Your doctor may schedule you for a blood test to measure your cholesterol levels if you have risk factors like a family history of heart disease, diabetes, smoking or high blood pressure. Cholesterol tests require dietary restrictions before your...
Cholesterol is an important biological molecule that makes up part of your cell membranes and also serves as a hormone precursor. Cholesterol is characterized as a fatty, waxy substance that is naturally synthesized by your liver. Fatty foods,...
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute initiated the National Cholesterol Education program in November, 1985 to inform people of the dangers of high cholesterol, as well as provide affordable screenings to people throughout the country....
In 2008 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that about 27 percent of all U.S. deaths are from heart disease. One tool to help fight heart disease is being aware of your cholesterol levels. There are several methods of testing your...
Cholesterol and triglyceride levels are a good indicator of your risk for problems like heart attacks and strokes. The test involves having your blood drawn, then having a lab test the sample. Like most things, there's an art and a science to...
Cholesterol is a waxy fat found in your bloodstream. While a certain amount of cholesterol is necessary for health, too much cholesterol, especially too much of the wrong kind of cholesterol, can increase your likelihood of having heart disease...
Cholesterol is a significant contributing factor when it comes to your heart health and function. This fat-like, waxy substance can build up in your coronary arteries, narrowing the pathways and preventing blood flow altogether. Over time, this...
Cholesterol is an essential substance needed for your cells to function correctly, but in excess, cholesterol can put you at an increased risk for serious health problems, such as heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Because of the risk that...
Nature intended cholesterol to help your body, not harm it. Unfortunately, poor eating habits, lack of exercise and in some cases, genetics, sends your cholesterol levels soaring beyond healthy levels, increasing your risk of heart disease. High...
Triglyceride and cholesterol levels are important in determining a person's overall cardiovascular health. These compounds are frequently measured as part of a patient's overall "lipid profile," which looks at concentrations of different lipids in...
Triglycerides and cholesterol are two types of fat that your body utilizes for energy and normal bodily function. Triglycerides are fatty acids that transport dietary fat and provide the cells in your body with energy, while cholesterol is needed...
A high cholesterol level is a risk factor for developing coronary heart disease. Knowing what your blood cholesterol levels are--and what they mean--gives you an opportunity to make lifestyle changes that may lower your cholesterol levels, if they...
High cholesterol can significantly increase your risk for developing heart disease. However, your body does need some cholesterol to function properly. Having a cholesterol test performed is the only way to determine what your cholesterol levels...
If you're used to automatically reaching for the cereal box in the morning for the sake of convenience, give eggs a try one day --- you may be surprised at how quick and easy they are to prepare. One egg contains 70 calories and is packed with...
Public screening is a first stage alert and not meant to replace a visit to the doctor's office for a full screen. Just because you receive a clean bill of health from a public screening, that doesn't mean that everything is kosher in cholesterol...
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is made by the liver, but can also be found in certain foods. Cholesterol is needed in the body to build cell walls, create hormones and make vitamin D, so it is necessary to have an small amount of this...
Within the leathery textured red rind of a pomegranate resides dozens of ruby-red seeds, or arils, surrounded by pulp. Separate the seeds from the pulp and rind and include them in entrees, sauces, glazes, breakfast foods, snacks and desserts for...
High-density lipoproteins, or HDL, refers to a form of cholesterol that is important in helping the body to build cells. Two different forms of cholesterol exist in the body. In simple terms, cholesterol is either good or bad. The bad cholesterol...
According to the National Stroke Association, each year nearly 800,000 Americans have a stroke. About one-fourth of that number involves recurrent strokes, which are more likely to cause death. The good news is that as many as 80 percent of the...
High cholesterol is a medical condition in which "bad" cholesterol, otherwise known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, builds up inside your arteries, leaving decreased room for blood flow. This can put you at risk for stroke, heart...
One hundred percent fruit and vegetable juice can help you reach your daily recommended totals for produce as well as providing beneficial nutrients. Mixing fruits in with vegetables helps create a sweet taste that neutralizes strong or bitter...
Cholesterol exists naturally within the body. We also ingest cholesterol-containing foods. The body utilizes cholesterol to make bile acids for digestion and various other functions, but abnormal cholesterol levels can lead to health problems....
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance your body needs for making hormones and vitamins and building cells. Cholesterol travels through the bloodstream as non-soluble lipid molecules called low-density lipoprotein or LDL cholesterol and high-density...
High blood pressure or hypertension, is the increase of blood pressure inside the arteries that if left untreated can lead to stroke and cardiovascular disease. High cholesterol on the other hand, is an excess of lipids in the blood that can...
A balanced diet can help keep your skin clear and your hair shiny. What healthy nutrition does for the outer you, however, starts on the inside. Making good nutritional choices provides your cells, tissues and organs with the fuel they need for...
HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein. The protein attaches to and carries cholesterol from the blood to the liver where the cholesterol can be removed from the body. Cholesterol is a fat produced in our bodies and found in animal products we...
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), doctors test for different types of cholesterol to check if patients have heart disease. The main cholesterol types include low-density lipoprotein or LDL, high-density lipoprotein or HDL and...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stroke is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Stroke is often caused by high blood pressure and high cholesterol, two conditions that are common among American...
Take control of cholesterol. Learn the facts about cholesterol and tips for lowering cholesterol count in this video.
Cereals and grains, although not just a breakfast food, are great warm or cold in the morning. Try these tips for buying cereals in this healthy shopping video.