Skip to main content

How to maintain healthy cholesterol levels



The first challenge is pursuading people to get their cholesterol tested. The second is making sure they get it done by a healthcare professional, whether that is with a GP or a practice nurse, or at an NHS Health Check. Some pharmacies and supermarkets are starting to offer tests, and there are local initiatives, too.

Symptoms of high cholesterol show only when you are starting to get heart disease as a result: you build up a lot of fatty plaque in your arteries, start to experience shortness of breath, chest pains or angina. By that point, the condition is irreversible – and the earlier in life you have a heart attack or stroke, the worse your long-term outcomes are. Prevention is absolutely better than cure.

Most people can start with lifestyle factors. As a nation, we know we are not as active as we should be, that we are increasingly overweight and that our intake of saturated fats is too high – that leads to our cholesterol levels being too high.

For most people, the first step would be to reduce their saturated fats intake, and to eat more soy foods, nuts, oats or barley. Eating more fibre and vegetables can help manage cholesterol levels, too. And the more exercise, the better; the government says two and a half hours of moderate-intensity exercise per week is the minimum. Taking 10,000 steps a day is good for you but unless that gets you out of breath and your heart rate up, you need to do more.

If, after three months of improved diet and increased exercise, someone’s cholesterol levels haven’t shifted much, there may be genetic issues at play. That is why it is just as important to understand your family medical history as it is your own numbers. Some people have normal cholesterol and blood pressure, but have a family history of heart disease and heart attacks or strokes, so they are still prescribed medication, most often statins, which are taken once daily.

Everyone should see their GP every year to have their cholesterol and blood pressure checked. A lot can change in 12 months.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How Health Technology and Innovation Are Revolutionizing Wellness

In recent years, health technology has transformed the way we approach wellness, making it more personalized, accessible, and efficient than ever before. From wearable devices that track every heartbeat to AI-powered diagnostics, innovations in health tech are reshaping how we monitor, manage, and improve our health. These advancements not only empower individuals but also have the potential to revolutionize healthcare systems worldwide. Wearables: Your Health on Your Wrist Fitness trackers, smartwatches, and other wearable gadgets have become ubiquitous in everyday life. These devices monitor heart rate, sleep quality, physical activity, oxygen levels, and even stress in real-time. Beyond basic tracking, many wearables now provide personalized insights, reminders to move, hydration alerts, and even ECG readings. This constant stream of data helps users take control of their health, encouraging healthier habits and facilitating early detection of potential issues before they become s...
Post a Comment
Read more

Gut Feeling: Why Your Digestion Might Be the Key to Your Mood.

 The Surprising Connection. You've probably heard the phrase"trust your gut." Most people think it's just a saying about intuition-but what if it's more than that? Scientists are finding that our gut and brain are in constant conversation. In fact, your gut has its own nervous system, often called the"second brain." This connectioncknown as the gut-brain axis-explains why you might feel"butterflies" when you're nervous, or lose your appetite when you're sad. It turns out, your digestion doesn't just process food; it helps process emotions, too. The Microbiome: Tiny Creatures, Big Impact. Inside your gut live trillions of bacteria, fungi, and microbes collectively known as the microbiome. They're not just passengers-they're active participants in your health. Some bacteria produce chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, the same"feel-good" neurotransmitters your brain uses to regulate mood. When your gut bacteria are...
Post a Comment
Read more

How was your weekend running?

Sometimes it is about you joggers who go round, and round, and round. Share your sense of enormous well-being below the line, as well as the weekend’s triumphs and woes Due to a combination of insomnia and odd dreams last night, I wrote the entire of this blog in my head at about 3am. Unfortunately, I failed to write it down, and thus the running community will be forever deprived of the genius prose that no doubt would have transformed their lives, spurred on countless PBs and bought about a revolution in the knee health of the nation. I’m pretty sure, though, that it involved me running the world (in both senses) and forcing everyone to run a mile a day from childhood. The resultant improvements in the nation’s health would, of course, save the NHS billions, and all the rest of their vital work would be funded by a levy on anyone claiming that running is bad for your knees. The leftover cash would be spent on subsidising trainer costs and building an array of running tracks, open 2...
Post a Comment
Read more