Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in human cell membranes and the bloodstream. Cholesterol is vital to our health. It directly or indirectly affects many systems of the body, including the circulatory system, the endocrine system and the digestive system. High cholesterol, which can lead to heart disease, is a symptomless condition in which the blood cholesterol levels top 240 mg/dL.
Misconceptions
Despite cholesterol's bad reputation, it is not always the "bad guy." The alcohol known as cholesterol acts to maintain the health of your cell membranes. The problem comes when you have too much cholesterol and the excess ends up as waxy deposits in your arteries. This is known as high blood cholesterol and puts you at increased risk for heart disease. In addition, there is "good" cholesterol, or HDL cholesterol, and "bad" cholesterol, or LDL cholesterol.
Types
The particles known as lipoproteins are part cholesterol and part protein. Lipoproteins are how your body transports cholesterol. HDL is the type of lipoprotein known as high-density lipoprotein. HDL transports cholesterol to the liver for its removal in the body. High levels of HDL cholesterol therefore suggest that excess cholesterol is successfully leaving your body. Low-density lipoproteins, or LDL, takes cholesterol into your bloodstream. Too much LDL cholesterol in relation to HDL cholesterol, therefore, means that not enough of the cholesterol that enters your bloodstream is leaving it. This is what leads to cholesterol accumulating in your arteries. The ratio of HDL to LDL cholesterol in your body is known as your cholesterol ratio. Doctors consider your cholesterol ratio as an important diagnostic tool in figuring out your risk for heart disease.
Significance
According to the Centers for Disease Control, just under one-fifth of Americans over 20 years of age have high blood cholesterol. High blood cholesterol occurs when cholesterol accumulates in the arteries in the form of plaque. Too much accumulation, or atherosclerosis, means that blood, which carries oxygen through the body, has a hard time getting through. Less blood to your heart leads to heart disease.
Prevention/Solution
Have your blood cholesterol levels checked at least every five years. To reduce your overall cholesterol level and improve your HDL/LDL ratio, form positive lifestyle habits. Eat healthfully, which means eating few saturated fats and eliminating trans fats such as partially hydrogenated oils from your diet. Eat plenty of "good" fats, such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. You may find that reducing your intake of simple carbohydrates improves your cholesterol ratio. Limit your alcohol intake, don't smoke and keep physically active. Your doctor may prescribe statin drugs or other medications to help lower your LDL cholesterol level.
Theories/Speculation
The exact cause of high blood cholesterol is still unknown. Diet seems to play a part, but so do genetics (heredity) and physiological factors such as the speed at which cholesterol metabolizes. Excess body weight and lack of physical activity are associated with high cholesterol, as are age and sex. Researchers do know that treating the problem is not a simple matter. Reducing dietary cholesterol may lower some people's blood cholesterol, while it has little effect on others'. There is still much research to be done to increase our understanding about the function and effects of cholesterol on the human body.
Tags: blood cholesterol, heart disease, your cholesterol, cholesterol cholesterol, cholesterol ratio, high blood cholesterol