5 Simple Ways to Lower Cholesterol

FACTS Having high CHOLESTEROL puts you at risk of developing heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. People of all ages and backgrounds can have high cholesterol. AMERICA'S CHOLESTEROL BURDEN E Million American adults (33.5%) have high LDL or "bad" CHOLESTEROL. Only 1 out of every 3 adults with high LDL cholesterol has the condition under control. LESS THAN HALF OF ADULTS WITH HIGH LDL CHOLESTEROL GET TREATMENT. THE RISK OF HEART DISEASE APPROXIMATELY DOUBLES TO PEOPLE WITH HIGH TOTAL CHOLESTEROL. DOWN American adults have an average total cholesterol of 200 mg/dL A level lower than that is more desireable. SIMPLE STEPS TO LOWER CHOLESTEROL You can lessen cholesterol without drugs by following some basic steps that will not only change your cholesterol readings, but also improve your health today and in the future. Truth is prescription drugs for lowering cholesterol do work. The problem is both the short term and long-term side effects. Even more risky than the side effects of prescription drugs to lower cholesterol is not getting cholesterol under control. Over time, high cholesterol can lead to numerous conditions of the heart and arteries, not the least of which are atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), stroke or heart attack and lead to infertility issues. Here are 5 steps you can take today to lower your cholesterol without prescription drugs: EAT RIGHT! May sound simple, but diet has such a significant impact on lowering cholesterol that it should be the number one factor you look at in determining if your high cholesterol is hereditary or a matter of dietary choices. A low fat and low cholesterol diet is the first step toward lowering cholesterol. EXERCISE! Improving cardiovascular health is a step toward reversing the effects of high cholesterol. Exercise itself doesn't directly lower cholesterol, but will strengthen the heart and entire circulatory system. QUIT SMOKING! If you smoke, the plaque build up in the arteries due to high cholesterol is accelerated. When plaque blocks the flow of blood to the heart, the muscle has to work harder to get oxygen. This can lead to a heart attack. If the arteries get completely blocked with plaque from high cholesterol then a stroke can occur. RELAX- Chronic stress can affect cholesterol levels. If you are constantly stressed and eating a low cholesterol diet, you may not seen any improvement in cholesterol readings until you learn to relieve stress. TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR. It is always important to ask your doctor if your decision to follow a specific diet or exercise plan is right for you. In addition, do not stop taking medications before consulting with your doctor. You can lower your cholesterol with diet and exercise, and under the care of your doctor, see about removing drugs from the process. DURING 2009-2010 By the age 20 and over within the previous 5 years, 68% of Americans reported that they had their cholesterol checked. Less than half of Hispanic men were screened for high cholesterol. Victory A.R.T. Laboratory Phils, Inc. increasing your parenting potential. www.ivfvictoryphilippines.com Reference: www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/facts