Biology - Inheritance, exercise and health

Inherited factors are factors which we inherit from our parents

• Appearance
• Health
• Metabolic rate
• Cholesterol

Cholesterol is an inherited factor which affects ones health.

Forms of cholesterol:

• Healthy: Needed for cell membranes and vital hormones
• Unhealthy: Can cause health problems

If the balance of the two is wrong you can risk having heart disease

The liver deals with the fat in your diet. A balanced diet can keep the balance correct, however the inherited factors can still have a big impact.

People who exercise regularly are generally healthier than people who don't do much exercise.

Explanations of why exercise keeps you healthy:

• Less likely to be overweight if you exercise regularly - you will be using more energy
• More muscle tissue - will increase metabolic rate
  • if you can control your weight then you are less likely to be affected by:
    • Arthritis
    • Diabetes
    • High Blood pressure
• Cholesterol levels are affected by exercise. Regular exercise lowers cholesterol levels and helps the balance of the types of cholesterol.
  • Exercise makes the good cholesterol go up and the bad cholesterol go down. This lowers the risk of heart disease and other health problems

There are inherited factors such as your metabolic rate that can affect your health. The way your liver makes cholesterol is inherited and if the balance of cholesterol is wrong it can increase your risk of heart disease