Good cholesterol...

Good and bad Cholesterol Level: Cholesterol plays a significant role in a person’s health. High blood cholesterol is considered to be a major risk factor for stroke and coronary heart diseases. Therefore, it is very important for every person to know his or her cholesterol levels. Besides, they should also know about the other risk factors related to heart diseases and stroke. One of the most common measurements of blood cholesterol is the total blood cholesterol. It is classified by levels and measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood. HDL cholesterol is considered to be good cholesterol, and the higher its levels, the better for your heart, whereas a low HDL cholesterol level is thought to be risky. In an average person, the HDL or good cholesterol levels range from 40 to 50 mg/dL, and in an average woman, it ranges from 50 to 60 mg/dL. A person with HDL cholesterol of 60 mg/dL or higher is considered to be safe from heart disease to some extent. It is essential to get your cholesterol numbers interpreted by your doctor to protect yourself against a sudden stroke or heart related complication. Usually, people with high blood triglycerides have lower HDL cholesterol levels, which means a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. Female sex hormones help in raising the HDL cholesterol levels whereas male hormones lower it.

Good and bad cholesterol: HDL is considered to be good cholesterol where as LDL is considered to be the bad cholesterol. HDL stands for high-density lipoproteins and LDL stands for low-density lipoproteins. HDL belongs to a class of lipoproteins, which varies in size from 8 to11 nm in diameter. HDL is the smallest of the lipoproteins. Moreover, they are also the densest as they contain the highest proportion of proteins. HDL picks up cholesterol from the cells it interacts with. The low-density lipoprotein or LDL is a class of lipoprotein particles that vary in their size and contents. It carries cholesterol in the blood for use by various cells. LDL takes cholesterol and triglycerides away from the cells and tissues that produce more than they use to cells and tissues that require cholesterol and triglycerides. As LDL transports cholesterol through the arteries, increased levels get associated with atherosclerosis, which eventually leads to strokes myocardial infraction and peripheral vascular disease. This is the main reason LDL cholesterol is referred to as the bad cholesterol and not termed as good cholesterol.

How good food and other factors help raise good cholesterol: High-density lipoproteins or good cholesterol picks up the excess cholesterol in the blood and takes it back to the liver for disposal. Doctors suggest maintaining a high level of good cholesterol. Here are a few factors to keep in mind in order to increase the level of good cholesterol:

• Eat healthy food and maintain a healthy weight: Healthy food helps to raise the good cholesterol levels. Besides consuming healthy food, you also need to maintain a proper weight control to raise the good cholesterol, as excessive pounds tend to take a toll on HDL cholesterol. However, the good news is that by even losing a few pounds, you can improve your good cholesterol levels significantly.
• Set your target: It is essential to set your targets on a daily basis. It is recommended that people should aim for an HDL level of 60 mg/dL or slightly above. As your lifestyle has the greatest impact on your cholesterol levels, it is essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle to raise your HDL.
• Do not smoke: Smoking is considered to be the worst enemy as far as heart disease is concerned. It lowers the HDL cholesterol and increases the tendency of the blood to clot. Therefore, it is strongly suggested to avoid smoking in order to have a healthy heart.