Your body needs some cholesterol to produce hormones and vitamins that help in digestion. Two types of lipoproteins   ldl cholesterol and hdl cholesterol   are responsible for carrying cholesterol to and from the cells in your body.

Hdl or high-density cholesterol is good cholesterol. It carries bad cholesterol away from the arteries and other body parts back to the liver to be processed by the liver.

Ldl or low-density cholesterol, also known as the bad cholesterol, contributes to fatty build-ups within the arteries. This results in narrowing of the arteries and increases your risk of cardiovascular diseases like pad, heart attack, or even stroke.

Although there are medications to bring down ldl cholesterol levels, your doctor may recommend using therapeutic lifestyle changes to see how well your cholesterol levels can be managed without medications.

How to reduce  bad  cholesterol naturally

You can lower ldl cholesterol levels naturally with the following measures  

Diet and weight loss

Being obese or overweight not only increases the odds of developing high ldl levels but also contributes to cardiac diseases and chronic conditions. Studies suggest that losing even a little weight may help reduce ldl levels.

Your diet plays an important role in losing excess fat and maintaining ideal body weight. Eating the right kind of food   such as those that contain a good amount of monosaturated fats, phytosterols and soluble fibre   can help lower harmful ldl cholesterol and increase the levels of hdl cholesterol in the blood. Focus on eating whole grains, fruits and leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, and fatty fish.

Exercise more often

Exercising regularly, in moderate amounts, can bring down your cholesterol levels and promote weight loss. Any form of cardiovascular activity, such as cycling, running, swimming and jogging benefits your heart health. You may also turn to other forms of exercise   weight training or yoga   as they also work to decrease the levels of bad cholesterol.

Quit smoking

Smoking causes a number of chemical changes in your body. Cigarette smoke increases bad cholesterol (ldl) and triglycerides levels. This leads to the accumulation of waxy plaque, which clogs the arteries. At the same time, smoking reduces the level of good cholesterol   the one that prevents the formation of plaque in your blood. Quit smoking and turn to a healthier lifestyle to see a difference in the levels of your ldl cholesterol.

Limit alcohol consumption

According to studies, heavy alcohol consumption or drinking more than what is considered moderate significantly increases bad cholesterol, which again raises triglyceride levels and ldl cholesterol.

Lifestyle changes are the natural and first line of treatment for people with high cholesterol levels. However, if your doctor suspects these levels could put you at risk of other medical conditions, he/she might recommend medications to manage bad cholesterol.

Reduce LDL Cholesterol With These Easy Steps

Blood donation is a process that is carried out when a person voluntarily offers for blood to be extracted from his body. There are countless myths about blood donation that need to be squashed and awareness is the only way of doing it.

While blood donation brings multiple health benefits to both the donor and recipient, some facts are known to only a few. These facts will not only open doors to endless possibilities, but will make people feel confident about it.

Facts

Here are some lesser-known facts about blood donation- every person should know-

 


	
	Approximately 112.5 million units of blood are collected from blood donation globally.
	
	
	Around 30 million units are transfused annually.
	
	
	Any person in sound health, at least 18 years old, and weighing at least 45 kilograms can donate blood every 56 days.
	
	
	Your one unit of donated blood can save up to 3 lives.
	
	
	A, b, ab, and o are the primary blood groups. While ab is a universal recipient, o negative is a universal donor.
	
	
	The blood donation process normally takes less than 10-12 minutes.
	
	
	Donating blood does not make you physically weak or decrease your strength.
	
	
	Only 1% of india's population donates blood each year, leading to an annual deficit of two million units.
	
	
	All donated blood units are tested for diseases like hepatitis b, hepatitis c, hiv, and syphilis before transfusion.
	
	
	Red cells, plasma, cryoprecipitate, and platelets are the various types of transfusable elements derived from the blood. The procedure takes place using a method called apheresis.
	
	
	Red blood cells carry oxygen to the organs.
	
	
	Red blood cells survive for about four months in the system of circulation.
	
	
	Platelets encourage blood clotting and provide leukemia patients and other cancer patients with better treatment.
	
	
	Plasma is a pale yellow combination of proteins, salts, and water.
	
	
	Plasma is 55 percent of the volume of blood and 90 percent water.
	
	
	White cells are the chief defense of the body against infections.
	
	
	There is no alternative for blood donation as blood cannot be manufactured.
	
	
	You cannot contract aids or other infectious diseases due to blood donation.
	


Lesser Known Facts About Blood Donation

A brain tumour is a life-threatening situation. Most of the symptoms of the brain tumour are alike, but not all tumours are malignant. The most common type of brain tumour is meningioma. You may even don t need surgery in this case as they are really not dangerous or life-threatening.

 

Here are some of the facts you should know about meningioma:

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Meningioma can develop in numerous locations

 

Cells in the meninges, the lining of the brain and spinal cord, give rise to these tumours. In fact, they are not brain tumours at all, because they are not caused by the altered brain cells. ;

However, they continue to grow inside your sull, indicating that you should now take immediate steps. Meningioma can produce brain tumour symptoms if it grows or creates swelling that presses against the brain or other tissues in the skull.

 

Meningioma symptoms vary depending on the size and location of the tumour

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Meningioma can cause vision-related issues, headaches or seizures which are all common signs of a brain tumour. A headache, even a strong one, is seldom an indication of meningioma or any other type of brain tumour on its own. 

 ;

Other tumour sites can influence your sense of smell, vision, hearing and even the pituitary gland s function.

 

Meningioma diagnosis usually happens when the doctor is looking for some else

 ;

The discovery of a tumour on a ct scan or mri while investigating the patient for another cause, such as a head injury or another neurological condition, is called an accidental diagnosis. When a doctor identifies a meningioma, you will undergo additional testing to determine how the tumour will behave. A neurosurgeon will decide whether to remove the tumour or just monitor it to see whether it grows based on these findings. 

 ;

Majority of meningioma does not spread

 

Being diagnosed with meningioma, especially a large one, might be shocking, but these tumours are usually non-dangerous. Tumour cells are unlikely to spread to other sections of the body as a result of this. ;

Meningiomas, on the other hand, can grow silently for years without creating any difficulties and they can grow to be enormous.

 

Things You Should Know About Most Common Brain Tumours

Atherosclerosis refers to a medical condition in which the arteries become hardened and narrowed due to the accumulation of cholesterol plaque in the walls of the artery, obstructing the flow of blood.

What are the causes?

Atherosclerosis is a slow but progressive disorder that starts with the damage of endothelium   cells lining the interior surface of lymphatic and blood vessels. This allows bad ldl cholesterol to build up in the artery walls. Over time, a plaque made of calcium, macrophages, and cholesterol grows to a certain size to clog up arteries, disrupting blood flow around the body.

Other factors leading to atherosclerosis to include  

High blood pressure

High levels of triglyceride in the blood

High cholesterol levels

Certain medical conditions   diabetes, obesity, insulin resistance

Smoking/use of tobacco

Inflammatory conditions like lupus and arthritis

Symptoms of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis may develop in childhood or during adolescence. Mild conditions may not reveal observable symptoms unless the arteries are clogged, and blood supply to the tissues and organs are restricted.

Signs of moderate to severe atherosclerosis depend on the affected arteries   it could be the arteries leading to your brain, your heart, legs and arms, or the kidney. The symptoms of atherosclerosis include  

Weakness and fatigue

Difficulty breathing/concentrating

Headaches

Facial numbness

Paralysis

Vomiting

Chest pain

Anxiety

Loss of appetite

Swelling in the feet and hands

If any of the above symptoms seem familiar to you, consult a doctor right away for treatment.

Can atherosclerosis be prevented?

The best way to avoid cholesterol plaque from building up in the artery walls is to prevent the onset of atherosclerosis with these preventive measures.

Eat healthy   avoid eating foods that are rich in saturated fats   red meat, butter and cheese. These increase your cholesterol levels drastically. Instead, include foods that contain unsaturated fats, like avocados, olive oil, fatty fish, nuts and seeds because these help to keep ldl or bad cholesterol levels down.

Stay active   exercising and staying active can help regulate your cholesterol levels and prevent certain conditions that might put you at risk for atherosclerosis.

Quit smoking   people who smoke should quit smoking because it is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis   it increases blood pressure, which in turn, affects your cholesterol levels.

Atherosclerosis can lead to complications. With precautionary measures and proper treatment, the condition can be avoided.

Know All About Atherosclerosis Here

Air pollution affects the overall health of a human being. Whether it comes out of exhaust fumes from cars and factories or smoke from burning stubble air pollution, it is a cause of major concern. The effects of this can be seen in the growing number of asthma and other respiratory diseases. These diseases affect adults and children alike, however, it is the younger generation and elderly people who are more susceptible. Hence, it is extremely important to care about the quality of the air you breathe in. 


 ;

What is the significance of the air quality index (aqi)?

The air quality index is a visual representation of pollutant levels in the air around you. A quick glance at this colour coded map can tell you if the air outside your home is likely to harm you or not. The code is broken down into 6 levels ranging from green which signifies minimal impact to red which marks pollution levels that can harm a healthy person and seriously impact those who are already ill. The higher the aqi, the higher the level of air pollution.

 

What are the steps to reduce air pollution?

Simply talking about how there need to be stricter laws about car emissions and the burning of waste will not help you. Here are a few things you can do to protect yourself and your family from the ill-effects of air pollution.


	
	Carpool: exhausts from cars and other vehicles are one of the biggest causes of air pollution. Do your part to reduce air pollution by restricting the amount you use your car. Try taking public transport to work or carpooling with colleagues. Similarly, avoid making individual trips every time you need something from the market. Make a list and when it s long enough, then step out.
	
	
	Limit indoor pollution: do not smoke indoors. When cooking, keep the exhaust fan on so that the smoke produced does not collect indoors. Avoid spraying air fresheners etc. While they may temporarily make the air smell fresh, in the long run, they contribute to air pollution.
	
	
	Use public transport try to use public transport and avoid the use of personal vehicles.
	


How to protect yourself from air pollution


	
	Refrain from morning walks routines to later hours.
	
	
	Use n95/99 face masks whenever you step out.
	
	
	Use air-purifying plants to purify the air around your surroundings.
	
	
	Ventilate your kitchen, and bathroom to keep yourself away from air pollution.
	
	
	Restrict outdoor activities for kids if there is a high level of air pollution
	
	
	Use air-purifiers in your surroundings.
	
	
	Try to take steam with a few drops of eucalyptus oil every day.
	
	
	Keep your car s environment fresh.
	
	
	Ventilate your home, open your windows and doors and allow the air to circulate during mid hours.
	
	
	Eat jaggery (aka gurr) to flush out pollutants from your lungs.
	
	
	Consume a diet rich in vitamin c, omega fatty acids
	


Hence, the other way to cut down this pollution is by bringing significant lifestyle changes in our daily living. Cutting down the number of diesel and petrol vehicles can also prove helpful. People should shift to cng and electric vehicles for daily commuting. These efforts, if practiced on a regular basis, can bring a huge decrease in pollution.

Air purifiers can also be a healthy option for indoor purposes.

 ;

 

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Why Should You Care About Air Quality?

Yoga is the answer for a lot of aspects which everyone desires, such as a peaceful mind, a strong and flexible body and healthy, glowing skin. Yoga is not simply a set of exercises but a lifestyle. Yoga is a complete workout for the body and mind and is a combination of stretching along with deep breathing and meditation. It is a way of keeping yourself fit without doing strenuous workouts and lifting heavyweights. When practising yoga, asanas and nutrition go hand in hand to improve your quality of life. Your digestive system, immunity and energy levels are directly linked to the food you intake. If there is a problem with any of these, yoga asanas can help resolve it.

 

Yoga helps in maintaining overall fitness

 ;

Yoga ensures that you are healthy in the true sense. Health is like a dynamic expression of life based on how happy, loving and enthusiastic you are in life. The various postures of yoga help in maintaining overall fitness, and balance both your mind and body in an ideal way.

 

Yoga boosts immunity

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A combination of asanas and yogic breathing techniques can help boost your immunity. Some asanas to try include viparita karani, bhujangasana, matsyasana and adho mukha svanasana. These poses help lower stress and boost immunity by pumping rich oxygenated blood to all the parts of the body.

 

Yoga always keeps you energetic

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Yoga asanas help increase blood flow and increase the heart's capacity to pump blood through the body. A few yoga poses that can boost energy are the camel pose, tree pose and warrior asana.

 

Yoga relieves stress

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Doing yoga every day is a good way of eliminating the stress that you experience in daily life. It refers to both physical and mental stress. Certain yoga postures, meditation, and pranayama are ideal practices for getting rid of stress.

 

Yoga keeps you calm

 ;

Yoga is very essential for calming your disturbed and troubled mind.

Moreover, yoga poses massage your organs and help in strengthening your muscles. The various breathing exercises and meditation forms associated with yoga are great for releasing unwanted, undesirable stress from your system. 

 ;

Yoga keeps the digestive system strong

 

Yogic asanas such as the spinal twist, apanasana and paschimottanasana can help smoothen the digestive process.

Why Yoga Is Important For Everyone?

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