All you need to know about cholesterol.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is found naturally in your body and blood.

Cholesterol helps to build healthy cells and make vitamins and other hormones.

Cholesterol can come from 2 sources, your liver makes cholesterol and from foods such as meat, poultry, and dairy that we ingest.

Foods that are high in saturated and trans fats can increase the amount of cholesterol in our body, and for some then this added cholesterol will increase the total amount in the body leading to unhealthy amounts.

Why is cholesterol important?

High levels of cholesterol can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke and can lead to fatty deposits in your blood vessels.

Unhealthy amounts of cholesterol will lead to cholesterol building up in the inner walls of the arteries, narrowing the arteries and making them less flexible. This can lead to blood clots forming, which can block one of these narrowed arteries causing a heart attack or stroke.

Good cholesterol vs bad cholesterol.

We refer to HDL as “good” cholesterol and LDL as “bad” cholesterol. 

HDL (good) helps to carry cholesterol to your liver. Your liver keeps your cholesterol levels balanced and makes sure you have enough cholesterol to support your body’s needs. If you have low HDL it means you have insufficient transport of cholesterol to your liver and an increase in cholesterol circulating in your blood.

LDL (bad) is the culprit that makes plaque attached to the inner layer of your arteries. Having too much LDL can lead to heart disease over time.

Causes of high cholesterol.

Cholesterol can also be caused by genetic factors, but here are a few lifestyle factors.

Smoking:

Smoking lowers HDL and raises LDL.

Stress:

Stress triggers hormonal changes that can lead to more cholesterol production.

Alcohol:

Too much alcohol can raise your total cholesterol.

Inactive lifestyle:

Physical activity improves cholesterol numbers. Inactivity will cause the body to produce too little HDL (good cholesterol).

Diet:

Some foods will lead to increases in your cholesterol levels.

Symptoms of high cholesterol.

Most people will live with high cholesterol without noticing any differences. Most symptoms will only be noticeable when the cholesterol starts to cause other health problems in the body.

However, high cholesterol can increase your risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, and strokes.

How can I lower my cholesterol?

Speak with your healthcare provider about the best approach to lower your cholesterol.

Some people may only need lifestyle changes whereas other people will require lifestyle changes with medication.

Lifestyle changes to consider:

• Lower the intake of food high in saturated fats, such as cake, biscuits, fatty meat cuts, butter, coconut oil, and palm oil.

• Have a high-fiber diet and eat plenty of vegetables, fruit and whole grain food.

• Increase physical activity.

• Maintain a healthy weight.

• Stress management. 

• Avoid alcohol and stop smoking.

Cholesterol is a very serious condition and should not be taken lightly. Make sure to get regular blood panels to manage cholesterol and avoid it getting out of control.

Who and when should you get tested?

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) extends its recommendations to kids.

They say children should have a cholesterol test for the first time between ages 9 and 11 and then have a repeat test every 5 years after that. 

Starting at age 20, the NHLBI recommends testing every 5 years. At age 45 if you’re a man or 55 if you’re a woman, you should start checks every two years. At age 65, they recommend everyone start yearly tests.

If you have a family history of heart disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure it is recommended to get checkups more regularly.

Overall, raised cholesterol is estimated to cause 2.6 million deaths, thus highlighting the seriousness of this disease. However, high cholesterol can be well managed and prevented with proper lifestyle changes if the necessary adjustments are made at early stages.

Make sure to get your cholesterol tested regularly and speak to your healthcare provider about the perfect management plan for yourself.