Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that circulates in the blood. Cholesterol is used by the body to help build cell membranes. It's also used in the formation of vitamin D, steroids, hormones and the bile acids used to help digest fats. Your liver uses the fat from the food you eat to create most of the cholesterol in your body. The rest of the cholesterol in your body comes directly from the cholesterol in the food you eat. A diet high in fat and/or cholesterol will lead to large amounts of cholesterol in your body.
Types of Cholesterol
There are two major types of cholesterol: LDL and HDL. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) is the bad type of cholesterol that hurts the body. High levels of LDLs are associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. High density lipoprotein (HDL) is the good type of cholesterol. HDLs are good because they help the body get rid of LDLs.
Hypercholesterolemia
Hypercholesterolemia is a disease characterized by high levels of LDLs in the blood. When LDL blood levels are higher than normal, they begin to deposit in the lining of the walls of your arteries. These deposits continue to grow forming plaques. This plaque formation is called atherosclerosis. These plaques can continue to grow, reducing blood flow through the artery involved. If the plaques are unstable they could also rupture, completely blocking the artery involved. If these blood flow disturbance occur in the arteries supplying the heart or the brain, a heart attack or stroke will occur.
Prevalence
107 million Americans have high cholesterol. (Total Cholesterol >200)
38 million Americans have very high cholesterol. (Total Cholesterol>240)
Cause
The most common cause of hypercholesterolemia is eating a diet high in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol. Saturated fats and cholesterols in food cause an increase in LDLs. Trans fats in food cause an increase in LDLs and a decrease in HDLs.
Symptoms
There are no symptoms of hypercholesterolemia.
Risk factors
Controllable:
Being overweight.
Diet high in saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol.
Inactivity.
Smoking.
Uncontrollable
Age - your risk of high cholesterol increases as you get older.
Family history - your risk of high cholesterol increases if your parents or siblings were affected by early heart disease.
Prevention
Lose weight and get to a healthy weight.
Eat a diet low in saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol.
Exercise.
Stop smoking.
Screening
A blood cholesterol test is a fasting test that measures your total cholesterol, LDL and HDL levels. This test will also measure other fats in the blood called triglycerides. If you are twenty years old or older you should get this test done at least every five years. If your levels are found to be high, you will have to have your cholesterol checked more frequently. Your total cholesterol level should be less than 200 mg/dl. LDL should be less than 100 mg/dl and HDL should be greater than 60 mg/dl. Triglycerides can increase your risk of heart disease and these levels should be less than 150 mg/dl.
Treatment
If your cholesterol LDL or triglycerides are found to be high or your HDL low, your doctor will recommend various treatment options. You may need to lose weight, change your eating habits, start an exercise program, stop smoking and/or take medications.
About The Author:
Kalvin Chinyere, M.D., fondly known as Dr. Kal, is a weight loss expert. Dr. Kal was an overweight child, an obese teen and a morbidly obese adult. He tipped the scale at over 330 pounds. Dr. Kal has since lost and kept off over 140 pounds naturally. Get weight loss information at Dr. Kal's drkalblog.com Weight Loss Blog Get weight loss laughs at the Laugh Out Loud lolweightlossblog.com Weight Loss Blog
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