Cholesterol Diet & Heart Attack By William Walters At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Today we are going to talk about the importance of Lowering your Cholesterol to prevent the #1 killer in the US Heart Disease

Cholesterol is an important element required by the human body for its day to day survival. But if present in excess amounts, it can be counterproductive as well. Medical science has shown that excess quantities of cholesterol in the blood can lead to the blockage of blood vessels, leading to heart attack or stroke. Hence it is important that one may check the cholesterol buildup in his/her body. If left unchecked, it can lead to a complete disaster.

The chemical composition of cholesterol is such that it is insoluble in water. As a result, it cannot dissolve in blood and hence independently move around in the blood stream. They are carried by certain chemicals known as lipoproteins to the different tissues of the body, to be stored, used, or excreted, as it may be required. But in excess amounts, some of these lipoproteins may settle on the inside of the blood vessels forming plaques, thus blocking the blood flow in the process, and eventually leading to a cardiac arrest, when the blood flow is completely obstructed. If this blockage happens in the brain, it may cause a stroke.

Here, one must understand that not all types of cholesterol is heart attack inducing. There are basically two types of cholesterol – HDL and LDL – in the human blood, of which the latter is heart attack causing if present in an excess percentage. HDL or high density lipoproteins seem to help remove the cholesterol forming plaques inside the blood vessels, thereby alleviating any chances of a blockage build up in the arteries. Hence they are body friendly. According to experts, the ideal level of these components in the blood must be -40 mg/dL/-50mg/dL (for men & women) and less than 160 mg/dL, respectively. There is another type of cholesterol as well in the blood - named LP(a) - which is also prone to cause blockages in the blood vessels. But the exact chemistry behind the plaque formation by LP(a) is not known even today.

From a common man point of view, one’s the things are over the anvil, it can be really difficult to contain the damage. Hence, as a precaution, it is advisable that one may periodically check his/her blood cholesterol levels to ensure that everything is under control. Consulting a doctor/nutritionist and seeking his/her advice would be helpful for one to know more about the effects of excessive cholesterol, and to chart a diet plan that is more body friendly. Remember, in any counts, checking the blood cholesterol level is far easier than being through and then treating heart attack or stroke.

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