Diseases List

If you are trying to dig up a connection between cholesterol levels and Atherosclerosis, you have definitely come to the right place as this article will show you how they are connected. We will try to explain this to you in layman terms that will be easy to understand.

First of all, the body has two types of cholesterol. One is the HDL cholesterol or the good cholesterol. The other is the LDL cholesterol or the bad cholesterol. Atherosclerosis is associated with the bad cholesterol.

When the body has an excess amount of LDL or bad cholesterol, the excess starts to collect inside the arteries of a person by attaching themselves to the walls of the arteries. Once attached, they start to get bigger and bigger as more and more bad cholesterol is accumulated in that spot. They will eventually get big enough to be called a plaque. Plaques are however not responsible for serious conditions such as a heart attack or a stroke. However, when one of these plaques becomes unstable or tears, it will form a blood clot in the artery that will immediately cut off blood supply to the heart. The result will be a heart attack or a stroke of varying intensity.

Thus, one can avoid Atherosclerosis if they kept their LDL cholesterol levels in check. High LDL levels are usually caused by poor choice of diets or by reduced physical activity. Smoking is also a prime cause of bad cholesterol levels. In some cases, LDL levels may also be linked with genetics where it is passed down from generation to generation.

For people to avoid conditions such as Atherosclerosis, it is best that they monitor their cholesterol levels once in about 3 years or so. For those already suffering from high cholesterol levels or those who might have already suffered a heart attack or stroke, it is highly recommended that they monitor their cholesterol levels on a more regular basis, say several times a year.

A diet that is free of saturated fats and fatty-acids will greatly help in bringing down cholesterol levels. Certain foods such as fish, nuts, and olive oil can also bring down the LDL cholesterol levels in the body. Smokers who suffer from high cholesterol are putting themselves at great risk of a heart attack or stroke and should seriously consider giving it up for good. Lastly, it is recommended that a person include at least a few minutes of daily exercise in their life to keep their cholesterol risks low.