Know and understand your blood cholesterol level
Let's talk about your blood cholesterol level. We know that if your levels are high, the risk of developing clogged arteries goes way up.
Why? A simple analogy would be your drainpipes at home.
"If you put enough junk in through the pipe, eventually that's going to clog up the pipe. And the trouble is that pipe is pretty important."
And those clogged pipes, says Mayo Clinic Dr. Brent Bauer, can result in stroke or heart attack.
But what if you have low, really low, cholesterol numbers? Can that be a problem, too?
"I think if you and your doctor found your cholesterol to be abnormally low, it would at least raise questions about why is that? It may be genetic, and the way you're built and that may be a blessing in the long run."
And while there is some suggestion that abnormally low cholesterol levels could be a health risk, Dr. Bauer says those instances would be pretty rare. If you don't know your blood cholesterol level, you should talk to your doctor about having it tested.
More Info:
Cholesterol levels: What numbers should you aim for?
Why? A simple analogy would be your drainpipes at home.
"If you put enough junk in through the pipe, eventually that's going to clog up the pipe. And the trouble is that pipe is pretty important."
And those clogged pipes, says Mayo Clinic Dr. Brent Bauer, can result in stroke or heart attack.
But what if you have low, really low, cholesterol numbers? Can that be a problem, too?
"I think if you and your doctor found your cholesterol to be abnormally low, it would at least raise questions about why is that? It may be genetic, and the way you're built and that may be a blessing in the long run."
And while there is some suggestion that abnormally low cholesterol levels could be a health risk, Dr. Bauer says those instances would be pretty rare. If you don't know your blood cholesterol level, you should talk to your doctor about having it tested.
More Info:
Cholesterol levels: What numbers should you aim for?
