High Cholesterol

If you find that you have less and less energy lately, or that you have been gaining weight and can't seem to keep the weight off, you may be experiencing high cholesterol. There are a lot of reason why people experience levels that skyrocket, but there are also plenty of things you can do to both improve and prevent the condition as well.

Cholesterol is actually a fatty substance that the body needs in moderate amounts; it is found in cell membranes and cell walls everywhere in the body. You need this substance in order for the body to produce certain hormones that are needed for bone and cell growth, but this substance is also necessary for making sure that the body has enough vitamin D, as well as the bile acids that help your body to digest fat. It's important to keep in mind that every cholesterol is not 'bad', and that most of the foods that we eat have fat in them, which you need in order to make sure that your cholesterol levels stays balanced.

When you develop high cholesterol, the additional fat is deposited into your arteries, since it has already been in the bloodstream. When too much of the substance gets close to the heart, the coronary arteries become clogged, and it becomes more and more difficult for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. High cholesterolalso prevents the heart from getting the right amount of oxygen from the blood, which slows the heart rate down and weakens the rest of the body. Since the heart is a muscle, it needs a considerable amount of oxygen in order to function properly, and this lack of air supply can cause a host of other health problems, including blood pressure complications and an increased tendency for stroke and heart attack.

If you want to find out if you have high cholesterol, and you want to take steps to improve your health right away, you can take a simple blood test. Your low density lipoprotein, or LDL, is measured, along with your HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, and you should have this test done every five years or so. During your appointment, your doctor will also be able to give you some pointers on how to change your diet, which will probably include eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, and staying away from greasy food.

Angina or severe chest pain is another symptom of high cholesterol; this is caused by calcification or hardening of the arteries, and produces pressure in the chest that may also be coupled by pain and lack of circulation in the arms and legs. When the angina happens, it is important to go to the doctor as soon as you can, so that your physician can possibly stop you from having a heart attack. A blood clot forming on the plaque in the arteries is another sign of high cholesterol, and if you find that you are having problem sleeping or can't digest anything that you eat, this is another sign that you need to get checked right away. Check out www.emedicinehealth.com for more information.