We all know that high cholesterol is bad, that it can lead to heart disease, which can shorten your life. You may not understand the scientific reasons that can cause high cholesterol, but you do know that certain changes in your behavior can reduce elevated cholesterol levels. Researchers have identified six risk factors that can cause high cholesterol. Let's take a look at what you can do to lower your risk!

Your Weight: Excess weight can raise your cholesterol level like no one's business. Americans, particularly, cope with weight problems more so as we age, exercise less, and eat more of the wrong types of foods. Foods high in saturated fat like that found in most fast foods, packaged food items, and prepared foods are often the problem. What can you do? Think about how you can eat smaller portions, replace fatty foods with more healthful choices, and get off the couch and start walking!

Your Ancestry: The family you are born into plays an important role in determining whether high cholesterol will be a problem for you. Some families have a history of cholesterol problems while others do not. Check with your parents and siblings to see if they have high cholesterol. If they do, you may have inherited it. Nothing you can do about that!

Gender and Age: Men have more difficulty with high cholesterol and at a younger age than women. However, once women pass through menopause cholesterol levels increase. Generally, everyone's cholesterol level increases with age. The cure? Stay young!

Exercise and Physical Activity: Our inactive lifestyles are a real killer. If you aren't getting any exercise you are inviting trouble. No, you do not need to join a gym. Instead, hop on a bicycle or put on your running shoes and take a nice little walk. Keep this up at least five days per week and you will be doing your heart a lot of good.

Drinking Alcohol: Ah, you have heard that red wine can help reduce your cholesterol levels right? Well, not exactly. There are two types of cholesterol: LDL which is the bad cholesterol and HDL which is the good kind. Wine can raise the HDL levels [a good thing] but have little or no effect on the LDL cholesterol. Worse, there is a little something called triglycerides which are found in many foods, including wine. Drink too much wine and you will raise these levels or even risk damaging your liver or heart muscle!

Stress: In and of itself stress is not bad. However, if it causes changes in your behavior including bringing on poor eating habits then it is a REAL problem. Try to keep your stress levels manageable. Regular exercise will reduce your stress and lower your cholesterol levels.

So, there you have it. High cholesterol can be a killer and some of the risk factors mentioned you cannot control. However, eating smaller portions, watching what foods you eat in the first place, getting regular exercise, and reducing your stress levels can all help you out. Still, see your doctor for a checkup as you may need outside help in the form of cholesterol lowering medications including Lipitor, Vytorin, and Crestor. Take charge of your health and you will live a long, prosperous life!

(c)2005; Matthew C Keegan, LLC