The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute reports that if you don’t have hypertension, which is also known as high blood pressure, by the time you’re 55, then you have a 90% chance of developing it after. The American Heart Association adds that in 90-95% of all cases, there is no definitive cause. In the other portion of cases, high blood pressure and high cholesterol comes as a result of another condition like gout, kidney abnormalities, congenital heart defects or tumors. If you’re one of the many Americans with high blood pressure, then there’s no need to panic. Your doctor has some simple tricks to lowering the strain on your heart and arteries!

If you are hypertensive, then it can be caused by many lifestyle choices. For instance, a 2005 study found that women who took 500 mg of Tylenol each day for headaches or pains were more likely to develop high blood pressure than women who did not. Users of cocaine and amphetamines, as well as smokers, were also more at risk. High body fat, high salt intake, low potassium intake, high cholesterol levels, inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption and high stress are often linked to hypertension as well. Health experts say that this condition isn’t so cut-and-dry, that poor lifestyle choices aren’t always the culprit. Some people are just at risk because they’re aging, pregnant or born into a family with a history of high blood pressure.

People with hypertension may have to undergo several tests to determine the severity of their situation. The most basic test of heart health is the old inflatable arm cuff we’ve been seeing at every check up for our entire lives, no big deal. A urinalysis where you pee into a cup is a very non-invasive way of checking the blood for abnormalities. In rare cases, an electrocardiogram will measure your heart’s electrical activity, but generally, the little tests are enough to determine whether your cardiovascular health is poor or not.

What are the dangers of high blood pressure, you may ask? If left unchecked over a long period of time, hypertension will inevitably take its toll on your internal organs. Blocked or ruptured blood vessels leading to the brain can cause a stroke and weakened or narrowed blood vessels can cause kidney failure. Some people develop glaucoma from narrowed or torn blood vessels leading to the eyes, while others develop a thickened heart muscle from too much exertion, resulting in heart failure. Atherosclerosis or aneurysms happen when the arteries sustain damage and diabetes or heart disease are the result of metabolic failure. The good news is that, unlike cancer or other conditions, simply changing one’s lifestyle can go a long way for the person with high blood pressure.

As we get older there are critical numbers that begin to weigh heavily upon us. We have to concern ourselves about our weight, levels of cholesterol, as well as our blood pressure. Things we may have ignored our entire lives now all of a sudden they have significant importance. However these are some of the thing that should not have been neglected. A lifetime of abuse on the body renders simply unfavorable things when left unchecked.

Your cholesterol level is without question chief if you want to continue in good health and your body working properly. High levels can lead to heart attacks and stroke, both things you do not want to have to deal with. Being mindful in regards to your cholesterol level is not just for the aging. It is something both younger people and older people need to worry as well as be aware of if they hope to to lead a healthy life. In this article we will go over the fundamental principles of cholesterol and hopefully you will understand how key a healthy level is to your body and peace of mind.

What is bad cholesterol?

LDL cholesterol is bad. All cholesterol is carried by lipoproteins but the low-density lipoproteins moves in the blood stream and allows the cholesterol to begin to accumulate. If there is too much LDL then the cholesterol begins building up on the walls of the arteries. It begins to form plaque which makes the arteries hard and not as flexible. When clots form and block the artery a heart attack or stroke can occur.

What happens when cholesterol gets too high?

Well when LDL gets too high then the cholesterol begins to accumulate on the artery walls and then hardens into plaque. The build up continues until the entire artery is blocked off. This added blockage makes it hard for blood to get to the heart where it can be pumped to the rest of the body. It can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

When HDL levels are high this is a good thing because researchers believe that HDL helps rid the body of cholesterol build-up. That is why a diet rich in foods that promote HDL is always heavily recommended.

In what way is the blockage from the arteries removed?

The initial stage is through medicines but if there is a serious contracting or blockage in the artery or blood vessel then a somewhat more aggressive operation is necessary. The actual functions might vary however one common method is through a balloon angioplasty. The mechanical device is introduced into the artery and then naviagted to the obstruction where the build up of plaque has happened. The balloon is then inflated to clear the passage. Nowadays the operation is minimally intrusive and the majority of patients are able to going home on that very day.

How do I know what my cholesterol is?

Well in order to know what your cholesterol is you should have a blood cholesterol testing performed at least every five years. The most recommended test is a fasting lipoprotein blood profile. This test measures not only your total cholesterol but it also specifies the LDL and the HDL levels. It is a great idea to be knowledgeable about where your numbers are and to ensure that they are in the proper healthy range.

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