A high blood cholesterol level has been linked to one of the leading causes of deaths in the United States - high attacks.
Even seemingly healthy adults, both men and women, can fall victim to this deadly disease if left unchecked.
Cholesterol forms fatty plaques in the arteries that ultimately lead to the obstruction of normal blood flow to the heart.
When this happens, a heart attack or some other form of cardiovascular disease can inevitably be in the offing.
There are many reasons why a heart disease develops.
Some of these may include a high blood cholesterol level, sex (generally, men are more predisposed to cardiovascular diseases than women), age (older people are more prone to developing heart diseases) and an unhealthy lifestyle.
While you cannot do anything with some of these factors (like sex and age, for example), you can definitely make some lifestyle changes to minimize your chances of catching these life threatening diseases.
Here are some surefire ways to help you live up to a hundred! Eat healthy - The American Heart Association has formulated a dietary guideline designed to prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases.
The daily total allowable fat, cholesterol and protein intakes should not exceed the figures specified in the guidelines for maximum protection.
The guideline likewise specifies that complex carbohydrates should constitute a large portion of a person's diet (preferably more than 50% of the daily calorie intake) while keeping sodium intake to no more than 3 grams per day.
Alcohol intake should also be limited to one or two ounces per day.
Adopt a healthier lifestyle.
To prevent cardiovascular diseases from catching you and your family unaware, it would be best to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Here are some tips that may just give you a new lease on life: oGet moving!What would be wiser than starting a regular aerobic exercise routine?Exercise can bring you tons of benefits.
It can help you keep off excess weight and maintain your cholesterol level at a safe level.
A 30 to 45 minute routine performed 5 days per week can help you achieve your goals.
Just be sure that you choose an activity that accelerates your heart rate and keep it up for about 20 minutes.
After some months of regular exercise, you will be ecstatic to find out that your LDL (also known as the "bad cholesterol") to HDL (the "good cholesterol") ratio is tipped to a favorable balance! oThrow your cigarettes in the waste bin!Smoking elevates your LDL levels so start quitting right now! oAvoid "yo-yo" dieting.
Losing weight and gaining it back repeatedly may cause your cholesterol level to rise.
oUnderstand that there is no miracle cures for your cholesterol problem.
One week, the focus was all on rice bran.
The following week, oat bran and fish oil took the center stage.
While it is the American way to constantly look for shortcuts, there simply are no magic or miracle cures when it comes to your health.
So, be extremely cautious whenever someone recommends these miracle cures to solve your cholesterol problem.
oInstitute good lifestyle habits for the whole family - You heard it right.
You need to have your whole family adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Even if a certain member of your family has a low risk of developing a heart disease, it doesn't mean that he or she is excused from this healthy change.
Understand that the risks increase as one ages.
So, it would be wiser to adopt good habits while it is not yet too late.
Remember that it is better to be safe than sorry!