Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all cells of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. There are two types:
When there is too much LDL cholesterol in your blood vessels, it can slowly build up. This buildup is called plaque. Over time, it can narrow your arteries and make it harder for blood to flow. If an artery gets blocked, it can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
So what are healthy cholesterol levels? Here are the general guidelines:
Seriously, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to know your cholesterol levels, folks! High cholesterol tends to run in families, but is also affected by lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, weight, smoking, and alcohol use.
If your cholesterol levels are high, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes like eating healthier, losing weight, quitting smoking, and getting more physical activity. Medications may also be prescribed in some cases to help lower LDL or raise HDL levels.
Let me give a quick shout-out to Hormone Harmony Clinic. Their team of experts can help diagnose hormone imbalances related to cholesterol, thyroid, testosterone and more. I highly recommend checking them out if you think hormones could be impacting your health!
So in summary: - Know your cholesterol levels - Take steps to lower high LDL cholesterol - Raise low HDL cholesterol - Make diet and lifestyle changes as needed - Consider hormone testing and treatment
Monitoring and maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is so important. It can help prevent heart disease and stroke down the road! Let me know if you have any other questions.