| Living with high cholesterol symptoms isn't | | | | to change your diet and perhaps take herbal |
| easy, or fun, especially if your doctor has | | | | supplements and vitamins that your body may |
| put you on a special diet. High cholesterol | | | | be lacking. One of the best things that you |
| is a condition that can eventually lead to | | | | can to do lower cholesterol is to quit |
| high blood pressure, heart attack, and | | | | smoking and decrease the amount of fatty |
| stroke. When people speak of high cholesterol | | | | foods in your diet. |
| numbers, they're referring to the | | | | |
| concentrations of HDL or LDL cholesterol in | | | | Nutritional Supplements to Lower Cholesterol( |
| the blood. | | | | |
| | | | As with anything, talk to your doctor or |
| Why Worry about High Cholesterol( | | | | health care provider if you are considering |
| | | | natural vitamins, minerals or herbs to help |
| Maintaining a normal cholesterol level is | | | | lower cholesterol, and don't discontinue any |
| important for optimal health. While | | | | medications he has prescribed. Studies have |
| cholesterol is needed for normal body | | | | shown that the use of Vitamin B3, or niacin, |
| function, too much of it causes damage to | | | | has helped to lower cholesterol, especially |
| arteries and blood vessels. Cholesterol | | | | LDL cholesterol, while at the same time |
| builds up on artery walls like a plaque and | | | | increasing high cholesterol numbers for HDL, |
| blocks the flow of oxygenated blood to | | | | the good stuff. Niacin is available in both |
| necessary tissues and organs. There are two | | | | dietary supplement forms as well as by |
| main types of cholesterol: HDL (high-density | | | | prescription from your doctor. However, be |
| lipoproteins) and LDL (low-density | | | | advised that the American Heart Association |
| lipoproteins). HDL is considered "good" | | | | recommends that patients use the prescribed |
| cholesterol. It serves to keep arteries open | | | | form of niacin, so ask your doctor about |
| by ridding the blood of excess cholesterol | | | | that. |
| that would otherwise form plaque in our | | | | |
| arteries. | | | | Another natural ingredient that has shown to |
| | | | lower cholesterol is artichoke leaf extract, |
| High Cholesterol Symptoms and Numbers | | | | as it reduces the formation of cholesterol in |
| | | | the body. Still other natural ingredients |
| But what exactly is high cholesterol? Normal | | | | such as oat, barley and rye fiber, as well as |
| cholesterol levels hover around 200 mg/dL or | | | | peas and beans, may help to prevent |
| under. If your cholesterol reading is | | | | life-threatening high cholesterol symptoms. |
| anywhere from 200 to 239, you should consider | | | | Including at least 10 grams of fiber in your |
| finding ways to lower cholesterol, and if | | | | diet on a daily basis is a good way to |
| that number goes over 240 then high | | | | naturally protect your heart and to ensure |
| cholesterol symptoms will probably be very | | | | that your LDL levels remain low. |
| noticeable and should be dealt with as a | | | | |
| matter of urgency. A high reading for HDL is | | | | A well balanced, nutritious diet, in addition |
| good, because it indicates that levels are | | | | to adequate amounts of exercise will go a |
| productive in removing the bad cholesterol | | | | long way to lower cholesterol in those whose |
| from your blood. A normal cholesterol reading | | | | blood tests show mild to moderate increases |
| for HDL is 60 or above. If it's 40 or below, | | | | in LDL levels. On occasion, doctors may |
| it means there's not enough HDL in your blood | | | | prescribe medication to alleviate high |
| and you may be considered at 'risk' from high | | | | cholesterol symptoms, but this often takes |
| cholesterol symptoms( and of stroke or heart | | | | time. Try going the natural route first, and |
| attack. | | | | if that doesn't work, then consider other |
| | | | options. Using natural supplements and foods |
| There are no truly obvious high cholesterol | | | | will provide your body with the safest |
| symptoms, except when levels get dangerously | | | | methods to lower cholesterol, as well as |
| high, and to determine if your cholesterol is | | | | saving you money on prescriptions. Ask your |
| high, the best way is to have a simple blood | | | | doctor and see if you both can't come up with |
| test performed by your doctor or health care | | | | a treatment plan for your high cholesterol |
| provider. The best way you can treat high | | | | that will serve you best. |
| cholesterol or lower cholesterol readings is | | | | |