Cholesterol

Cholesterol

Cholesterol occurs naturally in the body and is necessary to help build cells, fight infections and keep the heart healthy. However, there is 'good' cholesterol and 'bad' cholesterol and ensuring the cholesterol levels are balanced is vital to maintaining overall good health.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat type substance present in all cells. The body needs cholesterol to build and regenerate cells, produce certain hormones and help with the digestion of fat. Cholesterol moves around the body attached to proteins. There are two types of proteins that carry cholesterol around the body:

High-density lipoproteins: HDL Cholesterol - the 'good' cholesterol needed by the body 

Low-density lipoproteins: LDL Cholesterol - the 'bad' cholesterol: an excess of this type of cholesterol can lead to stroke, heart disease and other health problems

Cholesterol moves around the body via the bloodstream attached to proteins. 

Good Cholesterol

HDL cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins, is often referred to as good cholesterol. This is the type of cholesterol the body needs to function effectively. The function of HDL cholesterol is to control the amount of overall cholesterol in the body - collecting excess 'bad' cholesterol as it travels. 

To ensure you stay healthy, aim for a high level of HDL cholesterol in the blood; the higher 'good' cholesterol, the lower the 'bad' cholesterol. 

HDL acts as an anti-inflammatory and also protects the heart from symptoms of heart disease. 

Bad Cholesterol

LDL Cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins, is known as 'bad' cholesterol. This is the level of cholesterol doctors advise patients to lower. High levels of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream can lead to heart disease, stroke and other complications. 

This cholesterol travels round the body in the bloodstream as HDL, however an excess of LDL cholesterol makes it more difficult for the 'good' cholesterol to filter the excess to the liver. 

Why is cholesterol unhealthy?

Overtime, an excess of LDL cholesterol breaks down and sticks to the artery walls as plaque. A build up of plaque causes a narrowing of the arteries. The arteries allow blood to travel around the body and circulate to the heart. Narrowed arteries cause chest pain and shortness of breath. If the coronary arteries become blocked blood cannot reach the heart which leads to heart disease and stroke.  

Healthy levels of cholesterol

Cholesterol is measured per milligrams of cholesterol per decilitre of blood.

HDL cholesterol levels should be high; LDL cholesterol levels should be low.

Overall cholesterol level

• Aim for less than 200mg/dL
  

• If the overall level of cholesterol in the blood is over 240mg/dL the risk of coronary disease is doubled.

HDL cholesterol level

• Aim for 60mg/dL

• Less than 40mg/dL the risk of heart disease is increased

• Aim for less than 100mg/dL

• + 130mg/dL puts patients at high risk of heart disease and stroke

Treatment for high cholesterol

If a doctor says you have high cholesterol, the reference is to LDL cholesterol that is dangerous for health. High levels of HDL cholesterol are beneficial as the good cholesterol fights the bad. 

To manage cholesterol, doctors recommend patients attempt to control the levels of LDL with diet before resorting to medication. The correct diet to lower cholesterol is a diet low in saturated or trans fats,  low in carbohydrates and red meat and plentiful with antioxidants to help the good cholesterol.Maintaining a healthy weight is important to keep cholesterol levels low and overwieght patients should attempt to reach a healthy BMI (body mass index). 

If cholesterol cannot be controlled with diet, a variety of medications are available to lower bad cholesterol and increase levels of good cholesterol. Most of these medications are statin based which reduces the amount of cholesterol the body naturally produces.