Cholesterol Control
Cholesterol is a waxy substance which is made in the body by the liver but is also found in some foods. It is an essential substance for the body’s normal functioning, but if levels in the blood get too high, it becomes a silent danger that puts us at risk of a heart attack. Cholesterol is found in every cell of the body and has important natural functions.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance known as a lipid and is vital for the normal functioning of the body. Cholesterol makes its way through our bodies in the bloodstream. Cholesterol is carried in your blood by proteins. When the two combine, they’re called lipoproteins. There are two types of Cholesterol. Low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein. High cholesterol, also known as hyper cholesterolemia, is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. LDL cholesterol makes up the majority of the body’s cholesterol. LDL is known as “bad” cholesterol because having high levels can lead to plaque buildup in your arteries and result in heart disease and stroke.
Cholesterol has four main functions
Contributes to the structure of cell walls.
Makes up digestive bile acids in the intestine.
Allows the body to produce vitamin D.
Enables the body to make certain hormones.
Facts on Cholesterol Control
Cholesterol is an essential substance that is produced by the body but is also ingested from animal-derived foods.
The greatest risk factors for high cholesterol are modifiable lifestyle choices – diet and exercise.
A predisposition for high cholesterol levels can be inherited through the genetic condition, familial hypercholesterolemia.
Having high cholesterol does not produce any symptoms in itself.
Everyone should have their blood cholesterol levels tested once every 5 years.
First-line ways to reduce cholesterol involve lifestyle changes.
If life style changes are unsuccessful or cholesterol levels are very high, lipid-lowering drugs such as statins may be prescribed.
Cholesterol Control recommend four changes to life style – including those receiving drug treatment – in order to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack, Eat a ‘heart-healthy diet. Take regular exercise, Avoid smoking, Achieve and maintain a healthy weight. High levels of cholesterol in the blood can increase your risk of heart disease. Your cholesterol levels tend to rise as you get older. There are usually no signs or symptoms that you have high blood cholesterol, but it can be detected with a blood test. You are likely to have high cholesterol if members of your family have it, if you are overweight or if you eat a lot of fatty foods.A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine claims a drug called evolocumab could be much more effective than statins for reducing cholesterol.
