Facts about high cholesterol

Cholesterol is a type of fat that is produced by the liver. It is a waxy steroid that is present in blood plasma in the whole body. It is found in foods such as eggs, meats, cheese, ice-cream and milk. Cholesterol is essential for proper function of the body and it helps in production of vitamin D and also helps in forming cell walls. The body produces cholesterol as per its needs but it is impossible to stop the absorption of cholesterol from the foods you consume. This adds to your daily intake of cholesterol and causes various health conditions.

Going back to the time this word was first used, it was the Greeks who had an idea about what it was. The very word “cholesterol” comes from a Greek work “ cholestereos”. “Chole” means “bile” and “stereos” means “stiff”. There are various factors, which generally work in combination and lead to high cholesterol. Although it is a result of bad lifestyle or genetics, you cannot blame the incidence of high cholesterol on any one factor.

Certain foods such as eggs, dairy products, meat and sea food contain high cholesterol levels but contrary to the popular belief, dietary cholesterol does not have so much impact on human blood cholesterol levels. However, foods such as pies, red meat, sausages, lard and hard cheese are high in saturated fat and these foods can also lead to high cholesterol levels. It is very important to control your diet if you want to control the level of cholesterol in your body .Choose fresh foods over fast food. Always include one portion of green leafy vegetables in your meal.

People who do not exercise on a regular basis or those who spend most of their time sitting or sleeping are known to have high levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and low levels of good cholesterol (HDL). This is one reason obese and overweight people have higher LDL levels than those who are physically fit. It is important to exercise regularly so that your body can have proper blood circulation and maintain a healthy level of cholesterol. If you do not like the idea of exercising, you can start with morning walks or jogging and stay fit. It is better to start doing something about the problem rather than giving stupid excuses.

Some people have a habit of smoking and this also leads to high cholesterol. Reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke per day. Control your intake of alcohol as this can help you lower the level of cholesterol in your body. Abstinence from alcohol is the best option but if that seems too hard, you can certainly cut down your intake. Simvastatin is a drug that reduces the level of bad cholesterol in your body. It increases good cholesterol and reduces the risk of stroke, blood pressure and other heart complications. Do not use this drug if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. Always consult a doctor before you use this drug. Recent additions to the medications for treating this condition are Crestor and Fluvastatin.