Control Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is used by the body to make cell membranes and some hormones.
25% of the cholesterol we need comes from the food we eat; the rest is made by your liver and body cells. 
Cholesterol plays an important role in your body.  However, too much cholesterol can lead to cardiovascular disease.

Why is it important to control cholesterol?

Too much bad cholesterol (LDL) can combine with blood cells and become deposited on the walls of the arteries and veins. 
This causes the blood vessels to become narrower causing higher blood pressure. 
These blockages can also lead to heart disease and stroke.

Good cholesterol and bad cholesterol

All cholesterol is bad, right? 
Actually there are two types of cholesterol, the LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol which is the one that causes the fatty deposits on our blood vessels and the good cholesterol called HDL (high-density lipoprotein) which actually prevents heart disease by removing excess cholesterol in the blood.

What can I do to control cholesterol?

Dietary changes are the best way to control cholesterol levels in the body.
• Eat healthy foods that are low in cholesterol, trans fats and saturated fats. 
• Eat plenty of dietary fibre which also helps to control cholesterol levels.
• Make cholesterol level screening part of your annual check up
• Exercise. An active, healthy body makes more good cholesterol.
• Watch your weight and maintain a healthy BMI range.
NB: Some people have a tendency to make too much bad cholesterol due to a genetic condition. 
They can be perfectly healthy, fit and eat a good diet.  That is why it is important to be screened for cholesterol levels, even if you think you are low risk.

Medication

If you suffer from high cholesterol, your doctor may prescribe medication, as well as lifestyle changes. The most commonly prescribed medications for high cholesterol are statins which help to lower bad cholesterol production in the liver.