CHOLESTEROL IS A FORM OF FAT THAT IS CARRIED THROUGH THE BODY IN TWO KINDS OF BUNDLES OR LIPOPROTEINS. ITS IMPORTANT TO HAVE HEALTHY LEVELS OF BOTH.
LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS(LDL) BAD CHOLESTEROL CAN LEAD TO A BUILDUP OF CHOLESTEROL IN THE ARTERIES FEEDING THE HEART AND BRAIN. TOGETHER WITH OTHER SUNSTANCES CAN FORM PLAQUE, A THICK HARD DEPOSIT THAT CAN CLOG THOSE ARTERIES. ALSO KNOWN AS ATHEROSCLEROSIS(A CLOT/THROMBUS) THAT FORMS PLAQUE THAT CAN BLOCK BLOOD FLOW TO PART OF BRAIN AND CAUSE STROKE. *THE LOWER YOUR LDL THE BETTER*
HIGH-DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS(HDL) GOOD CHOLESTEROL HELPS REMOVE CHOLESTEROL FROM BODY. SEEMS TO PROTECT AGAINST HEART ATTACK.* LOW LEVELS OF HDL MAY LEAD TO STOKE* (LESS THAN 40MG/DL MEN) (LESS THAN 50MG.DL WOMEN)
TRIGLYCERIDES ARE ANOTHER KIND OF BLOOD FAT THAT RAISES YOUR CHANCES FOR A HEART ATTACK OR STROKE IF LEVELS ARE TOO HIGH.
LP(A) IS A GENETIC VARIATION OF PLASMA LDL. A HIGH LEVEL OF LP(A) IS AN IMPORTANT RISK FACTOR FOR DEVELOPING ATHEROSCLEROSIS IS PREMATURELY. THE LESIONS IN ARTERY WALL CONTAIN SUBSTANCES THAT MAY INTERACT WITH LP(A), LEADING TO THE BUILDUP OF FATTY DEPOSITS.
PEOPLE GET CHOLESTEROL IN TWO WAYS: THE BODY (MAINLY LIVER)- PRODUCING VARYING AMOUNTS USUALLY 1000MG A DAY. FOOD ALSO CONTAINS CHOLESTEROL (EGG YOLKS, MEAT, POULTRY, SHELLFISH, MILK, DAIRY PRODUCTS). FOOD THAT DONT CONTAIN CHOLESTEROL ARE (VEGGIES, FRUITS, GRAINS, NUTS, SEEDS). TYPICALLY THE BODY MAKES IT'S OWN CHOLESTEROL. SATURATED FATTY ACIDS IS THE MAIN CHOLESTEROL RAISE INCREASING RISK OF HEART DISEASE. ALSO TRANS FAT. AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDS THAT YOU LIMIT YOUR AVERAGE DAILY CHOLESTEROL INTAKE TO LESS THAN 30MG. IF YOU HAVE HEART DISEASE LIMIT IS LESS THAN 200MG. SMOKING LOWERS HDL WHICH INCREASES BLOOD TO CLOT. PEOPLW WHO DRINK ALCOHOL NOT SO MUCH HAVE A LOWER RISK OF HEART DISEASE. THOSE WHO OFTEN DRINK ALCOHOL CAN LEAD TO STROKE, CANCER, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, ETC.
TO IMPROVE CHOLESTEROL: QUIT SMOKING, LOSE WEIGHT IF NEEDED, EXCERSISE(BRISK WALK, JOGGING, SWIMMING, EVEN HOUSEWORK, DANCING, AND YARDWORK). EAT PLENTY OF VEGGIES, WHOLE GRAINS, AND FRUIT. INCREASE MONOUNSATURATED FATS(THE GOOD FATS) SUCH AS CANOLA OIL, AVOCADO OIL, OLIVE OIL.
NOTE: IF BLOOD GLUCOSE AND BLOOD PRESSURE ARE HIGH, CHANCES ARE CHOLESTEROL NUMBERS MAY BE OFF AS WELL.
NUMBERS TO AIM FOR:
BAD(LDL): LESS THAN 100MG/DL
GOOD(HDL): GREATER THAN 60MG/DL
TRIGLYCERIDES: LESS THAN 150MG/DL
POPULAR MED TREATMENT FOR CHOLESTEROL IS: CRESTOR(ROSUVASTATIN CALCIUM)
