Medical Centric

CHOLESTEROL

Men's Health, Women's Health / By

 CHOLESTEROL

Cholesterol is a waxy, fatty substance that is produced in the body and travels around it in the bloodstream.

  • Cholesterol is carried throughout the body by lipoproteins which are made up of fats called lipid and proteins.
  • Cholesterol has important natural functions without which we could not survive including the production of many hormones, generating vitamin D, making up bile acids that help in digesting fat and contributing to the structure of cell walls.
  • The body produces all the cholesterol it needs but it can also be taken in from dietary sources such as meat, poultry, eggs, fish and dairy products. Food derives from plants have no cholesterol.
  • A high level of cholesterol can cause plaque to build up in the arteries and can make it extremely hard for blood to get to the heart. If the blood supply is narrowed or completely blocked, it can lead to a coronary heart disease.
  • There are different types of lipoprotein that carries cholesterol. Remember that lipoproteins are small packages that act as cholesterol carrier.
  • We have the low-level lipoprotein (LDL), the high-level lipoprotein (HDL) and the Very low-density lipoprotein.
  • Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) takes cholesterol from the liver and carries it to other tissues and organs including the arteries. It is referred to as the bad cholesterol. It makes up the majority of the body’s cholesterol and an elevated level is the cause of plaque buildup and the driving force behind heart attack, stroke, and atherosclerosis
  • High-density lipoprotein (HDL) helps to carry the cholesterol from other parts of the body including the arteries back to the liver where it then removed out of the body, this is why it referred to as the good one. The higher the level of HDL, the more ‘bad’ cholesterol the body can remove.
  • Very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) transports triglycerides in the blood. It is also referred to as bad because it contributes to the buildup of plaque.
  • Triglycerides are another type of fat found in the blood. High level of triglycerides can also be a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Triglycerides tend to be high in people that are overweight

CAUSES OF HIGH CHOLESTEROL

  • In the case of familial hypercholesterolemia which is an inherited form of high cholesterol
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Unhealthy eating habit. Such as eating too much bad fats found in meats, dairy products, chocolate, baked goods, deep-fried and processed foods
  • Diabetes
  • Liver or kidney disease
  • Smoking
  • Certain drugs
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome

LEVELS AND RANGES

You can have high cholesterol and not know it, this is why it is essential to check regularly. It is recommended that adults have their cholesterol checked every four to six years starting from the age of 20.  As women and men get older, their cholesterol level rise.

To measure the total cholesterol and lipoproteins, blood tests are required. For a complete lipoprotein analysis, the patient is expected to be fasting for at least 12 hours.

TOTAL CHOLESTEROL LEVEL is the sum of HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and 20% of triglycerides.

Desirable: 200mg/dL (milligram per deciliter) or lower

Borderline: 200-239 mg/dL

High: 240mg/dL or higher

 

LDL CHOLESTEROL LEVEL should be less than 100 mg/dL

100-129 mg/dL is acceptable for people with no health condition but may be a great concern for anyone with heart disease or heart disease risk factor.

Borderline high: 130-159 mg/dL

High: 160-189 mg/dL

Very high: 190 mg/dL or higher

 

HDL CHOLESTEROL LEVEL should be kept higher. The optimal level that is considered protective against heart attack is 60 mg/dL or higher

A reading of less than 40 mg/dL is a major risk factor for heart disease

 

TRIGLYCERIDE

Desirable: less than 200 mg/dL

Borderline high: 150-199 mg/dL

High: 200-499 mg/dL

Very high- 500 mg/dL

 

HOW TO LOWER CHOLESTEROL

Treatment option may include drug treatment and lifestyle changes.

Lifestyle changes may include:

  • Eating healthy. Cholesterol-lowering food such as oats, barley, beans, eggplant and okra, nuts, vegetables, fruits, food rich in fiber, soy and soy-based foods should be added to the diet to help keep cholesterol in check.
  • Weight management
  • Exercise and increased physical activities.
  • Playing a favorite sport
  • Swimming laps
  • Taking a brisk daily walk
  • Managing stress
  • Quitting smoking

If lifestyle changes alone do not help, cholesterol medicines such as statin can be taken to reduce your level of cholesterol