What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy substance your body uses to protect nerves, make cell tissues and produce certain hormones. The liver makes all the cholesterol your body needs. Cholesterol can also come directly from the food you eat, for example eggs, meat and dairy products. Too much cholesterol can have a negative impact on their health.
Why a high cholesterol level unhealthy?
Although some cholesterol is necessary for good health, too much cholesterol in your blood can increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke (embolism).
excess cholesterol in your blood can be stored in your arteries, ie the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of your body. The accumulation of cholesterol in your arteries is known as plaque. This will cause your arteries to narrow and harden which is known as arteriosclerosis. Large deposits of cholesterol can completely block an artery. Cholesterol plaques also may crack causing the formation of a blood clot that blocks blood flow.
If an artery that supplies blood to the muscles of your heart is blocked it can cause heart attack (myocardial infarction). If an artery that supplies blood to your brain becomes blocked, a stroke can occur also called stroke.
risk factors for heart disease
* Having had a heart attack
* Being a man of 45 years or older
, * Being a woman of 55 years or older
* Being a woman is going through menopause or has gone through menopause
* Have a first degree relative (parent or sibling) who has had heart disease. Cigarette smoking
* * Have blood pressure (blood), diabetes or high
* Being overweight or obese
* Be inactive
Are there different types of cholesterol?
Yes
Cholesterol travels through the blood in different types of packages called lipoproteins.
low density lipoprotein (LDL) deliver cholesterol to the body. High density lipoprotein (HDL) remove cholesterol from the bloodstream.
This explains why too much LDL cholesterol is bad for the body and why a high level of HDL cholesterol is good. The balance between different types of cholesterol reflects what your cholesterol level means (see table below).
For example, if your total cholesterol level is high because our level of LDL cholesterol is high, we could have high risk of having a heart attack or stroke. However, if our total cholesterol level is high only because of high levels of HDL cholesterol, probably do not have a high risk.
total cholesterol level
* Less than 200 is best
* 200 to 239 is borderline high.
* 240 or more means, a higher risk of heart disease.
LDL cholesterol levels
* Below 100 is ideal for people who are at high risk of heart disease.
* 100 to 129 is near optimal value
* 130 to 159 is borderline high.
* 160 or more means, a higher risk of heart disease.
HDL cholesterol levels
* Less than 40 means, a higher risk of heart disease.
* 60 or more significantly reduces the risk of heart disease.
What I can do to improve my cholesterol? If you have high cholesterol, you may need to make changes in our lifestyle. If you smoke, we should ask to stop, or consume the least possible nominee, reduced with the maximum cigarettes per day. We need to consider regular exercise. If you are overweight should lose between 2.3 to 4.5 kg (depending on each). All of these habits will help us improve our cholesterol levels. In our daily diet will include fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish in abundance, all these foods promote heart health. Avoid saturated and trans fats can raise cholesterol levels. Limit intake (consumption) of total cholesterol to less than 300 mg daily or 200 mg a day if you suffer from heart disease.
What with respect to cholesterol lowering medication?
Depending on your risk factors, if healthy eating and exercise does not help you lower your cholesterol level everything you want, your doctor may suggest you use some specific drugs.
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