Cholesterol is an essential part of the body, but too much of it can be unhealthy. While small amounts of this waxy substance help build the membrane around each of your cells, in larger amounts, it can form buildup inside your blood vessels, increasing the risk of a heart attack. The guide below details what causes high cholesterol and how it can be managed to lead a healthy lifestyle. 

What Causes High Cholesterol?

In your body, there are two proteins responsible for moving cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). When your doctor mentions cholesterol, they usually mean high LDL levels in the blood. The likelihood of having high LDL levels depends on a combination of factors; the more risk factors you have and the more severe they are, the greater your likelihood of having high cholesterol. 

Some uncontrollable risk factors include age and genetics. The older you are, the greater your risk for high cholesterol is. You’re also more likely to develop it if you have a family history of high cholesterol and heart disease. However, there are ways you can control levels. 

What Risk Factors Can Be Managed?

Diet and exercise are the main ways you can control your cholesterol. Eat a healthy, varied diet full of fresh foods. Avoid salty, processed foods when possible. Instead, choose vegetables, which are high in fiber and low in calories. Okra, eggplants, and carrots are especially healthy choices because they contain pectin, which lowers cholesterol. Finally, when you eat meat, choose lean options, such as turkey, chicken, and red meat with the fat trimmed off, as fatty meats contain a lot of cholesterol.

You should also make time to exercise for at least 30 minutes at least three times a week. Tobacco can damage the walls of your arteries, making it easier for cholesterol to form deposits, so it’s best to reduce smoking or quit altogether, if possible. If you have diabetes, high blood sugar also contributes to blood vessel damage and higher LDL levels. By keeping your blood sugar in a healthy range through diet and medication, you can avoid this side effect of diabetes.

Once you've talked about your cholesterol with your doctor, visit Columbia Hickory Pharmacy to pick up the medications you need to manage your condition. Based in Columbia, MD, and serving Howard County, they’re part of the CARE Pharmacies Cooperative group which has been in operation over 50 years. They employ trained, certified pharmacists to make sure you get the quality care you need. To order a prescription refill online, visit their website or call (410) 964-6409.