Important Facts About Cholesterol

High cholesterol is one of the leading risk factors in heart disease unless we are tested for it, you may not know that you have it. Being tested for high cholesterol can help you manage it before it can harm you. Cholesterol is so important for the body that it actually produces it. It forms part of the very structure of your cells and is the foundation for many important hormones.

Cholesterol becomes a problem when there’s too much of its harmful form in your blood stream.

High levels of bad cholesterol or LDL indicate that you may be developing athlerosclerosis, making it harder for blood to circulate. If your coronary arteries (the vessels that supply your heart with nutrients and oxygen) are damaged this way, it can lead to damage to the heart and eventual heart attack.

High levels of HDL indicate that your blood levels of fat and cholesterol are in good shape and can help lower LDL levels. Your healthcare provider can test your blood cholesterol levels. Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic. The NCEP provides these numbers as a guideline for what your cholesterol levels should be, depending on your risk factors for heart disease.

Risk factors for heart disease include smoking, having diabetes and having high blood pressure. You should ask your health care provider about what your risk factors are. Make sure to mention any family history of heart disease or risk factors while family doesn’t determine whether you are at risk for heart disease or not, it can play a contributing role to any risk you might have.

Sometimes high cholesterol can be managed by lifestyle changes alone. Your doctor may suggest a diet and exercise program for you if you have no other risk factors for heart disease and an LDL level up to 160 mg/dL. On the other hand, for people who have known coronary artery disease, your physician may suggest medications even if your LDL level is 110 mg/dL.