Cholesterol Problems
If you have cholesterol problems, you should be worried but there is no need to panic as you are not the only one with it. High cholesterol levels are not caused just by high cholesterol diets; instead, there is a combination of various factors including family history and what you eat. Here are some common causes for cholesterol problems.
Your Diet
If you are eating foods with too much saturated fat such as beef, pork, veal, milk, eggs, butter, and cheese or packaged foods that contain coconut oil, palm oil or cocoa butter, your diet is probably contributing to your high levels of cholesterol.
Your Weight
Being overweight not only affects your social life but it also increases blood cholesterol levels as your body stores extra calories as triglycerdies. High levels of triglycerdies tend to lower HDL cholesterol. You can improve cholesterol levels by losing weight.
Your Activity Level
Inactive people have increased risk of high cholesterol. Lack of physical activity may increase bad cholesterol and decrease good cholesterol. Therefore, exercise regularly as it decreases bad cholesterol in your blood naturally and increases HDL (good) cholesterol.
Your Age
The risk of developing high cholesterol increases with age. Men above 45 years and women over 55 are at higher risk than their younger counterparts.
Your Gender
Men are more prone to high cholesterol as compared with women. In women, cholesterol levels remain low until menopause. However, after menopause their cholesterol levels rise about the same level as in men.
Your Family History
Your family has given you more than your eye colour and facial features. Your risk of developing high cholesterol increases if an immediate family member has high cholesterol or other associated problems.
Smoking
Smoking damages walls of the arteries and lowers HDL cholesterol. You can improve your cholesterol levels by quitting smoking. (Image Source: Getty)
