With changes in lifestyle and diets, high ”bad” cholesterol levels are becoming more and more common. LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) gathers in the arteries, and increases the risk of a heart attack. Because of this, leading a healthy lifestyle, and managing and monitoring medication is now more important than ever.
There are numerous ways in which to keep your ”bad” cholesterol levels down, including using lipid lowering medications, eating well, and exercise.
Eating Healthier
Eating well not only keeps you in good condition by keeping your weight healthy and keeping you energised, but eating the right foods will also increase your HDL ”good” cholesterol levels. This ”good” cholesterol carries the ”bad” cholesterol away from the arteries, and takes it to the liver, where it is secreted as bile, or converted to bile salt. This decreases the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Foods to eat to bring up ”good” levels of cholesterol include beans and legumes, olive oil, fatty fish, and nuts.
Being More Active
Although a change in diet decreases ”bad” cholesterol levels greatly, it can sometimes not be enough by itself. Therefore regular exercise, and taking the correct medication is recommended.
Even the smallest amount of exercise will help to reduce the ”bad” levels of cholesterol, and it doesn’t have to be every day. Exercising for three times a week will improve cholesterol related health issues, and making it habit will continue to aid in keeping the ”bad” cholesterol levels down. It is recommended to do a mixture of strength training and aerobic exercise to get the best results.
Smoking
If you smoke, quitting will also decrease the levels of ”bad” cholesterol. Smoking lowers the ”good” cholesterol in your body, and damages your arteries, meaning the risk of build up linked to cholesterol related ill health is increased.
Medication
When exercise and a good diet isn’t enough to reduce your cholesterol levels, medication may be able to help. Simvastatin or similar recommended medications are among a group of ”statins” drugs used to aid in the lowering of ”bad” cholesterol levels. It does so by decreasing the production of cholesterol, meaning cholesterol can’t build up as much in the arteries. Decreasing the build up of cholesterol in the arteries can greatly reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart disease.
Simvastatin is a relatively safe medicine, and can be taken by adults and children over 10. As with any medication though, you must speak to a medical professional before use, and although the side effects are uncommon, the right dosage must be administered at the right times. Therefore it is crucial to seek medical advice, and keep to it.
By taking the above steps, you should be able to enjoy the benefits of a healthier lifestyle. As well as feeling better and fitter, you should also find that your cholesterol levels should begin to lower towards a more natural level. Lowering the LDL ”bad” cholesterol and bringing up the HDL ”good” cholesterol could make quite a difference to your life and reduce the risk of heart related illness and disease in the future.