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Cholesterol is a fat-like substance used to serve many body functions, such as producing cell
membranes and some hormones. Cholesterol is found in your blood and all your bodys cells. It
is normal to have cholesterol, but if cholesterol level in blood exceeds a normal value,
it can lead to heart attack and stroke. High cholesterol level in
blood is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease.
Cholesterol is a common name for four kinds of substancies: two types of lipoproteins,
triglycerides and Lp(a) cholesterol. Lipoproteins are used to transport cholesterol to and from your bodys cells. Lipoproteins include low-density lipoprotein
(LDL), known as bad cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), known as good
cholesterol. These four kinds of substances make up your total cholesterol count,
which can be determined through a blood cholesterol test.
HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol)
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is also known as "good" cholesterol. It is very effective for
cholesterol transport, and high blood level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL cholesterol)
seems to protect against heart attack. HDL cholesterol takes cholesterol away from your
bloodstream back to the liver, thus slowing cholesterol buildup in arteries and small blood
vessels. About one-fourth to one-third cholesterol carriers in your blood are high-density
lipoproteins.
Women tend to have higher HDL cholesterol level than men do, espessially during the childbearing time period. This difference is caused by higher levels of estrogen, a female sex hormone, which tends to raise high-density lipoprotein.
LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol)
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), also called "bad" cholesterol, can build up in the inner walls of
your blood vessels. It can form a hard deposit that can narrow your blood vessels and make them
less flexible. This can result in a coronary disease which is the main risk factor for heart
attack and stroke. High level of LDL cholesterol in blood is the main cause of atherosclerosis
(when LDL cholesterol clogs or damages arteries) which can lead to heart attack and stroke too.
High LDL cholesterol level in blood can be a result of your diet if it includes dietary
cholesterol, saturated fat and trans fats. But in most cases high LDL cholesterol level is at
least half inherited from your parents. If you have relatives with high LDL cholesterol level
in blood, you may need drug therapy in addition to lifestyle changes to lower LDL cholesterol
level.
Lp(a) cholesterol
Lp(a) cholesterol is a genetic variation of LDL cholesterol. It may interact with other
substances found in a bloodstream and contribute to the buildup of fatty deposits in the
inner walls of arteries.
Triglycerides
Triglyceride is a fat-like substance produced in your body. High triglyceride level can occure due
to obesity, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, lack of physical activity and a diet very high
in carbohydrates. High triglyceride level usually leads to high total level of cholesterol with
high bad cholesterol level and low good cholesterol level. High triglyceride level in blood can also
be a sign of diabetes mellitus and/or heart disease.
Blood triglyceride level depend on age and sex. Women tend to have higher triglyceride levels than men do, and as they get older, their cholesterol and triglyceride levels tend to rise.
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a common name for arteries thickening and hardering. It developes when a
fatty plaque builds up in the inner walls of arteries. According to many scientists
atherosclerosis can start when the endothelium, the innermost layer of the artery, becomes
damaged. When the inner layer of the artery becomes damaged, a plaque, the buildup of
fat-like substanses (cholesterol, triglyceride, cellular waste products), calcium and
clotting blood substance (fibrin), can form on the damaged artery. The plaque can reduce or
completely stop the flow of blood through the artery thus reducing the oxygen supply.
Atherosclerosis can result in a stroke or heart attack if the oxygen supply to the brain or
heart muscle is reduced. If the oxygen supply to the extremities is cut off, gangrene can
result. Athresclerosis often leads to coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in
the United States.
Causes of atherosclerosis:
- High cholesterol level in blood
- High blood pressure
- Tobacco smoking
- Lack of physical activity
- Obesity
- Aging
High cholesterol & atherosclerosis treatment
Atherosclerosis prevention and treatment includes lifestyle changes and cholesterol lowering therapy. High cholesterol levels can be lowered by:
Low cholesterol diet Low cholesterol diet must be low in trans and saturated fat, sodium and dietary cholesterol and rich in whole-grain, high-fiber, low-fat foods, fruits and vegetables.Lifestyle changes
- Stop smoking
- Loose weight
- Increase physical activity
Drug therapy
Medications used to lower cholesterol level in blood
When your blood test shows high cholesterol level, your doctor will prescribe you low
cholesterol diet and lifestyle changes. If these changes in diet and physical activity do not
lower your blood cholesterol level, your doctor may prescribe a cholesterol-lowering
medication.
Nearly 25 per cent of blood cholesterol comes from the foods you eat
and 75 per cent of cholesterol is produced by your liver. Due to this statistics, there are two kinds
of medications: first lower cholesterol count produced by your liver and the second reduce cholesterol
count taken from foods.
Cholesterol-lowering medications: Statins
Statins, also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, lower cholesterol production in the
liver. Statins are extremely effective in reducing the risk for stroke and heart attack.
Statins include:
Other cholesterol-lowering medications
- Zetia (Ezetimibe). Unlike statins,
it works by reducing the amount of cholesterol or other sterols that your body absorbs from your
diet. Zetia lowers LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels and increases HDL cholesterol level.
Zetia is usually prescribed together with one of the statin medications because this combination is extremely
powerful in lowering cholesterol levels in blood.
- Lipostatin. Lipostatin is the
pharmaceutical quality non-prescription product designed to help control cholesterol levels
without harmful side effects. Lipostatin reduces LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels and
increases of HDL cholesterol. It also improves blood circulation in the body.
- For more cholesterol-lowering medications browse Blood Pressure/Cholesterol category.
Cholesterol testing
Normal cholesterol level for adults should be less than 200 mg/dL. If a blood test
shows 200-240 mg/dL cholesterol in blood, you cholesterol level is high but can still be
lowered by lifestyle changes. Hypercholesterolemia is diagnosed when your blood cholesterol
level exceeds 240 mg/dL.
Regular cholesterol testing can help you prevent arteries hardening and lower the
risk for stroke and heart attack. It is recommended to pass cholesterol blood test at least every
5 years for adults and more frequently for people over age 40 and for those who experience
cholesterol level higher than the normal one.
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