| Cholesterol |
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| Cholesterol is a substance carried in the blood, that when its levels become too high, can lead to problems such as arteriosclerosis, strokes, heart attacks and coronary artery disease. |
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| What is cholesterol? |
| Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance made by the liver found in every cell in the body. It serves many important functions, like aiding in digestion and strengthening cell membranes. However, too much cholesterol can be dangerous to your health, since the body probably produces all the cholesterol that it needs. Extra cholesterol enters through foods high in saturated fats. |
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| Good and Bad Cholesterol |
| Cholesterol is carried in the blood in packages called lipoproteins. There are two different kinds of cholesterol packages that physicians measure when they are monitoring your blood levels. The first kind is considered to be a good kind of cholesterol carrier. It is called High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. HDL helps to remove cholesterol from the blood, and therefore, preventing it from piling up in the arteries. The bad kind of cholesterol carrier is called Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. This is the kind that, when there is too much in the blood stream, can lead to build-up and blockage of the arteries.
Overall, a good level of cholesterol should be below 200. If your level is above 240, you are in a dangerous range and have a high risk for developing heart disease. However, you should try to maintain a high level of HDL, above 60, and a low level of LDL, below 130. There are few symptoms to high blood cholesterol, so it is important that you ask your physician to measure your levels in order to avoid a dangerous outcome. |
| Risk Factors for High Cholesterol |
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| LDL cholesterol levels can be attributed to many different factors, some of which you can control and some of which you cannot. |
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| Controllable Risk Factors include: |
-Diets high in saturated and hydrogenated fats (found in foods like red meat and fast foods)
-Diets low in monounsaturated fats (found in olive oil and some types of fish)
-Lack of exercise
-Smoking
-Above normal weight
-Alcohol consumption |
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| Uncontrollable Risk Factors include: |
-Sex- Men are more at risk at younger ages, however women and men even out when they get older.
-Age- Older people are more at risk.
-Genetics- High blood cholesterol sometimes runs in families and certain genes have been identified as promoting high levels of cholesterol. |
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| High Blood Cholesterol Can Lead to Dangerous Diseases |
| High blood cholesterol alone does not cause problems. However, when the levels are high, cholesterol build-up and blockage on artery walls cause strain on the heart because it forces the heart to work harder to pump the blood through smaller blood vessels. This strain can lead to several dangerous diseases and conditions, some of which are life-threatening. These diseases and illnesses include arteriosclerosis, heart attacks, strokes, coronary artery disease, hypertension, angina, and congestive heart failure. These potential diseases are why it is important to have your cholesterol level checked periodically by a physician in order to make sure that you maintain a safe level. |
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| The Jewish Hospital Cholesterol Center is an internationally-renowned center for the research and treatment of cholesterol-related disorders. Call them at 513-585-7800 to schedule an appointment. |
| Test |
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| You will be given a lipid profile, a blood test that tells the doctor your total cholesterol level, your LDL level, your HDL level, and your triglyceride level. Blood will be drawn from a vein in your arm to get the necessary amounts of blood to do the test. |
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