Cholesterol level is one of the leading determinants of risk factors for various heart diseases. High levels of this component in your body can lead to an increased possibility of heart failure and stroke which is why most adults who are already deemed prone to such ailments are advised to monitor their cholesterol regularly. It’s important to understand this area because your readings can help you make the right adjustments as far as your lifestyle is concerned. There are many causes of high cholesterol. While there are some factors that you can’t readily do anything about, there are also those that can be remedied through the proper alterations in diet and habits.

Your diet
What you eat can well pull up your cholesterol level in the same way that it can also regulate or pull it down. Too much intake of dairy products and other sources of saturated fat can raise it up leaving you vulnerable to heart problems later on. Saturated fats make up your LDLs or low-density lipoproteins which tend to build up in your arterial walls and cause heart failure and stroke.
Conversely, you can pull your cholesterol level down by eating more of the monounsaturated fat variety. Sources of good cholesterol include fruits, vegetables and whole grains among others. It’s better to go with more starch and fiber on your daily meals in order to increase your HDLs.

Your daily activities
The more active you are, the higher your HDL becomes. HDL works to prevent your LDL from building up in your arteries. Instead, it makes LDL go back to the liver and eventually flushed out of your body. Aerobic exercise such as walking and various sports activities can help you pull your cholesterol level down. Inactivity is one of the main causes of high cholesterol so better get a move on if you want a healthier heart.

Hormones
Studies show that women have higher HDL levels than men. This is mainly due to differences in hormonal make-up. Men are, unfortunately, more prone to heart failure than females which is why they should be more concerned with regulating their blood cholesterol.

Your weight
Another one of the many causes of high cholesterol is your weight. Normally, overweight people also have high blood cholesterol so they are more prone to cardiovascular diseases than people who have a regulated normal weight.  For those who have already been diagnosed with coronary heart disease, the doctor usually prescribes a weight loss regimen so they can go back to a more manageable weight and flush out the bad cholesterol from their bodies.