Why Should I Care About My Cholesterol?

Why Should I Care About My Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like material create in the blood stream. It is present in all of the body's tissues. It is produced by the liver and likewise extracted from foods of animal origin such as meat, chick, fish, eggs and dairy products. Your body use cholesterol to make crucial body substances such as cell walls, hormones and vitamin D.

Why should I care about my cholesterol?

What Is Cholesterol?

While cholesterol is vital for life, too much of it in your blood can increase your risk for stroke and heart disease.

Cholesterol move through your flow in protein / fat (lipoprotein) elements. One type of element, known as “low-density lipoprotein” (LDL), carries cholesterol to the body. LDLs are often termed "bad" cholesterol.

An additional type of element, called high-density lipoprotein (HDLs) supports in the exclusion of cholesterol from the bloodstream. HDLs are often termed "good" cholesterol. A high HDL level (greater than 60) is considered to be a defensive factor against heart sickness.

If you have an surplus amount of LDL in your bloodstream, waxy panels can build up along your artery walls, causing arteries to narrow. Over time, arteries may become damaged with these signs and vulnerable to blood clots. This is called cardiovascular disease. A blood clot in the heart can cause a heart attack. A blood clot in the brain can effect or cause stroke.

What are triglycerides and why should I care about them?

Triglycerides are the logical name for the greatest common form of fat, originate in both the body and diets. Triglycerides attach to lipoprotein elements in the blood. Current studies indicate that elevated triglycerides are an free risk factor for coronary heart sickness (CHD). Some triglyceride-rich lipoproteins might cause sign build-up in the arteries.

Testing Recommendations

The US Protective Services Task Force and the American College of Doctors endorse checking cholesterol preliminary at age 35 for males and 45 for females. The US National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) endorses that all adults 20 years or older have a abstaining lipid outline done. A lipid profile contains of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL- cholesterol and triglycerides. Experts endorse the lipid profile be recurrent every 5 years if usual.

Desirable blood lipid levels:

Total cholesterol:

Less than 150 mg/dL = Desirable
200-239 mg/dL = Borderline high
240 mg/dL and above = High

LDL cholesterol:

Less than 100 mg/dL = Optimal
110-139 mg/dL = Near/above optimal
130-159 mg/dL = Borderline high
160-189 mg/dL = High
190 mg/dL and above = Very high

HDL cholesterol:

Below 40 mg/dL = Suboptimal (Low)
60 mg/dL and above = Optimal (High)

Triglycerides:

Less than 150 mg/dL = Normal
150-199 mg/dL = Borderline high
200-499 mg/dL = High
500 mg/dL and above = Very high.

Main risk factors for cardiovascular disease and risk discount:

Some factors (such as family history of heart disease, age or gender) cannot be changed; however you can make lifestyle variations to aid lower your risk.

Smoking Tobacco

 prominently increases the risk for heart syndrome.

Hypertension 

A blood pressure greater than 130/90 mmHg is careful elevated, surges cardiovascular risk and wants to be controlled.

Diabetes

 increases the risk for heart disease. 

Elevated LDL (150 Mg/Dl) And Triglycerides  are risk factors for coronary heart disease;

Lack Of Physical Activity:

 Regular exercise can assistance to decrease your total cholesterol level and might increase the amount of HDL in our body.  Individuals who exercise regularly lower their risk for heart disease, even if their lipid levels do not change.

Excess Body Weight

 With each further pound, the body must increase blood volume and the amount of capillaries to supply the fatty tissue. This means that the heart must work harder. Losing weight can lessen this strain on the heart. Sustaining a healthy weight perpetually involves a change in eating habits, exercise patterns and attitudes.

Diet: A diet rich in cholesterol and submerged fat increases risk of sign build-up in the inner lining of the blood pots. Eat a healthy diet by following these endorsements:

• Reduce intake of saturated fats to 15-20 grams of saturated fat per day (5% or less of daily calories)
• Decrease cholesterol intake to 300 mg or minus daily
• Eat 30-40 grams of fiber daily. Fiber is contained in plant foods (fruits, vegetables, legumes & grains)
• Use nonfat dairy products
• Eat less red meat and processed meat
• Eat two servings weekly of fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids such as mackerel, halibut and salmon. Omega-3 fatty acids reduce triglycerides and blood clotting
• Consider use of sterol and stanol-rich margarines such as Take Benecol® and Control®,

which are FDA approved. Eat 2 grams of these plant chemicals daily

• Limit sugary foods and beverages
• Limit fried foods

Age: Men 45 years & older,  women 55 years & older, are at amplified risk for heart disease.

Family History: 

 premature coronary heart disease, exactly in first-degree male relatives less than 55 years, or in first- degree female relatives less than 65 years, upsurges one's risk for heart disease. (First-degree relatives are father, mother, and siblings.)

TREATMENT

When should drug therapy be used?  

This question should be discussed and decided with a clinician who knows your total health antiquity. An valuation of your risk for developing cardiovascular disease can help determine suitability and the intensity of therapy. Multiple risk factors or pre-existing conditions (previous heart attack or metabolic syndrome) may warrant more aggressive or earlier treatment to lower cholesterol levels.