Health and Fitness Information CenterHigh Blood Cholesterol: What You Need to Know, Part 3What affects cholesterol levels? |
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DietSaturated fat and cholesterol in the food you eat make your blood cholesterol level go up. Saturated fat is the main culprit, but cholesterol in foods also matter. Reducing the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol in your diet helps lower your blood cholesterol level. WeightBeing overweight is a risk factor for heart disease. It also tends to increase your cholesterol. Losing weight can help lower your LDL and total cholesterol levels, as well as raise your HDL and lower your triglyceride levels. Physical ActivityNot being physically active is a risk factor for heart disease. Regular physical activity can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels. It also helps you lose weight. You should try to be physically active for 30 minutes on most, if not all, days. |
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Things you cannot do anything about also can affect cholesterol levels. These include: Age and GenderAs women and men get older, their cholesterol levels rise. Before the age of menopause, women have lower total cholesterol levels than men of the same age. After the age of menopause, women's LDL levels tend to rise. HeredityYour genes partly determine how much cholesterol your body makes. High blood cholesterol can run in families.
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Cholesterol MonitorsNow you can test and monitor your cholesterol levels in the privacy and convenience of your home. These easy-to-use cholesterol monitors incorporate the latest technology allowing you to store cholesterol test results and calculate average readings. Cholesterol monitors for the home require just one drop of blood from an easy finger stick.