Defining Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a substance found in the body that is needed by the membranes of our cells and it is also needed by our bodies to manufacture certain hormones like estrogen and testosterone. It is really important to keep our levels of cholesterol in control, since high levels of cholesterol have been linked with the development of certain heart conditions.

Cholesterol comes in two kinds: low density cholesterol and high density cholesterol. Low density cholesterol is usually referred as the "bad" cholesterol because this type of cholesterol can accumulate in our arteries and together with some other substances it will promote the formation of arterial plaque. When plaque is formed, regular blood flow is disturbed and when the plaque levels have risen high enough, this can lead to different problems depending on the place where plaque has accumulated. For example, if there is a plaque buildup in the coronary artery (artery that carries blood to the heart) this will cause coronary artery disease, a condition which is the leading cause of death in the United States.

High density cholesterol is referred as "good cholesterol" and this is so because it helps to reduce bad cholesterol. What high density cholesterol does is that it "carries" the bad cholesterol and takes it away to the liver, which converts the bad cholesterol into bile, a substance that is required for the digestion (breaking down) of fats.

So what can you actually do to keep your cholesterol from going out of control? As repetitive as this might seem, since this is a recommendation given in commercials, health campaigns, and most importantly by doctors, you should have a healthy diet. Bad cholesterol is found mainly in foods that contain saturated fats, so avoiding these foods is a must if you are trying to maintain low bad cholesterol level. Cholesterol is found only in animal products, such as milk, cheese, meat, eggs, and animal fat. Vegetables, grains, fruits do not contain cholesterol. Also, another way to keep bad cholesterol low is by increasing good cholesterol, since as it was already mentioned good cholesterol reduces the amount of bad cholesterol. Exercise and any type of aerobic activity can help you raise your levels of high density cholesterol. Smoking might reduce the levels of good cholesterol in your body so this is not recommended.

Sometimes those measures are not enough to control cholesterol levels, but nonetheless it is important to never ignore them since they still help. There's also prescription pills that can help so it is important to go to your doctor and have regular checkups and it is recommended to start checking your cholesterol levels after you are 20 and after that, every 5 years, or as recommended by your doctor.

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-Dr. Manuel J Sanchez