High Cholesterol
 

These days most people probably know that high cholesterol levels can generally be a threat to your health. High cholesterol levels can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, for example. However, even if you do have high cholesterol you can still do something about it, with changes in diet and activity levels. 

If you don't already know what it is, you can read what cholesterol is here. And it's also important to know what your cholesterol levels are, so you can keep them at a healthy level, thus reducing the chance of problems developing in the future. Your doctor can perform tests to give you the readings, or you can visit one of the many chemists that carry out in-store cholesterol tests.

If you'd rather not visit a doctor, or chemist, you can get a home testing kit online, but do consider having it done, because knowing what your levels are can be so important for your future health.

There are so many treatments and options available these days and so much information arguing one way or the other that anyone thinking about treatment for high cholesterol should really speak to their doctor for guidance. It's so important to your future health that it's not worth guessing.

For example, a research study has shown that high levels of cholesterol can even increase how fast prostate tumors grow.

If your test results suggest you have high cholesterol you should think about making some changes in your lifestyle. Even small changes can pay big dividends and as well as reducing your cholesterol levels those changes could give you increased energy and zest for life. 

One confusing issue to remember is that the total level of cholesterol is important, but the ratio between hdl and ldl cholesterol is also very important. HDL and LDL are two types of cholesterol and are popularly known as 'good' and 'bad' cholesterol. 

If you're thinking about taking supplements to help control your high cholesterol levels you'll find that there are natural supplements readily available these days. It's claimed that they can be more effective than prescription medications and they generally have no side effects. Statins on the other hand, which are drugs that are given on prescription to help lower cholesterol, appear to have several side effects like headache and tiredness, as well as cramping and stomach upset, so you might want to look into a natural alternative if the use of Statins worries you. Don't forget to check with your doctor before embarking on any supplementation program.

Finally, it's probably worth having the tests done every 2-3 years or so to make sure you know where your cholesterol levels are. With high cholesterol it pays to keep an eye on the numbers in case they're on the rise, because you don't always feel the effects of high cholesterol immediately.