In this Article:
Understanding Cholesterol
Other Fats in the Body
Atherosclerosis
A condition called atherosclerosis causes most instances of heart disease. Atherosclerosis is a condition in which cholesterol and other substances bulk up within the arterial walls and deposit plaque, narrowing the arteries and significantly slowing the flow of blood through the body. The most difficult aspect of atherosclerosis is that it is an extremely slow disease that can begin at a relatively young age and not show any symptoms for years and years.
Genetics, along with how much fat is in your diet, determine blood cholesterol levels. A doctor can order lab tests to check your blood for lipids in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl).
The AHA estimates that half of the adult population in America has borderline-high cholesterol levels in their blood and that one fifth of them are certifiably high. Now, a level of 240 mg/dl is regarded as high but any level over 200 increases the risk of developing heart disease; and the difference between 200 and 240 is that for the higher number, their heart disease risk is double that of the lower figure.
Keep in mind that twenty percent of heart attacks happen to people with blood cholesterol levels that are normal. In fact, heart disease risk is best assessed along with a lipid analysis to ascertain what your LDL, HDL and triglyceride levels are:
An HDL-cholesterol level of less than 35 also presents heart disease risk because such a low number indicates a shortage of the good cholesterol in your body, but a substantially better indicator of risk will be the LDL-cholesterol level. In short, your risk diminishes as that figure goes down.
Straight from the AHA
The following are recommendations from the American Health Association:
• A healthy adult over 20 should test his blood cholesterol levels at least once every five years.
• Consume no more than 300 mg/day of cholesterol. One egg yolk has around 213 mg of cholesterol, while egg whites have no cholesterol or fat and are a great source of protein. You can substitute two egg whites for each egg yolk in many recipes that call for eggs.
• Limit daily total fat intake to less than 30 % of all calories. Ten percent or less should be coming from saturated fats. Achieved this by:
o Eating more fruits and vegetables.
o Eating fish, chicken without skin and lean meats versus of fatty ones.
o Drinking low-fat or skim milk dairy products as opposed to whole milk dairy products.
Getting those numbers down
In the event your blood cholesterol numbers are high, you can begin to bring them down by:
• Exercising with regularity
• Adopting a low-fat diet
• Quitting smoking (if you smoke, of course)
Your physician may also suggest over-the-counter drugs or prescribe medications for you. A popular option is to take the vitamin niacin. Niacin can kill two proverbial birds because it can raise your HDL level while bringing down your LDL level, but this vitamin is not suited for every patient and should be discussed first with your doctor.
Prescription drug options include a class known as statins, which prevent the body from making cholesterol. Two well-known such drugs are Lipitor and Zocor. Some scientists believe statins can improve a patient’s chances of surviving a heart attack if the patient has normal cholesterol levels and no symptoms or signs of cardiovascular disease. Statins have their problems, however: they can be costly, they can cause problems in the liver, and they can induce fatigue.
Finally, studies suggest that people with extremely low cholesterol numbers are at risk for coronary heart disease and may be more vulnerable to other diseases. The point is that while you should take steps to bring down a high cholesterol number, you shouldn’t over-do it and try to bring it to zero. Rather, staying within normal range (160-200) is the very best way to go.
Tips to get accurate test results
Unfortunately, getting precise numbers from cholesterol tests isn’t easy. Figures can sway as much as twenty percent depending on your last meal, the time of day, and whether or not you’ve been exercising.
• Inquire whether the lab drawing and processing your blood conforms to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) standards. If not, go elsewhere.
• Since many drugs can alter blood cholesterol levels, remind your doctor of anything you’re taking.
• Posture and position matter; sit quietly and without excess movements for ten minutes before blood draw.
• Finally, be certain that the tourniquet on your arm is removed after one minute. Amazingly, if it is left on any longer, it can cause test results to be as much as fifteen percent off.
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