High cholesterol is something most Americans recognize as being a bad thing. However, not enough Americans monitor their cholesterol levels. Unfortunately, it’s known as a silent killer because there are no symptoms associated with high cholesterol. Because of this, September has been named National Cholesterol Education Month.

Facts About Cholesterol

The following are a few facts about cholesterol that everybody should know about:

1. High cholesterol is a condition that over 102 million American adults suffer from.
   
2. Of that 102 million, roughly 35 million have dangerously high levels of cholesterol that put them at risk of heart disease — a condition that causes 600,000 deaths a year in the U.S. alone.
   
3. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S.
   
4. High cholesterol can also lead to a stroke, the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S.
   
5. Not all cholesterol is bad for you. LDL cholesterol is what’s bad for you; HDL cholesterol is actually good for you and can lower your risk of heart disease.
   
6. LDL cholesterol is bad for you because it causes plaque to develop on the walls of your blood vessels, thereby causing them to narrow. Eventually, blood flow to your organs can be restricted, causing a stroke.
   
7. Smoking makes high cholesterol worse because it damages your blood vessels, thereby increasing the risk of heart disease as a result of high cholesterol.
   
8. A healthy diet can help you maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Avoid foods that are high in saturated fats and eat foods that are high in fiber and unsaturated fats instead.
   
9. Although a healthy lifestyle can help, genetic conditions, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes can also cause high cholesterol levels. In these cases, you may need medication, such as statins, to lower your bad cholesterol levels.

It’s important that you understand the effects that high cholesterol can have on your health. Be sure to monitor your cholesterol levels by scheduling routine check-ups with your primary physician in California and adopting a healthier lifestyle to maintain healthy cholesterol levels. For more health tips, visit us at The Benefits Store today.