High Cholesterol

High cholesterol levels generally pose a serious threat to your health. For example, high cholesterol levels have been shown to lead to an increased risk of heart disease.

But even if you do have high cholesterol right now, you can still do something about it, with changes in diet and activity levels.

To reduce high cholesterol level problems, it can be helpful to know exactly what cholesterol is. Read our explanation of what cholesterol is here. 

It is also important for you to know exactly what your cholesterol levels are. That way you can keep them at a healthy level prior to problems developing. Your physician will be able to perform tests to give you the readings.

If you prefer not to visit your doctor you may be able to get a home testing kit, depending on where you live. Whatever else you do, if you're worried that you may have high cholesterol it pays to have it checked out. 

If you have soft yellow skin near your eyes that can sometimes be a symptom of high cholesterol. Don't ignore such warning signs.

There are may treatments and options these days, for treating high cholesterol levels. Anyone thinking about treatment for high cholesterol should consult with their physician and follow his guidance.  

A research study has shown that high levels of cholesterol can even increase how fast prostate tumors grow, so it's even more important to know your ldl and hdl levels.

If you have had the tests done and the results say you have high cholesterol you really should think about making some serious 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. 

Remember that the total level of cholesterol is important, but the ratio between hdl and ldl cholesterol (the 'baddie') is even more important.

If you're looking for supplements to help lower high cholesterol levels, there are natural supplements available these days. They can even be more effective than prescription medications and they generally have no side effects.  

Statins, 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 may want to consider a natural alternative. And always check with your physician before embarking on any supplementation program.

It's probably worth having the tests done every 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