How to reduce cholesterol

3:21 AM // 0 comments // ngsk // Category: Health tips //

First of all before knowing how to reduce cholesterol we have to know what is cholesterol and effects of cholesterol.

What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol also known as atherosclerotic plaque. It is a lipid, waxy Steroid (carbon structured substance)

primarily synthesized de novo within the body with smaller contributions from the diet and present in the cell membranes of body tissues and transported in the blood plasma of all animals.
The name cholesterol originates from the Greek chole- (bile) and stereos (solid), and the chemical suffix -ol for an alcohol, as François Poulletier de la Salle first identified cholesterol in solid form in gallstones, in 1769.

It is essential for life as helps in keeping cell permeability and fluidity and also helps in biosynthesis (naturally building up of) of bile acids, steroid hormones, and several fat soluble vitamins.

Atherosclerosis and impacts
Bluid up of Plaque on walls of arteries is known as atherosclerosis. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Over time, plaque hardens and narrows your arteries. Due to this flow of oxygen-rich blood to your organs and other parts of your body is reduced. This can lead to serious problems, including heart attack, stroke, or even death.

Atherosclerosis can affect any artery in the body, including arteries in the heart, brain, arms, legs, and pelvis. As a result, different diseases may develop based on arteries affected.

Coronary artery disease (CAD). When plaque builds up in the coronary arteries. These arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart. When blood flow to your heart is reduced or blocked, it can lead to chest pain and heart attack. CAD also called as heart disease.

Carotid (ka-ROT-id) artery disease. This happens when plaque builds up in the carotid arteries. These arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your brain. When blood flow to your brain is reduced or blocked, it can lead to stroke.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This occurs when plaque builds up in the major arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to the legs, arms, and pelvis. It can lead to numbness, pain, and sometimes dangerous infections.

Types of cholesterol
There are two different types of cholesterol; low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). HDL is commonly known as ‘good’ cholesterol and LDL is recognised as ‘bad’ cholesterol. LDL has been markedly linked with heart disease, whereas HDL is thought to reduce the chance of a heart attack.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is one of the five major groups of lipoproteins which enables cholesterol and triglycerides to be transported within the water based blood stream. Studies said that HDL can remove cholesterol from atheroma within arteries and transport it back to the liver for excretion or re-utilization - for this reason it is called as "good cholesterol"

The American Heart Association, NIH and NCEP provides a set of guidelines for fasting HDL levels and risk for heart disease.

Level mg/dL	Level mmol/L	Interpretation
<40 for men, <50 for women	<1.03	Low HDL cholesterol, heightened risk for heart disease
40–59	1.03–1.55	Medium HDL level
>60	>1.55	High HDL level, optimal condition considered protective against heart disease

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is one of the five major groups of lipoproteins which enables transport of cholesterol and triglycerides from the liver to peripheral tissues. LDL regulates cholesterol synthesis and since high levels of LDL cholesterol can signal medical problems like cardiovascular disease, so it is sometimes called "bad cholesterol"

In mg/dl: LDL-C = Total-C – HDL-C – (0.16 × Triglycerides)
where C refers to Cholesterol

How to Reduce LDL? or How to increase HDL? click here to know Natural food to do this.