Why Does Cholesterol Matter?

For the past few decades or so, cholesterol was always seen as the enemy. It was seen as the reason for heart failures and it was blamed for many things. People feared cholesterol, and the rule in every household was to keep it as low as possible.  

While there are certain studies which now claim that cholesterol should not be demonized, it should still be monitored well to ensure that a person’s body will continue to function well.    

Here’s a little surprise, you actually need cholesterol in your body. It is essential to life and is needed by cell membranes. 

It is classified as a lipid and it is found in most animals. Even though it is a fat, it is essential to certain metabolic processes. In fact, most of our cholesterol is produced by the liver and most of the cells in our bodies. It helps in many biological processes like the absorption of vitamin D.    
 Cholesterol is useful but it has to be controlled. Health experts recommend that cholesterol should not exceed 5.5 mmol per liter. Those with pre-existing risk factors should aim for lower cholesterol. Unfortunately, a huge number of us ignore these numbers and recommendations. Most of us have a high cholesterol count. 

If a person has too much cholesterol circulating in his or her bloodstream, it can get quite dangerous. Too much cholesterol can cause blood vessels to narrow, and eventually, be blocked. When blood vessels are blocked, it can lead to many different diseases like stroke or various heart diseases.    

There are many factors which affect a person’s cholesterol levels. Some people are more likely to have high blood pressure because of genetics and family background. Others may have it because of a related medical condition like an underactive thyroid gland, overconsumption of alcohol and obesity. Some risk factors are more dangerous than others and should be taken in to account.  
 It is important to look at a person’s overall lifestyle in order to figure out the best possible solution to the problem.  

Perhaps the most noticeable and controllable factor in preventing high blood pressure is monitoring a person’s diet. While people’s bodies might react differently even if they eat the same thing, switching to more health-conscious food choices will very likely improve a person’s health conditions. Generally speaking, those who eat foods that are low in saturated fat can really help improve a person’s overall health.    

The majority of those who have high blood pressure do not show the symptoms of the condition. People over twenty years of age should ideally have their blood pressure checked at least once every year to ensure that they are in good condition.  

They should even take the tests more often if they are in the high-risk group. Consult your doctor or health care provider to find out how often you should take the test. 

Before starting any diet you must check with your GP