If you’ve had a basic blood test, your health care provider may have checked your cholesterol levels. So what is cholesterol and how does it affect the body?
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that your body uses to make hormones, cells, and vitamins. However, too much cholesterol in the body can put your health at risk.
Cholesterol comes from two sources: the liver and food from animals and certain plants. The liver naturally produces cholesterol to support the body. You can also get cholesterol from animal products such as dairy, poultry, meat, and tropical oils such as coconut, palm, and palm kernel oil.
Dietary sources of cholesterol can include saturated and trans fats, which can cause the liver to produce more cholesterol than the body needs.
There are two types of cholesterol, HDL, which is considered “good” and LDL, which is considered “bad”. Too much LDL cholesterol and not enough HDL cholesterol increases the risk of stroke and heart disease.
Your provider may also check for triglycerides, a type of fat in your body. If you have high triglycerides and high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, your risk of heart disease and stroke is increased.
How does cholesterol affect health?
Cholesterol circulates in the blood. Too much material in the bloodstream can build up in the walls that line arteries.This buildup can cause arteries to narrow and harden. This is a condition called atherosclerosis.
If a blood clot develops and blocks one of these narrowed arteries, it can cause a stroke or heart attack.
What Causes High Cholesterol?
High cholesterol can be caused by factors that you can control (such as your diet and how often you exercise) or by factors that you cannot control, such as genetics.
How can I lower my cholesterol?
Here’s how to lower your cholesterol and improve your health.
Stop using tobacco products. Smoking, e-cigarettes, and use of other tobacco products increase the risk of high cholesterol.
Limit or avoid alcohol. Alcoholic beverages can also raise cholesterol. If you choose to drink at all, women should keep her to no more than 1 drink per day and men to no more than 2 drinks per day.
maintain a healthy weight; Ask your healthcare provider if you are in a healthy weight range for your height and age. Being overweight or obese can increase your risk of high cholesterol.
Manage other health conditions. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, it is essential to manage these conditions.
regular exercise. Do your best to get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week, such as walking, biking, dancing, swimming, jogging, aerobics, or yard work.
Eat foods that are good for your heart. Fill your diet with nutritious foods such as vegetables, nuts, poultry, fish, seafood, fruits, healthy fats (such as olive oil and avocado), and whole grains.
Take prescribed medicine. Your provider may prescribe medications to help lower your cholesterol. If so, take your medicine as directed and always check with your healthcare professional before stopping any medicine.
when to seek medical care
It’s important to see your primary care provider each year for a physical exam. During that test, you can decide if you need to check your cholesterol.
If you have high cholesterol, it can help you develop a plan to improve your numbers and heart health. www.pardeehospital.org.
Dr. Holly Humphrey is a Board Certified Physician in the United States.Cardiovascular disease, cardiac intervention, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology.
