Your blood tests are back and not what you expected: it turns out your cholesterol is high. Whether you have maintained a proper diet for years or you have rioted on omelettes from 3 eggs each morning, this may be a complete surprise, especially if your weight is stable and you have not experienced any red light bulb symptoms.
What does high cholesterol mean?
Cholesterol is a fatty substance that has important functions in the body, which is mostly produced in the liver. Cholesterol is carried in the bloodstream by proteins called lipoproteins (lipo = fat, protein = protein), which are also produced in the liver.
In general, high levels of cholesterol pose a health risk and can cause a number of life-threatening diseases, including atherosclerosis, heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction, stroke (stroke), and more.
However, it is important to understand that there are two types of lipoproteins, which define the type of cholesterol from which the cholesterol values are derived, and the degree of high-level cholesterol risk.
"Good" vs. "Bad" Cholesterol
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol carried by low-density lipoprotein LDL has been dubbed bad cholesterol, whereas "good" cholesterol is the blood-borne high-density lipoprotein HDL high-density lipoprotein.
LDL cholesterol is considered to be bad because it produces sclerosis (plaque) in the walls of the blood vessels. HDL cholesterol, on the other hand, functions to absorb the bad cholesterol residue and keep it away from the walls of blood vessels.
Therefore, the goal is to reduce as much as possible the "bad" cholesterol level that can cause blood vessels, heart disease, and heart attacks and stroke, as stated. But at the same time, the recommendation is to aim for an adequate level of "good" cholesterol that helps and reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke.
How to identify high cholesterol symptoms?
The main problem is that high cholesterol has no special symptoms. Because high values mean atherosclerosis - that is, a disease that gradually closes the arteries, those who suffer from heart problems, such as coronary heart disease (angina pectoris) or coronary heart disease or heart attack in the past, and those who have had a brain event, are certainly at risk. Therefore, medical advice, blood tests and, if necessary, nutritional changes, dietary supplements, and cholesterol-lowering drugs must be obtained. These actions are also essential for diabetics and those diagnosed with hypertension.
Today, the recommendation is to have a blood test of cholesterol and triglyceride values, that is, the blood lipid profile, once every 5 years for men over 35 and women over 45. the doctor.
The test is also recommended for anyone with risk factors for the development of the cardiovascular disease, as well as if there is a tendency for diabetes or high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) in the family.
What are the values of high cholesterol?
The blood tests will have 3 sections: general cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol.
The desired condition is that total cholesterol values should not exceed 200 milligrams per dl, LDL cholesterol values should be less than 100 milligrams per dl, and, if possible, lower than 70 milligrams per dl, while HDL cholesterol values should be greater than 40 milligrams For men, while for women, the amount is more than 50 milligrams per dollar
