Have high cholesterol?

You need to take eggs off the menu—permanently!

Reality It’s true that those with heart disease should avoid eggs—or at least eat only the low-cholesterol whites. Normal cholesterol? Eat no more than three eggs a week.

Shrimp lovers, beware!

The savory shellfish is awfully high in cholesterol.

Reality While shrimp does contain cholesterol, it’s low in saturated fat, which drives up LDL levels more than dietary cholesterol does. So pass the cocktail sauce (not the butter!) and enjoy your shrimp, in moderation.

Following a low-fat diet is the absolute best way to lower cholesterol.

Reality A better option: eating moderate amounts of heart-healthy fats, such as those found in avocado, olive oil and salmon.

Burger? Bacon? Sure, as long as you’re taking cholesterol-lowering meds.

Reality Taking cholesterol medication doesn’t give you free license to overindulge in unhealthy foods. “Eating poorly counters, to some extent, the effects of the medication,”

Age. Your chances of developing high cholesterol increase as you age. Blood cholesterol levels naturally begin to rise after age 20. This rise is probably a result of the body’s decreased ability to rid itself of excess cholesterol.

Gender. Your gender affects the age when you are at the most risk of developing high cholesterol levels. In general, men tend to develop high cholesterol at a younger age than women. Before menopause, women have lower total blood cholesterol levels and higher HDL (”good”) cholesterol levels than men, making them less likely to have coronary artery disease (CAD). After menopause, women’s LDL (”bad”) cholesterol levels typically increase substantially because of hormonal changes, and their risk for CAD increases along with their risk for high cholesterol. Menopausal women and men about age 50 have cholesterol levels that increase at around the same rate.

Heredity. High cholesterol can run in families, meaning that the genetic trait that increases the risk for developing high cholesterol can be passed down from one generation to the next. For this reason, it is important for people who have a family history of high cholesterol or CAD to check their cholesterol levels regularly.

Your body needs some cholesterol. But if you have too much, it starts to build up in your arteries. (Arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.) This is called hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis. It is usually a slow process that gets worse as you get older.

the buildup of cholesterol narrows your arteries and makes it harder for blood to flow through them. It reduces the amount of blood that gets to your body tissues, including your heart. This can lead to serious problems, including heart attack and stroke.

A simple blood test tells you how much cholesterol you have. The test results are given in mg/dL of cholesterol but most people just say the numbers.

For a general idea about your total cholesterol number, compare your number to the following:

• Best is less than 200.
• Borderline-high is 200 to 239.
• High is 240 or above.

Causes high cholesterol?

• Diet. Eating too much saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol can raise your cholesterol. Saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol are in foods that come from animals (such as meats, whole milk, egg yolks, butter, and cheese), many packaged foods, and snack foods like cookies, crackers, and chips.
• Weight. Being overweight may raise triglycerides and lower “good” HDL.
• Activity level. Not exercising may raise “bad” LDL and lower HDL.
• Overall health. Diseases such as hypothyroidism can raise cholesterol. Smoking may lower HDL.
• Age. Cholesterol starts to rise after age 20. In men, it usually levels off after age 50. In women, it stays fairly low until menopause. After that, cholesterol levels rise to about the same levels as in men.
• Family. Some people inherit a rare disease called a lipid disorder. It can cause very high total cholesterol, very low HDL, and high triglycerides. If you have this problem, you will need to start treatment at a young age.

Reference Site:  health.yahoo.com