Cholesterol
Cholesterol refers to a fatty substance which is s vital part of the cell membrane in human bodies. It is a form of lipid cholesterol and is found in the blood circulation of human body. Cholesterol gets deposited in the blood stream by two different sources. It is the outcome of the food intake or via the liver production mechanism. Dietary cholesterol mainly comes from dairy products and fatty meat. The liver can both remove cholesterol from the blood stream and can also secrete cholesterol.
Plaque
There are various types of plaque. However, in all its forms it is generally referred to as an abnormal and unhealthy condition. There is dental plaque which produces a biofilm over the teeth. If it is not removed regularly it can cause cavity or periodontal problems. Atheromatous plaque is a kind of plaque caused by the cholesterol that occurs mostly in human beings. It is mostly seen that there is an accumulation and swelling in the walls of the artery made up of cells. The cells contain lipids that are cholesterol and fatty acids which are deposited and accumulated to constrict the arterial canal.
The Relationship Between Cholesterol and Plaque
Food to eat to lower cholesterol
Cholesterol is needed in small amounts to make certain hormones and to maintain healthy nerve cells. Cholesterol is released by the liver and is transported around the blood stream in the form of lipoproteins. Lipoproteins may be low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL). LDL is the main carrier of cholesterol into the blood stream and is referred to as bad cholesterol. LDL deposits the cholesterol in the arterial walls bringing the formation of cholesterol plaque. Slowly the cholesterol plaque build up causes the thickening of the artery walls and narrowing of the blood vessels. This disease is known as atherosclerosis. Cholesterol is the major cause of plaque build up and often results in heart attack. High cholesterol could also lead to some other serious disorders of liver, kidneys, such as diabetes and under active thyroid.
How serious can high cholesterol be?
If one reduces the level of cholesterol, it also reduces the risk of death from heart attack. If you have already experienced a heart attack then lower cholesterol should help you to live longer. High LDL causes atherosclerosis. This atherosclerosis results in the narrowing of the arteries and an incapability to supply sufficient oxygen and blood to the heart muscle. Too little oxygen results in chest pain. Blood may clot due to the fatty acid deposit on the arterial walls that entirely block the artery. The risk of high cholesterol increases with high blood pressure and smoking. Blood cholesterol can begin to form at the age of 20 and may increase more in the 40s.
Natural cure for high cholesterol
Is HDL Cholesterol healthy?
HDL is called the good cholesterol because it aids in the scourging of the accumulated plaque. It also helps in removing cholesterol from blood. In doing so, it also helps in clearing the cholesterol plaque from the arteries.
The Method of Treating High Cholesterol
Foods that lower cholesterol
To reduce high cholesterol, the preliminary step to be taken is to control the diet, to lose weight and to do exercises. These will all help in lowering the blood cholesterol and reducing the likelihood of the occurrence of the coronary heart disease. If you smoke then you should cease smoking in order to remove the risk of heart disease resulting from high cholesterol. If these measures are not enough then try some medicines recommended by doctors. Treatments that deal with high blood cholesterol levels include: Statins, they help in removing LDL from blood; Niacin, a B vitamin that does not allow the body to produce high cholesterol.. It is necessary to check your cholesterol level regularly.