There are a lot of misconceptions, and outright false information on how cholesterol levels effect your heart. For the past four decades the common wisdom has been that there were two types of cholesterol. High density lipoproteins or HDL, the ”good” cholesterol, or low density lipoproteins or LDL, the ”bad” cholesterol.

Research has shown that it is not so much the cholesterol that can have a negative effect on the heart, but the carrier of the cholesterol…the lipoproteins. In fact, the Framingham Heart Study done in 1977 found that in men and women 50 and older, “total cholesterol per se is not a risk for coronary heart disease at all.”

So why do we believe that LDL and saturated fats are so bad for us? This is due to studies that showed eating saturated fats increased the amount of LDL cholesterol in the blood. This led to the assumption that it was the saturated fat that was the culprit. The assumption is false as clinical trials have shown there is no compelling evidence that saturated fat in the diet causes heart disease.

Another reason for the belief that LDL is bad are drugs like Zocor and Lipitor which lower LDL cholesterol and also prevent heart attacks. This is understood as cause and effect, and is so prevalent that the FDA now approves drugs to prevent heart disease based solely on evidence they lower LDL cholesterol. The problem is these drugs have multiple actions and it is like saying aspirin prevents heart attacks by getting rid of headaches.

Recent testing, such as the trials of Vytorin and torcetrapib, a drug that both lowers LDL while raising HDL…which was halted before completion as it appeared to cause both heart attacks and strokes…have not proven the cause and effect of LDL on heart disease. Estrogen replacement also lowers LDL, but has had no positive impact on lowering heart disease. The same is true for eating less saturated fat.

Statins may be effective as they reduce inflammation, which is considered a risk for heart disease. They also help to keep the walls of the arteries healthy. Statins also have an effect on the lipoproteins themselves. They reduce the number of low density lipoproteins in the blood, including the most dangerous form of LDL, which are very small and dense lipoproteins.

So what are we to make of these seemingly conflicting claims and counter-claims? First we need to to examine our assumptions on how to deal with the problem of heart disease, which is at epidemic proportions in much of the world. We need to get rid of the idea that all of our health needs can be found in a bottle.

Physical activity done at a level that triggers the natural energy cycle and balance that we all possess will determine our diet. We have been putting the cart before the horse. Diet is secondary and completely dependent on your activity level. The primary source of so many of our current health problems is our sedentary life-style.

A healthy heart is an active heart. It really is that simple. No rocket science here, just the common sense that we all possess but have been lulled into abandoning in the tidal wave of hype coming from the interests that care much more about making money then they do about our health.

Men are not the only ones who have to worry about heart disease. Recent surveys have found out that more and more women above the age of 25 are suffering from a similar situation. In fact, an average of 500 women has been estimated to acquire the disease and 50 percent die each year. Here are some information that might just save your life!

High blood pressure is a sign that your heart is working overtime and exerting too much effort to pump blood through your artery walls. This may lead to a heart attack if left ignored. The most common reason for this is too much salt in your diet and too little physical activity. Your first step in preventing this is by eating less LDL-rich foods and of course exercising. Visit your doctor regularly to have your blood pressure checked too.

Check whether your belly has exceeded the 80 cm limit or not. According to research, belly fat is linked to the hardening of the arteries. Protect your arteries with antioxidant and foods rich in fiber. Antioxidants found in most fruits and vegetables are known to prevent blood from clotting in the arteries. Fiber has the same effect too. Most of all targets for a waistline of 80 cm or less.

Heartache can literally result to a broken heart. Studies have shown that women who have trouble in their relationships have higher risk for a heart attack than those who keep a healthy relationship with their partners. It is also written in the Bible that a broken heart can melt away the bones. The solution here is to take good care of your relationship.

Since the symptoms of heart attack on women are different from those of men, you have to continually be on your guard. Watch out for signs such as upper body discomfort, irritability, fatigue and weakness, shortness of breath, nausea and even indigestion. Doing so will put you one step ahead of the attack.

Our heart is a muscle that needs to be worked out. It would do you no good if you remain physically inactive most of the time. If you want to keep your heart in the right shape, the goal of not less than thirty minutes of exercise or physical activity every day. And don’t forget to get regular checkups as well.