| Home
> Health
Care > Others
> High Blood Cholesterol |
| |
| High Blood Cholesterol |
Due to its reputation as a risk
factor for heart disease, people tend to think of
cholesterol only in negative terms. But cholesterol,
as one of the body's fats (lipids),
is an important part of cell membranes and is vital
to the structure and function of all of your body's
cells.
Cholesterol and another lipid, triglyceride, are
important building blocks in the structure of cells
and are also used in making hormones and producing
energy.
When the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides
in your bloodstream become too high, your probability
of developing cholesterol-containing fatty deposits
(plaques) in your blood
vessels increases. Over time, plaques cause your
arteries to narrow, which impedes blood flow and
creates a condition called atherosclerosis. Narrowing
of the arteries that supply your heart with blood
(coronary artery disease)
can prevent your heart from getting as much oxygen-rich
blood as it needs. This means an increased risk
of a heart attack. Likewise, decreased blood flow
to your brain can cause a stroke. Less blood flowing
to your lower limbs may result in exercise-related
pain or even gangrene. |
| |
| The Signs and Symptoms |
| There are no symptoms of high blood
cholesterol. The only way to find out if you have
high blood cholesterol is by having a blood test. |
| |
| The Causes |
To circulate in your blood, which
is mainly water, cholesterol and triglycerides must
be carried by proteins called apoproteins. A lipoprotein
is a combination of a lipid and an apoprotein.
The main types of lipoproteins are:
| • |
High-Density Lipoprotein
(HDL)
It is called "good"
cholesterol because it helps clear excess
cholesterol from your body. |
| • |
Low-Density Lipoprotein
(LDL)
It is called "bad"
cholesterol because it transports cholesterol
to sites throughout your body, where it's
either deposited or used to repair cell membranes.
LDL cholesterol endorses accumulation of cholesterol
in the walls of your arteries. |
| • |
Very-Low-Density Lipoprotein
(VLDL)
It is made up of mostly triglycerides and
small amounts of protein and cholesterol.
|
|
| |
Having a low level of LDL cholesterol
and a high level of HDL cholesterol is advantageous
for lowering your risk of developing plaques and
coronary artery disease.
You may have high LDL cholesterol as a result of
genetic structure or lifestyle choices, or both.
Your genes can give you cells that don't remove
LDL cholesterol from your blood efficiently or a
liver that produces too much cholesterol as VLDL
particles. Your genetic structure can also result
in too few HDL particles. |
| |
| Risk Factors |
| These lifestyle choices can cause
or contribute to high levels of total cholesterol: |
| • |
Inactivity
Lack of exercise may lower your level of HDL
cholesterol. |
| • |
Obesity
Excess weight increases your triglycerides.
It also lowers your HDL cholesterol and increases
your VLDL cholesterol. Being overweight can
create a more serious risk factor for health
problems depending on where you have the extra
weight. If you have most of your fat around
your waist or upper body, you may be referred
to as apple-shaped. If you have most of your
fat around your hips and thighs or lower body,
you're considered to be pear-shaped.
Generally, when it comes to your health, it's
better to have the shape of a pear than the
shape of an apple. If you have an apple shape
you carry more fat in and around your abdominal
organs. Fat in your abdomen increases your
risk of many of the serious conditions associated
with obesity. |
| • |
Diet
Cholesterol is naturally available in foods
derived from animals, such as meat, eggs and
cheese. Eating a high-fat, high-cholesterol
diet contributes to an increased blood cholesterol
level. |
|
| |
| These factors increase the probability
that high total cholesterol levels will lead to
atherosclerosis: |
| • |
Smoking
Cigarette smoking damages the walls of your
arteries, making them probable to accumulate
fatty deposits. Smoking may also lower your
level of HDL cholesterol. |
| • |
High blood pressure
By damaging the walls of your arteries, high
blood pressure can accelerate the accumulation
of fatty deposits on the walls of your arteries.
|
| • |
Type 2 diabetes
This type of diabetes results in an increase
of sugar levels in your blood. Chronic high
blood sugar may lead to narrowing of your
arteries. If you have diabetes, controlling
your cholesterol and triglyceride levels may
greatly reduce your risk of complications
from cardiovascular disease. |
| • |
Family history of atherosclerosis
If a close family member (parent
or sibling) has developed atherosclerosis
before age 55, your risk of developing high
cholesterol levels will be bigger than the
risk of developing atherosclerosis. |
|
| |
| Screening and Diagnosis |
| It is recommended to have a regular
blood test to measure your cholesterol level. A
blood test to check cholesterol levels normally
measures: |
| • |
HDL cholesterol |
| • |
LDL cholesterol |
| • |
Total cholesterol |
| • |
Triglycerides |
|
| To measure cholesterol subtypes
accurately, you are required to avoid eating or
drinking anything (other than
water) for 9 to 12 hours before the blood
test. |
| |
| Cholesterol Level |
| Cholesterol levels are measured
in milligrams (mg)
of cholesterol per deciliter (dL)
of blood. The optimal levels of these various lipids
are : |
| Total cholesterol : |
| Below 200 mg/dL |
Desirable |
| 200-239 mg/dL |
Borderline high |
| 240 mg/dL and above |
High |
|
| LDL cholesterol : |
| Below 100 mg/dL |
Optimal |
| 100-129 mg/dL |
Near 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 |
Bad |
| 40-59 mg/dL |
Better |
| 60 mg/dL and above |
Best |
|
| Triglycerides |
| Below 150 mg/dL |
Desirable |
| 150-199 mg/dL |
Borderline high |
| 200-499 mg/dL |
High |
| 500 or above |
Very high |
|
|
| |
| How often should you be tested? |
You should have your cholesterol
tested when you're in your 20s and then at least
every five years. If your values aren't within desirable
ranges, your doctor may advise more frequent measurements.
Children generally don't need to undergo cholesterol
testing, unless there's a family history of early-onset
heart problems. |
| |
| The Complications |
High blood cholesterol can cause
you to develop heart disease. It occurs because
of the accumulation of fatty deposits (plaques)
on the walls of your arteries (atherosclerosis),
resulting in narrowed or blocked arteries.
Atherosclerosis is initially a silent, painless
condition that results in reduced blood flow. If
reduced flow occurs in the arteries that supply
your heart with blood (coronary
arteries), it can lead to a type of chest
pain called angina pectoris.
As a plaque enlarges, the inner lining of your artery
becomes roughened. A tear or rupture in the plaque
may cause a blood clot to form. Such a clot can
block the flow of blood or break free and plug an
artery downstream.
If the flow of blood to a part of your heart is
stopped, you'll have a heart attack. If blood flow
to a part of your brain stops, a stroke occurs.
High blood cholesterol along with high blood pressure,
insulin resistance and obesity are factors that
make up metabolic syndrome, a combination of disorders
which greatly increases your risk of developing
heart disease, stroke or diabetes. |
| |
| The Treatment |
| Lifestyle changes are the first
steps you can take to improve your blood levels
of cholesterol and triglycerides. These include
changes in diet, regular exercise and avoiding smoking.
If you've made these important lifestyle changes
and your total cholesterol, especially your level
of LDL cholesterol, remains high, your doctor may
recommend prescription medication. |
| |
| Prevention |
| Improving your blood cholesterol
levels reduces your risk of heart disease. Lifestyle
changes are your first course of action to improve
your blood cholesterol levels. These approaches
include: |
| |
| 1 |
Eating a healthy food
These changes in your diet can improve your
blood cholesterol levels : |
| |
| • |
Control total
fat
Limit all types of fat to no more than
30 percent of your total daily calories.
|
| • |
Limit dietary
cholesterol
Your daily limit for cholesterol is
300 milligrams or less than 200 milligrams
if you have heart disease. To achieve
this goal, limit or avoid meats, egg
yolks and whole-milk products. |
| • |
Eat foods with
soluble fiber
Soluble fiber can help lower your total
blood cholesterol level. Foods high
in soluble fiber include oat bran, oatmeal,
beans, peas, rice bran, barley, citrus
fruits, strawberries and apple pulp.
|
| • |
Eat more fish
Some fish such as salmon, mackerel and
herring contain high amounts of a unique
type of polyunsaturated fat called omega-3
fatty acids. Omega-3s may lower your
level of triglycerides. |
| • |
Eat soy products
Eating soy proteins can reduce your
levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol
and triglycerides. Eating soy may also
raise your level of HDL cholesterol,
which may protect you against heart
disease. |
| • |
Reduce sugar
intake
This is a way of lowering triglyceride
levels. |
|
| 2 |
Exercising
Being overweight promotes a high total cholesterol
level. Losing weight improves your cholesterol
levels. Set up an exercise program to lose
weight using these guidelines and your doctor's
advice : |
| |
| • |
Choose an aerobic
activity
Get involved in activities such as brisk
walking, jogging, or bicycling. |
| • |
Build up the time
and frequency of exercising
Gradually work up to exercising for
30 minutes to 45 minutes at least three
times a week. |
| • |
Stick with your
exercise program
Schedule a regular time for exercise
or take up an activity that keeps you
active. |
|
| 3 |
Not smoking
If you smoke, stop. If you don't smoke, don't
start. Cigarette smoking damages the walls
of your blood vessels, making them prone to
accumulating fatty deposits. If you stop smoking,
your HDL cholesterol may return to its former
level. |
|
| |
