One of the major health issues that people of all walks of life seem to be facing is high cholesterol. Understanding what the causes are can really be helpful for those that are dealing with the issue, and for those that are looking to keep healthy and not have to deal with the issue at all. While there isn’t a sure fire cure all for cholesterol, there are some major steps that you can implement in your daily life that might help you along your way. It’s important to understand how to avoid the problem of elevated cholesterol levels, to ensure a long, healthy life.

First and foremost it’s important to understand that high cholesterol is not a disease or something that should be look at as an ailment. It is a medical condition that is second to many diseases and could in fact contribute to certain types of diseases. While that is confusing, it should be noted that just because the elevated levels aren’t a disease in itself, it should still be taken with a certain level of care and caution.

There are several causes that can influence high cholesterol directly, and they are quite easy to curb if you find yourself promoting any one of the causes in your life.

Physical inactivity is one of the major causes to look out for. Regular physical exercise is good in reducing the risk of bad cholesterol in the body, and it’s important for long healthy living.

Being overweight is a major contributing factor to bad levels of cholesterol as well, and can lead to other health risks including type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

Smoking & drinking both have adverse effects on the body, and help to raise cholesterol levels in the body. There are also terrible side effects associated with these vices that can lead down a terrible road.

Stress is also something that you should consider reducing, as it does in fact play a roll in the risk of heart disease and can increase levels of cholesterol in the body. It’s important to find time to relax and reduce stress on a daily basis, even if you have a high stress career.

Old age and heredity are two other factors in the contribution to high cholesterol levels. Both men and women see a trend of rising cholesterol levels from old age, while others find that heredity plays a major role in regards to overall health. It’s important for people to always get regular checkups with their physician to make sure that elevated levels are caught early, and a reversal plan can be started.

It should be noted that high cholesterol is not a death sentence. It is possible to lower the levels, and it’s not always intrusive or surgically based. There are several different options to explore in regards to lowering your risks of cardiovascular disease, and they can be as simple as changing up your diet, and adding a little bit of exercise to your daily routine. Those looking to avoid elevated levels should consider eating well, exercising regularly, and avoiding long periods of time without activity. A few changes today could really have a positive effect for your future.