What is High and Low cholesterol?

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What is High and Low cholesterol?


 

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is essential for various body functions, such as producing hormones, digesting food, and insulating nerves. However, having too much cholesterol in your blood can be harmful to your health. High cholesterol, also known as hypercholesterolemia, is a condition in which there is an excess amount of cholesterol in the blood.

 

When the level of cholesterol in the blood is too high, it can start to build up in the arteries, forming plaques that can narrow and harden them. This condition, known as atherosclerosis, can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems.

 

High cholesterol often has no symptoms, so it's important to get your cholesterol levels checked regularly through blood tests. There are two types of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as "bad" cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, also known as "good" cholesterol. High levels of LDL cholesterol increase the risk of heart disease, while high levels of HDL cholesterol can help protect against heart disease.

 “Good” and “bad” cholesterol

There's only one kind of cholesterol but it is carried around the body by different carriers called lipoproteins, notably:

 

Low density lipoprotein (LDL)

High density lipoprotein (HDL)

In simple terms, cholesterol carried by LDLs is considered “bad” because when there’s too much of it circulating in your blood it contributes to plaque build-up that clogs arteries and makes them less flexible (i.e. atherosclerosis). If you have high blood cholesterol your goal will be to reduce LDL levels in your blood.

 

On the other hand, cholesterol carried by HDLs is considered “good” because it carries cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it is broken down and passed from the body. Any lifestyle changes or treatment for high blood cholesterol will aim to ensure HDL levels are increased or maintained at healthy levels.

 

When blood cholesterol tests are done, the level of triglycerides in your blood is also measured. Triglycerides are the most common type of fat that exists in food and in the body. When calories ingested in a meal are not used immediately by the body, they are converted to triglycerides and are transported to the fat cells to be stored. It is thought that elevated triglyceride levels may increase the risk of developing heart disease, particularly when associated with high LDL-cholesterol levels.

 

1.        Diet and lifestyle changes

2.      : Other lifestyle changes should include

3.      Reducing high blood cholesterol levels typically involves decreasing the total cholesterol level by decreasing LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides, while maintaining or increasing HDL-cholesterol levels.

4.      LDL-cholesterol levels are best decreased by eating less saturated fat (found mainly in animal products such as fatty meat, butter, high-fat milk, cream, and dripping).

5.      Triglyceride levels are best reduced by eating less sugar-containing foods, limiting alcohol intake, and reducing the intake of total fat.

6.      HDL-cholesterol levels are best increased by exercise, substituting saturated fats with polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fat (e.g. olive-oil based spreads instead of butter), and maintaining a healthy weight.

7.      Heart-healthy dietary changes are summarised in our Heart disease diet page.

8.      A doctor will look at your overall risk of cardiovascular disease and make recommendations to reduce high blood cholesterol as well as managing other risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking and being overweight.

9.      Heart-healthy exercise suggestions are summarised in our Heart disease exercise page.

10. Exercising regularly (at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, most days of the week).

11. Quit smoking.


Medications

If diet and lifestyle changes are not effective in adequately lowering a person's cardiovascular risk related to cholesterol levels after three to six months, medications may be prescribed.

 

Statins are the most commonly used cholesterol-lowering medication. Statins slow down production of cholesterol in your liver, progressively reducing total cholesterol levels and your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

 

When taking cholesterol-lowering medications, it is still important to maintain a low saturated fat diet and exercise.



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