What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is an oily, water-resistant substance made by the liver. The body makes all the blood cholesterol it needs, and it is essential for good health. It is used to perform important jobs, such as making hormones and digesting fatty foods.
Why bother about cholesterol?
High cholesterol increases the risks of heart disease and stroke.
How it works
Blood cholesterol is carried on proteins called lipoproteins. Lipoproteins are categorized into two:
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) termed “bad” cholesterol, makes up most of the body’s cholesterol. It functions to deliver cholesterol to cells throughout the body. High levels of LDL cholesterol raises the risk for heart disease and stroke.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) also known as “good” cholesterol, carries blood cholesterol back to the liver. The liver then clears it from the body. High levels of HDL cholesterol lowers the risk of heart disease and stroke.
When there is too much LDL cholesterol in the body, it can build up on the walls of the blood vessels. This buildup called “plaque”, over time, causes narrowing of the insides of blood vessels. The narrowing blocks blood flow to and from the heart and other organs. Blockage of blood flow to the heart can cause chest pain or a heart attack. This process is called atherosclerosis.
Food containing cholesterol
Dietary cholesterol is found in animal foods, including meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products and tropical oils (such as palm oil). Foods that are higher in saturated fat may be high in cholesterol.
Who Needs to Get Their Cholesterol Checked?
Healthy adults should have their blood cholesterol checked every 4 to 6 years.People who have a family history of high cholesterol, have heart disease or diabetes, need to get their cholesterol checked more often.Children and adolescents should have theirs checked at least once between ages 9 and 11 and again between ages 17 and 21.
How to know if your cholesterol levels are high
Usually, there are no signs and symptoms for high cholesterol. Therefore, you need to have your cholesterol checked. A blood test, called a “lipid profile,” is done to measure cholesterol levels. The doctor considers your cholesterol numbers along with other factors like family history, age, gender, and other parts of your lifestyle or health, such as smoking, that could raise your risk for high cholesterol.This helps the doctor determine whether you should change your lifestyle or take cholesterol-lowering medicine, to lower your risk for heart disease and stroke.
My next post will be on risk factors for high cholesterol, how to lower your risk and what you should eat.
Keep reading.
Maureen
Medtrix 