CVD is the leading cause of death worldwide, killing about 18 million people each year, and rising. A major risk factor in these deaths is high LDL-C (bad cholesterol) 1-5,9.
WHAT IS CHOLESTEROL? (1-5,9)
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that’s found in all the cells in your body. Your body needs it to build cells, and make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs. Cholesterol is also found in foods from animal sources, such as egg yolks, meat, and cheese.
But too much cholesterol in your blood can pose a problem. Cholesterol can combine with other substances in the blood to form a thick, hard deposit that sticks on the inside of the heart arteries called “plaque”. This buildup of plaque can narrow the arteries making them less flexible or even getting blocked — a condition known as atherosclerosis.
If plaque breaks off, the damaged artery can begin to bleed, causing blood clots that travel to different parts of the body.
When a clot travels to the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart, it can cut off the oxygen supply the heart muscle needs to survive. This causes a heart attack.
If a clot travels to the brain, it can block a blood vessel and deprive a portion of the brain of the oxygen it needs. This causes a stroke.
WHAT CAN RAISE MY RISK OF HIGH CHOLESTEROL?:-
Age:-
Your cholesterol levels tend to rise as you get older. Even though it is less common, younger people, including children and teens also have high cholesterol.
Heredity:-
High blood cholesterol can run in families.
Weight:-
Being overweight or having obesity raises your cholesterol level.
Race:-
Certain races may have an increased risk of high cholesterol.
WHAT IS HDL AND LDL CHOLESTEROL?:-
There are two types of cholesterol: HDL-C, often called “good cholesterol” and LDL-C, often called “bad cholesterol.”
HDL & LDL are lipoproteins. They are a combination of fat (lipid) and protein. The lipids need to be attached to the proteins so they can move through the blood.
HDL (high density lipoprotein):-
It is also called as “GOOD” cholesterol because it carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver. Your liver then removes the cholesterol from your body.
LDL (low-density lipoprotein):-
It is called as “BAD” cholesterol because a high LDL level leads to the buildup of plaque in your arteries leading to stroke and heart attack.
WHAT CAUSES HIGH LDL (BAD CHOLESTEROL)?:-
The most common cause of high LDL-C is an unhealthy lifestyle.
These include the following:-
- Unhealthy food choices, such as eating lots of bad fats (eg – some meats, dairy products, chocolate, baked goods, and deep-fried and processed foods).
- Lack of physical activity, with lots of sitting and little exercise. This lowers your HDL (good) cholesterol.
- Smoking, which lowers HDL cholesterol, especially in women. It raises your LDL cholesterol.
- Being overweight.
- Genetics, for example, familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited form of high cholesterol. Other medical conditions and certain medicines may also cause high cholesterol.
HOW IS HIGH CHOLESTEROL DIAGONSED?:-
There are usually no signs or symptoms that you have high cholesterol. There is a blood test to measure your cholesterol level. When and how often you should get this test depends on your age, risk factors, and family history.
The general recommendations are:-
For people who are age 19 or younger:-
- The first test should be between ages 9 to 11.
- Children should have the test again every 5 years.
- Some children may have this test starting at age 2 if there is a family history of high blood cholesterol, heart attack or stroke.
For people who are age 20 or older:-
- Younger adults should have the test every 5 years
- Men ages 45 to 65 and women ages 55 to 65 should have it every 1 to 2 years.
WHAT SHOULD MY LDL LEVEL BE?:-
With LDL cholesterol, lower numbers are better, because a high LDL level can raise your risk for coronary artery disease that may lead to heart attack and stroke.
HOW CAN I LOWER MY LDL LEVEL?:-
- Heart-healthy eating. A heart-healthy eating plan limits the amount of fats that you eat.
- Weight Management – If you are overweight, losing weight can help lower your LDL cholesterol.
- Physical Activity – Everyone should get regular physical activity.
- Drug Treatment – If lifestyle changes alone do not lower your cholesterol, you will have to seek the advice of a medical practitioner and take medicines.
