There is more to taking care of your body to keep it healthy. Part of what makes our bodies work are the inner mechanisms that help produce components that keep our body up and about. However, any form of defect can lead to health problems if not immediately checked.
Here are some of the substances and inner workings in your body that you need to check from time to time.
Cholesterol
One of the substances in your body that you need to keep in check is your cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is a substance produced in the liver to help build our cells and certain hormones. Besides the liver, you can also gain cholesterol from your food. This substance is generally helpful to the body. However, too much is harmful.
Cholesterol levels vary in people. Some have high cholesterol levels due to genetic or health concerns, and some gain them from adapting an unhealthy lifestyle. So even if you usually are healthy and don’t show symptoms of high cholesterol, consider checking your cholesterol levels to be sure.
If lifestyle modifications aren’t enough to help lower your cholesterol levels, your doctor might prescribe you medication such as statins. Statins are medications that help lower LDL or Low-density Lipoproteins, aka the “Bad Cholesterol.”.
Besides medication, a shift in your diet can help. As you can also get cholesterol from food, it helps to change your diet. Instead of eating canned goods and fast food, you can opt for healthier choices.
Also, not all cholesterol is bad. Fatty fish such as salmon and olive oil are HDL-high sources and are excellent additions to your diet when consumed in moderation. HDL or High-density aka “Good Cholesterol” helps improve cardiac health and lowers LDL levels in your body.
Blood Sugar Levels
Also called blood glucose, or glucose, this refers to the sugars distributed by your blood to your whole body to be used as energy. These can be obtained through the food and drinks you consume. While it serves a vital role in your body, a significant risk is posed by having too much or too little blood sugar.
Too much blood sugar develops in type 2 diabetes, in which your body cannot produce insulin (a hormone produced by your pancreas to help glucose to produce energy, thus lowering it) as it should. It can escalate to terrible medical conditions such as stroke, neuropathy, and slow healing of wounds. 90-95% of 37 million Americans with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.
One can get type 2 diabetes with a blood sugar of 126 mg/dL or higher. You can also get prediabetes if your sugar levels are 100-125 mg/dL. There is no cure for diabetes in general, but there are ways (particularly for the type 2 variant) to stabilize the sugar levels and weaken your situation’s severity.
On the other hand, too little blood sugar also affects your health. This condition, called hypoglycemia, affects people with 70 mg/dL or lower. Individuals with hypoglycemia may experience nausea, weakness, or even seizures. If you want to check your blood sugar levels, try a finger prick test or a flash glucose monitor. It’s best to have a medical professional supervise and run the tests for proper testing.
Uric Acid
Uric acid is another substance one needs to check from time to time. Too much uric acid can be produced when one consumes food high in purines. Elevated levels of uric acid in your blood might mean that your kidney is having trouble removing them from your body.
If too much uric acid remains in the body, uric acid crystals may form and settle in the joints. This condition is called gout, a painful form of arthritis. Symptoms include joint pain, swelling, and even more unbearable pain. Uric acid can even lead to the formation of kidney stones which can affect your urinary tract.
To avoid these, you can always lower your uric acid levels. The best way to do it is to reduce consumption of food with high purine. These include sugary treats, organ meats, red meats, and specific seafood. If you want to know your uric acid levels, you can get tested through professional help.
Blood Pressure
Blood pressure refers to blood pressure circulation against your blood vessel walls. Previously, the normal blood pressure for a healthy adult was set at 120/80 mmhg. However, the AHA(American Heart Association), the CDC(Center for Disease Control), other agencies, and studies have stated that a blood pressure of 120/80 mmhg is already considered pre-hypertensive.
Too high and low blood pressure can lead to bad health conditions. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, happens when your blood pressure is 130/80 mmHg or higher. If left untreated, this can cause conditions like heart attacks.
On the other hand, too low blood pressure, also called hypotension, occurs when your blood pressure is lower than 90/60 mmHg. Symptoms include fainting and trouble concentrating. If you have concerns with your blood pressure, it’s best to consult a doctor and have it checked from time to time.
To Sum it Up
There is more to just having to take care of our bodies. We produce chemicals or substances that contribute to a healthy body. It is essential to see to it that they work well. Always see a doctor if you feel unwell, and keep a healthy lifestyle.