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26% |
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47% |
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Cholesterol Medication: |
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Cholesterol Medication or
Cholesterol is essential for human life. It
builds and repairs cells, it is used to produce
sex hormones like
estrogen and
testosterone, it is converted to bile acids
to help you digest food and it is found in large amounts in brain and nerve
tissue. The liver produces enough
cholesterol to satisfy these functions. Two
types of
cholesterol--high-density
lipoprotein (HDL)
cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein
(LDL) cholesterol--have become quite familiar to most people concerned with
the health of their heart and blood vessels.
HDL cholesterol: HDL cholesterol is the
good cholesterol because high concentrations in the blood are associated
with a low risk of heart attack. HDL contains more protein than
triglycerides or cholesterol and helps remove cholesterol from artery walls.
HDL carries cholesterol from body cells to the liver, either to be reused,
converted to bile acids or disposed of in the bile.
LDL cholesterol: LDL cholesterol is the
bad cholesterol that's associated with a higher risk of heart disease. LDL
becomes oxidized and deposits in the walls of arteries to initiate the
condition known as "atherosclerosis," or hardening of the arteries. This
condition causes 500,000 heart attacks each year. Others risk factors that
may contribute to atherosclerosis are a family history of the disease, age,
male sex, cigarette smoking, hypertension and diabetes mellitus.
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Causes of Excessive Cholesterol: |
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Although
cholesterol is vital to a variety of
life-sustaining functions, too much
cholesterol in your blood is a major risk
factor for heart disease. Excessive
cholesterol can cause buildup of
atherosclerotic plaque. Accumulation of plaque in arteries can block blood
flow and lead to a heart attack. To understand how excessive
cholesterol occurs, consider how
cholesterol travels in your body.
Cholesterol doesn't dissolve in water.
Therefore, to circulate through your blood (which is mostly made up of
water),
cholesterol and triglycerides (another
lipid in the blood) combine with proteins to form lipoproteins.
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Prevention: |
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You may help to prevent
high cholesterol by staying on a healthy
diet. This means switching from high-atherosclerotic (eggs, fatty red meats, palm
or coconut oil, dairy products made with whole milk) to fresh fruits and
vegetables, whole-grain breads and cereals, and low-fat dairy products. You
can treat high
cholesterol by eating a low-fat,
low-cholesterol diet and by taking
medications to
lower cholesterol. The specific treatment
plan will depend on your
cholesterol level (including LDL
cholesterol) and on your history of
coronary artery disease or risk factors for coronary artery disease.
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| Disclaimer |
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| These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent any disease. |
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