Women: Know Your Cholesterol Levels
By Stephen R. Farris
If you've been to a doctor during the last 40 to 50 years, then you have probably been lectured, checked and diagnosed with high cholesterol or low cholesterol levels. You may also know there is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol.
However, we may not know all the ins and outs of good or bad cholesterol, much less how to control or maintain healthy levels. The good cholesterol -- the stuff our body needs -- helps make estrogen, progesterone, Vitamin D and assists in making bile acids in the liver.
Bad cholesterol -- unchecked -- can lead to heart attacks and strokes due to buildup in the artery walls, clogging them up and hardening them.
What Does LDL and HDL Cholesterol Mean?
Here's a sample of what you need to know about these two, LDL and HDL cholesterols. In all simplicity, LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is bad; HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is good.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are kind of like a third wheel when dealing with cholesterol. Basically it's a fat found in the bloodstream and if you have too much in your system, then it could increase your risk for heart disease. According to research, women who have higher levels of triglycerides in their bloodstream are more at risk to suffer a heart attack or heart disease versus men.
Managing and Lowering Your Cholesterol
If you've been diagnosed as having a high cholesterol count, or feel that you should be taking steps to keep it under control, then help is available. Your doctor may prescribe medication to help control and lower your cholesterol. Another method is to change your nutritional habits by adding more fresh fruits and raw vegetables, combined with proteins to name a few for starters. Kick in a little exercise and you could be on the road to good cholesterol levels in no time. Also, you might want to cut out alcohol and tobacco use too.
Getting your cholesterol levels checked is pretty simple. Besides seeing your doctor or chiropractor, most communities and local colleges and universities offer free health screenings where you can get yours checked. After getting your results back, it's still a good idea to visit with your doctor or chiropractor. They can offer nutritional and exercise advice to help you with lowering or maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in St. George, Utah.