What Should Our Cholesterol Levels Be... essays

What Should Our Cholesterol Levels Be... essays What Should Our Cholesterol Levels Be, Ideally, and How Can We Control Our Cholesterol Without Prescription Drugs? At the moment, suppliers of anti-cholesterol drugs, such as Pfizer's Lipitor or Pravachol, are marketing their merchandise as the sole weapon available to combat the relentless onslaught of the known killer. This paper is devoted to educate those of us potentially duped by doctors with a quick hand on the prescription pad, and drug companies with a vested interest in our dependency. The American Heart Association defines cholesterol as a soft, waxy substance found among the lipids (fats) in the bloodstream and in all your body's cells (n. pag.). If one consumes too much cholesterol, it can harden into a plaque-like substance inside arteries and veins. This is a major contributor to heart disease. Although it is normal for every person to have cholesterol in their bodies, too much could wreak havoc on societys collective blood supply-while it is still in our bodies-by restricting its flow and causing otherwise preventable death. Stephen R. Yarnell, MD, and Fellow of The American College of Cardiology writes that unhealthy blood cholesterol levels are one of the major risk factors for heart disease-the No. 1 killer of American men and women (n. pag.). There are simple changes an individual can make in his or her lifestyle that can maintain balanced cholesterol levels. Why should you care about your cholesterol levels? Because the American Heart Association says that high cholesterol is a leading risk factor for heart disease (n. pag.). If there is too much cholesterol in the blood it can harden inside the veins. This will result in restricting the amount of blood flowing through them, ultimately causing a heart attack. If you take the time to care about your cholesterol levels, you could save your life. What is the "normal" or "ideal" blood cholesterol level? Stephen R. Yarnell, MD writes: "...