What Causes Heart Attacks – Find Out How Bad Cholesterol Can Affect Your Heart Health
What Causes Heart Attacks – Find out How Bad Cholesterol can affect your Heart Health
What causes Heart Attacks ? Although cardio-vascular disease is caused by many factors, high levels of Cholesterol in the blood has a major influence on the health of the cardio vascular system. High levels of cholesterol in the blood cause fatty deposits in the arteries that can lead to blockages and damage to the heart.
So what is a high level ? Your annual examination at your doctors may include a simple blood test to check your cholesterol levels. Most tests have to be done after a fasting period – no food or drink other than water for between 12 and 14 hours.
There are 3 components of cholesterol that are commonly measured LDL, HDL and Tryglycerides. Cholesterol generally has to be transported to and from the cells by carriers called lipoproteins.
Bad or LDL Cholesterol – If excessive LDL cholesterol circulates in the blood, it will slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. This, together with other substances can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that narrows the arteries and makes them less flexible. This condition is known as atherosclerosis, which if a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, heart attack or stroke can result.
Good or HDL Cholesterol – 25 to 35% of cholesterol in the blood is high-density lipoprotein (HDL). It is called ‘good’ cholesterol, because high levels seem to protect against the Causes of Heart Attacks. Low levels of HDL (less than 40 mg/dL) also actually increase the risk of heart disease.
Triglycerides are fats made in the body. High levels of tryglycerides are also known factors in people with diabetes and are what causes heart attacks .
Cholesterol is measured by milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood (mg/dL). Usually, only the total cholesterol amount is given when a person is tested for cholesterol. Sometimes you are given the HDL cholesterol and the total cholesterol results. The guidance from the American Heart Association shows that….
If your LDL, HDL, and triglyceride levels are also at desirable levels and you have no other risk factors for heart disease, total blood cholesterol below 200 mg/dL puts you at relatively low risk of heart attack and coronary heart disease. It is still advisable to eat a heart-healthy diet, take regular exercise and don’t smoke.
With total cholesterol of between 200 and 239 mg/dL, your doctor will evaluate your levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, and triglycerides. It’s possible to have borderline-high total cholesterol numbers with normal levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol balanced by high HDL (good) cholesterol.
A total cholesterol level of 240 mg/dL or more typically have twice the risk of coronary heart disease as people whose cholesterol level is desirable (200 mg/dL).
Your LDL (Bad) Cholesterol Level
The lower your LDL cholesterol, the lower your risk of heart attack and stroke. In fact, it’s a better gauge of risk than total blood cholesterol. In general, LDL levels fall into these categories:
With HDL (good) cholesterol, higher levels are better. Low HDL cholesterol (less than 40 mg/dL for men, less than 50 mg/dL for women) puts you at higher risk for heart disease.
Smoking, being overweight, and being sedentary can all result in lower HDL cholesterol. To raise your HDL level, avoid tobacco smoke, maintain a healthy weight and get at least 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity more days than not.
People with high blood triglycerides usually also have lower HDL cholesterol and a higher risk of heart attack and stroke.
Triglyceride is a form of fat. People with high triglycerides often have a high total cholesterol level, including high LDL (bad) cholesterol and low HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
Many people have high triglyceride levels due to being overweight/obese, physical inactivity, cigarette smoking, excess alcohol consumption, and/or a diet very high in carbohydrates (60 percent of more of calories).
The higher the ratio of LDL to the total cholesterol, the greater will be the risk of arterial damage and heart disease. HDL, on the other hand, plays a salutary role by helping remove cholesterol from circulation and thereby reducing the Signs of Heart Attacks. Get and Stay Heart Healthy. Keep your Cholesterol Levels within safe limits to avoid What Causes Heart Attacks .
Sue Roberts – What Causes Heart Attacks?
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