Cholesterol: its importance for the body

and the harms of its rise in the blood

March 10, 2024

36 3 minutes read

Cholesterol

It is a fat-like waxy substance made by the liver. It’s not “bad” by nature. Your body needs it to perform important functions, such as producing hormones and digesting fatty foods. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs in your blood, which is why experts recommend eating as little dietary cholesterol as possible while eating a healthy diet because too much of it can cause a problem.

The liver works to manufacture cholesterol that the body needs, and dietary cholesterol is also found in animal foods, including meat, seafood, poultry, eggs and dairy products.

The risks to your health increase with the increase in the amount of cholesterol in the blood, as high cholesterol contributes to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke, as it combines with other substances in the blood to form plaques that adhere to the walls of the arteries, plaque accumulation is known as atherosclerosis, where the coronary arteries become narrow or even blocked, which increases the risk of a heart attack.

That’s why it’s important to have your cholesterol tested, so you can know your levels.

What is high cholesterol?

If you’re an adult or a child, high cholesterol causes your blood to have a total blood content above 200 mg/dL, also called hyperlipidemia.

High cholesterol can cause health problems, so you should work with your health care team to prevent and manage high cholesterol by working to reach optimal cholesterol levels.

Optimal cholesterol levels

Total cholesterol is about 150 mg/dL.

Is cholestroma high cholesterol? Low density lipoprotein (LDL) is about 100 mg/dL.

At least high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol

40 mg/dL in men and 50 mg/dL in women.

Triglycerides are less than 150 mg/dL.

What are the signs and symptoms of high cholesterol?

High cholesterol doesn’t show symptoms, which is why checking blood levels is so important.

What causes high cholesterol?

Certain health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, can increase your risk of high cholesterol.

Lifestyle factors, such as a diet high in saturated and trans fats and insufficient activity, can also increase the risk of high cholesterol.

Some people with a family history of high cholesterol can also be at risk of high cholesterol.

All these factors are called “risk factors”. You can’t control some of these risk factors, such as your age or family history. But you can take steps to reduce your risk of high cholesterol by changing the things you can control.

Complications of high cholesterol

High cholesterol can lead to a buildup called “plaques” on the walls of the arteries (a type of blood vessel).

These deposits may reduce the amount of blood flowing in the arteries and can lead to atherosclerosis.

As plaque builds up over time, the insides of the arteries narrow. This narrowing blocks blood flow to and from your heart and other organs. When blood flow to the heart is blocked, it can cause chest pain (also called angina) or a heart attack (also called myocardial infarction).

High cholesterol also increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, two leading causes of death in the United States.

Diagnosis of cholesterol

The only way to tell if you have high cholesterol is a blood test that measures your cholesterol level by your health care team.

Prevention of high cholesterol

Strong evidence suggests that healthy, balanced eating patterns with lower dietary cholesterol are associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

Perform physical activity permanently.

Avoid smoking and all tobacco products.

Get rid of extra pounds.

Start with small changes in your diet, for example:

1. Refrain from eating foods containing trans fats.

2. Choose foods made of whole wheat There are many substances found in whole wheat that contribute to maintaining the health of your heart.

3. Make sure to consume healthy fish, as there are many types of fish that contain low levels of fats and small amounts of saturated fats and cholesterol compared to meat and chicken.

4.Be sure to consume different types of vegetables and fruits.

Control of hypertension and hyperglycemia.

Knowing your cholesterol numbers can help you know your risk of heart disease. But keep in mind that your cholesterol numbers are only part of the story so if your numbers are out of the normal range, don’t panic. Talk to your medical team about what cholesterol levels mean in the context of your overall health. Work with them to get your numbers back to a healthier place.