Reducing high cholesterol levels
There is a lot you can do to reduce your blood cholesterol and your risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. You may require drug therapy, and/or low salt diet, a diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol, help with stopping smoking, weight reduction and/or an exercise program.
Diet and cholesterol reduction
Eating a healthy diet is one of the most important (and sometimes one of the most difficult) things that you can do to improve your health and lower your cholesterol levels. A balanced diet contains lots of fruit and vegetables is high in fiber and rich in antioxidants. High fiber starchy foods such as bread, rice, pasta and cereals are great. A moderate amount of dairy products and protein rich foods such as meat, fish, nuts and pulses should not be overlooked. We also need a certain amount of fat, but try to avoid, or use less, full-fat foods such as butter, ice cream, mayonnaise, pastries. Try using low fat alternatives or mono-saturated or polyunsaturated fats.
Medications that reduce cholesterol
There are a number of drug therapies available to treat high blood pressure. Statins, fibric acid derivatives, Niacin and bile acid binding resins amongst them. Statins are one of the most effective and most popular forms of medication and and are generally well tolerated.
Additional changes to improve your health
Salt reduction and health
Salt contains sodium and this is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease and strokes. Your doctor may recommend a low salt diet and you can buy alternative to sodium salts to flavor your food.
Weight Reduction to reduce circulatory problems
Weight reduction if you are overweight or obese is very important in reducing your chances of getting sick. It is a medical fact that being overweight increases the likelihood that you will get cancer, have high blood pressure, circulatory and heart problems.
Work out to improve your health
Exercise helps boost your metabolic rate, keeps your heart healthy, improves your stamina, tone and strength.
Quit smoking to improve health
Quit smoking and not only will you live longer, you will also look better. It can be hard to stop but the benefits are so marked and have such a positive effect on the health of your heart and lungs, that it is plain crazy to keep smoking.
Reducing stress lowers cardiovascular health risk factors
When a man's internal resources cannot cope with the pressures put on them we term this condition 'stress'. Stress is known to contribute to poor health. It affects the immune system, increases blood pressure, disrupts eating and sleep patterns and behavior generally. So although reducing your stress levels may not affect your cholesterol levels per se, it will increase your chances of staying healthy.
01/02/2006
