotal Cholesterol Levels:\n \nLess than 200 mg/dL "Desirable" level that puts you at lower risk for heart disease. A cholesterol level of 200 mg/dL or greater increases your risk. \n\n200 to 239 mg/dL  "Borderline-high."  \n\n240 mg/dL and above "High" blood cholesterol. A person with this level has more than twice the risk of heart disease compared to someone whose cholesterol is below 200 mg/dL.  \n\n\nLDL or Low density LipoProtein(Bad cholesterol) - distibute fatty deposite on vessel wall thus promotes the formation of atherosclorotic plaque.\nHDL or High Density LipoProtein(Good Cholesterol) -collects fatty deposites on vessel wall and transport to liver for bile synthesis or other metabolic activity. On this process it prevents or retards the formation of atherosclorosis. \n\nNormal Levels:\nDesirable total cholesterol: below 200 mg/dL (5.17 mmol/L) \nOptimal LDL ('bad') cholesterol: below 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L) \nOptimal HDL ('good') cholesterol: over 60 mg/dL (1.56 mmol/L) \n\n\nConclusion: \nYou  have a LOW  TOTAL CHOLESTEROL level of 120 mg/dl\nImplication:\nYou are less prone to develop Coronary Artery Diseases. Good for you and keep up the healthy living.
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Cholesterol is only in animal foods...there are plant sterols, but they are NOT the negative animal cholesterol.  Although it is true that cholesterol is made by your body (as you do need some for vital bodily functions), adding cholesterol in your diet is definitely one of the major problems with the "bad" cholesterol that causes problems.  Saturated fat (which is in plant and animal products, but more so in animal products) also plays a part in cholesterol production:  if you have too much saturated fat, it is turned into cholesterol by your body.  There have been studies that show that a vegan diet not only helps with high cholesterol, but also many cancers, many autoimmune disorders, asthma, allergies, etc.  Since there  are obviously people who have been brainwashed by the meat/dairy/egg industries, you don't hear much about vegan diets as all the propoganda spewed about how "unhealthy" these diets are.  (The American Dietetic Association, as well as the Canadian version and the World Health Organization, ALL admit that a well-balanced vegan diet is one of the healthiest all around.)
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Rice, sugar, and potatoes should be fine for your husband as long as they are prepared well. \n\nTraditionally, people with high cholesterol are advised to avoid foods with high levels of saturated fat and/or unhealthy cholesterol, such as that from fatty animal meat. Total fat intake should be reduced, as it is clinically proven to lower cholesterol with weight loss. Salt should also be reduced and monitored, as this can trigger higher cholesterol levels. High-fiber foods should also be eaten regularly.\n\nThough contrasting previous beliefs, new research shows that dietary cholesterol, such as those found in nutritious foods such as seafood or eggs, are less effective in cholesterol levels. \n\nBut back to the rice, sugar, and potatoes - these foods are great, and have good amounts of vitamins and minerals. It is what you add with them that will negate your health, such as creams, butters, and other high-fat sauces. \n\nGood luck! :)
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Having low HDL, less than 40, is a risk factor for heart disease.  Having low HDL by itself is nothing and will not do anything to you, but if at the same time you have high LDL, or diabetes, or you smoke or you have a history of premature (men less then 50 and women less then 60 years old) heart attacks in your immediate family (parents or grandparents) then the chances of you getting heart disease or having a heart attack of your own increased dramatically.
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Eat right, stay away from foods with high cholesterol and frozen/canned food. Maintain the balance of your daily meals
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Statins like simvastatin, atorvastatin or resuvastatin are medications used to lower the level of lipids, or cholesterol, in your blood.\n\nHaving high cholesterol puts you at higher risk of things like strokes and heart problems such as angina or heart attacks. If you have high cholesterol you can do a little yourself to lower it by cutting out high fat foods and dairy products, but ultimately, genetics plays a large part in determining cholesterol level, so a lot of people end up needing to go on drugs to lower the levels.\n\nYou'll be on the drug for life, it has very few side effects though, so nothing to worry about there. In the UK, the latest aim, set by the government health officials, is to try to get peoples' total cholesterol levels less than 4mmol/L.
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eggs and bacon are high in cholesterol,  so usually not a good idea, however if you are doing this as part of a workout regimen/diet, it shouldn't be too bad for you, because your body will use it all and excersise helps keep cholesterol low.
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Cholesterol lowering medications
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Nope, eggs are nature's perfect food.  \n\n\nAnd there is no evidence that dietary cholesterol affects blood cholesterol.\n\nEnjoy your eggs.
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don't smoke, don't do drugs, don't drink alcohol, drink alot of water, use daily vitamines, don't eat food that contains high level of cholestrol, eat alot of fruits, don't get exposed to sun, maintain a healthy diet...
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The correct word is: cholesterol.\n\nTwo ways:  1) Low fat diet.\n\n           2) Exercise
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Atherosclerosis is caused by the buildup of plaques due to excessive cholesterol.  The cholesterol is shipped out of the liver in the form of VLDL, which is then changed to LDL when the fat is removed.  The LDL can either go back to the liver and be recycled or be endocytosed by macrophages (a very versatile white blood cell) underneath the endothelium.  The macrophages are supposed to then ship cholesterol out by HDL, but when too much cholesterol is eaten, these macrophages become bloated with cholesterol, becoming foam cells.  When foam cells become large enough they push into the endothelium and decrease the cross sectional area of the blood vessel.  This most often shows up in the heart simply because of the massive oxygen need of the cardiac muscle.  The formation of foam cells is the same everywhere in the body, but the effects of the pinching of the arteries are much worse in the heart.  Arteries that become smaller in the big toe or the liver do not cause severe symptoms until the arteries become completely closed off, while the heart needs so much oxygen, that the heart muscle is damaged even when the arteries are only slightly smaller.