Causes of High Cholesterol
There are causes of high cholesterol that you can control and some causes that you cannot control. As high cholesterol is one of the leading causes of coronary artery disease, it is important to do whatever you can to keep it at a healthy level. However, the best way to do that is by being aware of just what DOES make your cholesterol too high.
The three ways you may get high cholesterol that you cannot help are genetics, your age, and whether you are male or female. If your parents and grandparents have high cholesterol, you may also have it. Family members should think about being tested.
Your sex is listed among the causes of high cholesterol because women tend to develop high cholesterol as they get older and go through menopause. Age comes into play for some of those people who are genetically at risk. These people can have high cholesterol as young as in their 20’s.
If you fall into the category of not being able to control your cholesterol, all you can do is work extra hard to keep it as low as you can. However, there are other reasons for having high cholesterol. These are called secondary causes and you can control these reasons. It’s just a matter of wanting to.
There are five causes of high cholesterol that you CAN control. These are:
* Excess weight: Being overweight brings on a whole set of health issues. It tends to raise the bad cholesterol levels which put you at greater risk for developing heart disease.
* Alcohol: Drinking can raise the good cholesterol levels, but it will also raise the bad ones, too. Therefore, drinking alcohol should be kept to moderation.
* Smoking: Everyone knows that smoking also causes a host of health problems. It lowers your good cholesterol and is linked to twenty percent of heart related deaths.
* Stress: While stress, in and of itself, does not do anything to cholesterol levels, it still is one of the causes of high cholesterol because of the way it affects your mood. For example, if you are stressed, you may be more prone to turn to fatty comfort food, or smoke a cigarette.
* Diet: This is highly important as your diet directly impacts on how healthy your heart and your coronary arteries stay. The food you eat should keep your cholesterol at healthy levels to avoid any dangerous plaque build up around your arteries.
As you can see, in many cases your cholesterol levels rest entirely in your hands. If you want to stay healthy and live a long life, pay attention to the causes you CAN control.
Information on signs-of-heart-disease.com is general information, and is not intended to substitute for informed professional medical or other professional advice.
