Keep Your Health On Track
Everywhere you turn, you hear about health problems plaguing the people of the United States. The blame is put on the foods we eat, the lack of exercise, alcohol and in many cases heredity. Cholesterol is one of the big culprits of poor health conditions. As we age, it can be harder to control. Most people should be tested to be sure that their cholesterol is in good shape. There is a cholesterol machine that you can use to test yours at home. Once you understand how cholesterol affects your health and how to determine what good and poor levels are, then you can check your own on a regular basis.
It is important to understand how cholesterol works with your body, so you will understand how to stay healthy and live longer. First of all, you should know that you have both good cholesterol, known as HDL and bad cholesterol, known as LDL. You need both of them, but if your out of balance on one of them, then you could be facing some serious health problems. Cholesterol is a fat-like substance found in the cells of your body. It is necessary to help your body produce hormones. It also creates Vitamin D and acids that help digest fats that are consumed by you.
A cholesterol machine can help you measure if you have too much cholesterol in your body. You can get too much by overeating too many foods high in fat, being obese, or getting no exercise whatsoever. In some cases, it is passed down through the family tree. Testing your cholesterol regularly can help you know where your numbers are, whether they are good or bad and giving you the option of making better choices to reduce your chances of serious health problems.
High cholesterol can lead to arteriosclerosis, which is the narrowing of the artery pathways which can lead to stroke, heart attack, or other serious life-threatening problems. To be in a good range, your cholesterol should measure under 200mg/dL on a cholesterol machine. 200-239 is a measure of borderline/high and above 240 is considered high.
Exercising, eating foods that are low in fat and cholesterol is a good start to keeping your cholesterol levels in check. Not consuming too much alcohol is a wise choice. It is recommended that everyone over the age of 20 should have their cholesterol checked at least every five years, more often if you are obese or have a family history.
