High cholesterol diets are not
the only causes of elevated cholesterol levels. There are many other factors
that affect your cholesterol levels. These include controllable and
uncontrollable factors.
The uncontrollable factors
have to do with things you have no power to change. They include but not
restricted to the following.
Your Family History
Your risk of several health
conditions and diseases are determined by your family history. This is one of
the reasons doctors are interested in the family history of their patients. Some
people have a predisposition to high cholesterol.
Your Gender
Researches have shown that men
are more prone to high cholesterol than women. It is also a proven fact that
women naturally start experiencing increased cholesterol levels around the ages
of 50 – 55 years while that of men is 45 years and above.
Your Age
The more you grow old the more
your risk of developing high cholesterol level. You definitely have no control
over this.
The controllable high
cholesterol risk factors have to do with your life style. They include but not
limited to.
Your Activity Level
People who are not active
stand a more increased risk for high cholesterol levels. Exercise decreases LDL
cholesterol (bad) levels in your blood and increases your HDL cholesterol
(good) levels. The good news is that you don’t have to engage in a strenuous
exercise to get these benefits.
Your Diet
Your diet is contributing to
your high cholesterol levels if they are mostly made up of cholesterol
promoting foods. These are mostly foods with saturated fat.
Your Weight
Obesity or being overweight
increases your blood cholesterol levels. This is due to the fact that your body
stores the extra calories you eat as triglycerides. The HDL cholesterol levels
tend to be low if the triglyceride levels are high. To improve your cholesterol
levels, you have to engage in a weight loss plan.
High cholesterol levels
combined with other health conditions put you on a high risk of complications
and diseases.
To improve your health and
reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke and other health issues you have to
lower your cholesterol levels.
You are advised to consult
your doctor to help you develop a cholesterol-lowering plan that is safe and
effective for you.
