Cholesterol Measurement

Cholesterol measurement is usually determined by a
blood test. The test is carried out to detect the amount
of fat which the blood cells are carrying around the
body in it's bloodstream.

Cholesterol is circulated around the body in particles of the blood known as lipoprotein.

The body contains two types of cholesterol.  These are commonly known as good and
bad cholesterol.  The good is essential to provide the body's energy. The bad causes
health problems if not reduced or controlled properly.

Bad cholesterol is medically known as Low-density lipoprotein (LDL).

The low-density lipoprotein carries cholesterol which has probably entered the body  
by bad diet. The cholesterol is carried around the body's blood stream through the
body's arteries.

The LDL can cause a slow build up of plaque on the wall of the arteries, which will
gradually start to narrow and clog up the arteries.  This will ultimately lead to heart
disease, heart attacks, strokes and blood clots.  Obviously, these can prove to be fatal.

What causes high cholesterol ?

The main cause of high cholesterol is the consumption of fatty foods such as chicken
and meat skins, Butter, full fat dairy products, sausage, bacon, egg whites, biscuits,
cakes, donuts and pastries etc.

Other major factors which can contribute to a high cholesterol level are smoking, the
excessive consumption of alcohol and obesity. Obesity usually will have arisen from
a bad diet of fatty foods.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is also known as the body's good cholesterol.

High-density lipoprotein acts in reverse to LDL, as it cleans out excess cholesterol by
circulating it back to the body's liver for re-processing.

A Cholesterol Measurement determines whether there is a suitable balance between
the body's good and bad cholesterol.

Medical opinion suggests that the good cholesterol in the body ought to be at least
twice as much as the bad cholesterol.  A high level of cholesterol can be treated
and controlled in many ways.

A Cholesterol Measurement can be carried out by your GP.  There are also Home
Kits which are available to enable such tests to be carried out in the comfort of your
own home.

How do we control Cholesterol ?

There are many acceptable ways to increase our good cholesterol levels and indeed
reduce the bad levels.

A healthy diet will help to increase good levels, focussed on the consumption of foods
such as fish which is high in omega 3, high fibre cereal, fruits or fruit juice, olive oil
and other mono unsaturated fats.

The adoption of a sensible and healthy diet would be of major benefit in increasing
good cholesterol levels within the blood stream.  It is also advisable to participate in
regular exercise and to quit smoking.

There are also natural dietary supplements which can be taken and are available to
help reduce a high level of cholesterol.  A popular supplement is lecithin.

A cholesterol measurement acts as a preventative measure.  The early detection of
high levels of cholesterol mean that these can be treated and controlled to prevent
the clogging and blocking of arteries.   In this day and age, it is advisable to have the
test carried out every 5 years or so.  More specific symptoms may include a shortness
of breath on exertion or chest pain.