We’ve all heard it: keep your cholesterol in check! But does anyone know what cholesterol is and what it measures?
Whether you’ve heard the words “keeping your cholesterol in check” from your grandparents, movies, or a box of Honeynut Cheerios, cholesterol seems to be one of those medical words we pretend to understand (like a calorie). If you’ve ever found yourself scratching your head at what a “cholesterol” is, wonder no more! National Cholesterol Education Month is here to teach you about the mysteries cholesterol.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fatty substance that your body actually needs to function properly. The problem with cholesterol is when you have too much of it in your blood. It builds up on your arterial walls and makes it harder for blood to flow. This cholesterol is known as plaque.
Cholesterol tells your body when to do what. These macromolecules help your body make and send hormones which regulate processes that don’t need to happen all the time. For example, when you’re watching a horror movie and the monster pops up. Your muscles constrict, your heart rate goes up, your pupils dilate, etc. That’s all due to the rapid release of adrenaline (a hormone).
It’s created by your liver and then guided all over your bloodstream by these proteins called lipoproteins. It’s these lipoproteins that give cholesterol its bad name. Too much of these proteins (LDL cholesterol) and they’ll cling to your arteries. The HDL cholesterol is the good kind that freely flows throughout your body.
How to treat or prevent HDL Cholesterol
- Eat a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables and avoid saturated fats.
- Exercise regularly. The Surgeon General recommends that you get a total of 2 hours and 30 minutes of exercise per week.
Sometimes, genetics come into play, and high cholesterol may be unavoidable. Finding the right short term health insurance policy doesn’t have to be difficult when working with the right insurance agent. Contact the insurance professionals at Donald Weiss Insurance Services in Santa Monica for all of your health care needs throughout Southern California.