Build your good cholesterol and shut out the bad

Safeguard your blood from bad cholesterol

Cholesterol has always been associated with the heart. It has raised quite a bit of hysteria today as the junk food diet involves a build up of cholesterol in the blood. This coupled with sedentary work habits has made matters worse. Cholesterol can cause bad effects to the heart, liver and the kidney.

Cholesterol has been a misunderstood term. Not all cholesterol is bad. There are good cholesterol components called HDLs, triglycerides (blood fats) and the bad cholesterol components called LDLs. It is only when the HDL count decreases and LDL increases that cholesterol assumes dangerous proportions. Cholesterol deposits on the inner lining of blood vessels and obstructs the normal flow of blood. This causes high blood pressure to develop and gradually causes heart problems. The heart muscles have to exert extra pressure to pump the blood to the extremities of the body.

Cholesterol is slow poison. You need to counter it with the correct medication. After 1987 a whole range of statins have been developed to treat cholesterol levels. You must be wondering why so many statins are required? Each of them has a different intensity of working. Let us compare the workings of lipitor (atorvastatin) and zocor (simvastatin). Lipitor lowers the LDL (bad cholesterol) more efficiently than zocor. Lipitor also raises the level of HDLs (good cholesterol) in the blood. Those having high cholesterol count (190 or more) can use lipitor. With time we will see more medication being developed to dissolve out the bad cholesterol.

Supplement your medication with fat-free diet and regular physical activity. Keep your cholesterol level to the normal count.