Cholesterol

If you want to know Cholesterol, You are required to understand High blood Cholesterol (ko-LES-ter-ol). Cholesterol is a fatty, wax like substance present in all cells of the body.

Cholesterol is needed for the body to produce Vitamin D, hormones and substances which are necessary to digest food. Body itself produces the required cholesterol but there are certain other foods which also contain high level of cholesterol.

Lipoproteins (lip-o-PRO-teens) are the small packages of cholesterol which travels through the bloodstream. These packages are made up of Fats (Lipid) and proteins.  

The functions of Cholesterol

§  It fabricates and maintains the cell membranes.

§  It is necessary for determining which molecules can go into the cell and which cannot

§  It is important in the production of hormones discharged by the adrenal glands

§  It helps in the production of anger.

§  It changes sunshine to vitamin D.

§  It is significant for the metabolism of fat soluble vitamins; it includes vitamins A, D, E, and K.

§  It protects nerve fibers.

Types of lipoproteins that transmit cholesterol throughout the body:

·         Low-density lipoproteins (LDL)

·         High-density lipoproteins (HDL).

To have healthy levels of both kinds of lipoproteins is very important.

LDL cholesterol is also known as “bad” cholesterol. A high level of LDL leads to loudening of cholesterol in the arteries. (The blood vessels that transmit blood from heart to other parts of body are called arteries.)

HDL cholesterol is known as “good” cholesterol. It takes cholesterol from different parts of body back to the liver and the liver removes the cholesterol from body.

The normal cholesterol levels:

§  Required - Less than 200 mg/dL.

§  Bordeline - 200 to 239 mg/dL.

§  High - 240 mg/dL and more.

§  Most favorable level: less than 5mmol/ltr.

§  Slightly high cholesterol level: 5 to 6.4mmol/ltr.

§  Moderately high cholesterol level: 6.5 to 7.8mmol/ltr.

§  Very high cholesterol level: above 7.8mmol/ltr.

Risks of high cholesterol

§  Atherosclerosis - narrowing of the arteries.

§  Higher coronary heart disease risk - an abnormality of the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart.⁹

§  Heart attack – It occurs when the supply of oxygen and blood to the area of heart muscle is blocked because of a clot in a coronary artery. This causes heart muscle to die.

§  Angina – discomfort and chest pain that arise when your heart muscles do not get sufficient blood.

§  Stroke and mini-stroke – It occurs when a blood clot blocks a vein or artery, interrupting the flow to the area of brain. Can take place when a blood vessel breaks and the brain cells begin to die.

Signs and symptoms of high cholesterol:

§  Tapering coronary arteries in the heart.

§  Leg pain when exercising 

§  Ruptured blood vessels 

§  Ruptured plaques - this can lead to coronary thrombosis (a clot forming in one of the arteries that delivers blood to the heart). If this causes significant injury to heart muscle which may result in heart failure.

§  Xanthomas – they are the thick yellow patches on the skin, particularly in the region of the eyes. They are the deposits of cholesterol.

Causes of high Cholesterol:

1.       Lifestyle causes

§  Food Habits - Some food contains cholesterol, like eggs, some sea foods, however, dietary cholesterol does not have much of an effect in human blood cholesterol levels but saturated fats do. Foods which are high in saturated fats include some pies, red meat, sausages, lard, hard cheese, pastry, most biscuits, cakes, and cream etc.

§  Inactive lifestyle –Those who do not work out and spend most of their time sitting and lying down have significantly higher levels bad cholesterol and lower levels good cholesterol.

§  Bodyweight – Those who are overweight or obese are much more likely to have higher bad cholesterol levels and lower good cholesterol levels, as compare to the people who have normal weight.

§  Smoking -This can have quite a significant effect on bad cholesterol levels.

§  Alcohol - Those who guzzle too much alcohol on a regular basis, generally have much higher levels of bad cholesterol level and much lower levels of good cholesterol level as compared to who refrain or those who gulp in moderation.

2.     Treatable medical conditions

·         Diabetes.

·         High blood pressure (hypertension).

·         High levels of triglycerides.

·         Kidney diseases.

·         Liver diseases.

·         Under-active thyroid gland.

 

How to handle high cholesterol:

• Doing plenty of exercise.
• Eating fruits, whole grains, vegetables, oats.
• Avoiding foods which have saturated fats.
• Getting sound sleep.
• Bringing bodyweight back to normal.
• Avoiding alcohol.
• Stopping smoking.