Good Vs Bad Cholesterol: Whatever we do in our daily lives directly affects our bodies. This is the reason why health experts advise everyone to be careful. Cholesterol is one of the problems that is increasing rapidly due to a messed-up lifestyle and bad eating habits. Cholesterol is essential for our body, but if it becomes excessive, it can harm the health of the heart.

Hectic lifestyle, fried food outside, lack of exercise, and stress, all these gradually increase bad cholesterol, i.e., LDL, in our body and reduce good cholesterol, i.e., HDL.

You can keep your body safe by understanding which cholesterol is good, which one is harmful, and what the quantity should be. Let us understand this in detail.

First, know what cholesterol is.

Cholesterol is a type of fatty substance or fat that is necessary for making cell membranes, hormone production, and digestion in our body. But when its level in the body becomes high, it can become a threat to health. Especially due to today's lifestyle, junk food, stress, and lack of physical activity, many people are struggling with the problem of high cholesterol.

High cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease. It accumulates on the walls of the arteries and narrows them, which hinders blood flow. As a result, serious problems like heart attack and stroke can occur.

Health experts say it is important to understand that cholesterol is not completely bad. It is essential for the body, but when its balance is disturbed, it becomes a threat to health. There are two types of cholesterol: good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. Both have different functions in the body, so it is important to understand their balance.

What is bad cholesterol?

As the name suggests, bad cholesterol (LDL) is harmful; it accumulates in the arteries and narrows them. This can reduce blood flow and increase the risk of heart disease. When the LDL level is high, medicines may be needed along with a balanced diet and exercise to reduce it.

Doctors say that the LDL level should be less than 100 mg/dL. 130-159 mg/dL is considered 'borderline', and above 160 mg/dL is dangerous.

What is good cholesterol?

Here, it is clear from the name that it is good cholesterol (HDL). It helps in clearing the excess fat deposited in the body and keeps the heart healthy. The higher the HDL, the better the heart health is considered. According to experts, the HDL level should be 60 mg/dL or above. If it is less than 40 mg/dL, the risk of heart disease increases.

Doctors say that bad cholesterol can be reduced and good cholesterol can be increased by adopting a healthy lifestyle. A balanced diet from an early age, regular exercise, avoiding smoking, keeping weight under control, and reducing stress can be helpful for you. On the other hand, people who often have high bad cholesterol should definitely take medicine as advice of the doctor.

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