 What is high cholesterol? Naturally Lower Cholesterol Levels.
Cholesterol is a fat like substance that circulates in the blood and is produced by the body from dietary cholesterol and saturated fats in food. Cholesterol is not harmful if kept within acceptable limits.
It is used by the body to perform a variety of vital functions, including building and maintaining cell membranes, hormone synthesis, and the manufacture of Vitamin D. It is only when blood cholesterol levels become too high, that too much cholesterol can become a problem.
When there is too much cholesterol (a fat-like substance) in your blood, it builds up in the walls of your arteries. Over time, this buildup causes "hardening of the arteries" so that arteries become narrowed and blood flow to the heart is slowed down or blocked. The blood carries oxygen to the heart, and if enough blood and oxygen cannot reach your heart, you may suffer chest pain. If the blood supply to a portion of the heart is completely cut off by a blockage, the result is a heart attack.
High blood cholesterol itself does not cause symptoms, so many people are unaware that their cholesterol level is too high. It is important to find out what your cholesterol numbers are because lowering cholesterol levels that are too high lessens the risk for developing heart disease and reduces the chance of a heart attack or dying of heart disease, even if you already have it. Cholesterol lowering is important for everyone - younger, middle age, and older adults; women and men; and people with or without heart disease.
High cholesterol levels often exist without any significant symptoms and many people only discover the problem after they have had heart problems like angina or even a heart attack.
If your cholesterol levels are very high, you may notice small yellow nodules beneath the skin of your eyes, eyebrows or elbows. Although it is possible to do a home test (obtainable from your pharmacy), these tests only measure total blood cholesterol levels and do not measure HDL.
Healthy adults should have their cholesterol levels measured at least every five years and more frequently if they are overweight, already have a cholesterol problem or if there is a family history of heart disease or high cholesterol.
The best way to find out whether you have high cholesterol levels is to visit your doctor, homeopath, naturopath or other health care provider.
It is very important to take steps to control your cholesterol levels. If it is left untreated, high cholesterol can result in heart disease or even stroke. The good news is that high cholesterol can be well controlled by combining a healthy lifestyle with the correct medical treatment.
This can include synthetic prescription medication, natural remedies or a combination of both. If you are already taking prescription medication to control cholesterol levels, it is important to consult your doctor before making any changes.
There is a definite link between high cholesterol levels and a diet high in dietary cholesterol and saturated fat, although genetic factors also play an important role. Smoking, being overweight and insufficient exercise can also contribute to high cholesterol levels.
Your blood cholesterol level has a lot to do with your chances of getting heart disease. High blood cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for heart disease. A risk factor is a condition that increases your chance of getting a disease. In fact, the higher your blood cholesterol level, the greater your risk for developing heart disease or having a heart attack. Heart disease is the number one killer of women and men in the United States. Each year, more than a million Americans have heart attacks, and about a half million people die from heart disease.
In response to soaring rates of high cholesterol and atherosclerosis, the pharmaceutical companies have produced a class of drugs which are collectively known as 'statins'.
The statins have a one dimensional effect of reducing the body's ability to synthesize cholesterol. They do not, however, distinguish between the 'bad' cholesterol (LDL) and the 'good' cholesterol (HDL) and can also reduce levels of Co-enzyme Q10 and L-carnitine, two very important molecules which are involved in energy production and fat metabolism.
Like high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels, high levels of LDL cholesterol are recognized as symptoms of imbalance in the system. Naturopaths recognize that the whole system and not just the symptoms should be treated.
This is a much healthier approach and one which will have far reaching benefits in terms of quality of life and general well-being.
Research has demonstrated that a combination of natural remedies, regular exercise and dietary changes can make a significant difference to LDL levels and reduce or even eliminate the need for prescription drugs.
Recognizing the need for a healthier and more effective approach, without the side effects of the statin drugs, Native Remedies, in conjunction with a practicing Clinical Psychologist, has developed Cholesto-Rite - a 100% herbal remedy containing well researched ingredients and manufactured in therapeutic dosage according to the highest pharmaceutical standards.
Cholesto-Rite not only lowers LDL cholesterol, but also increases levels of HDL, the 'good' form of cholesterol that helps to remove excessive LDL from the bloodstream and prevent the buildup of plaque in the arteries.
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