By Umair Shafiq Khanday
What is Cholesterol ?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance produced by your liver naturally. Unlike the popular notion, it’s not inherently bad for your health. Your body needs cholesterol to build cells, make vitamins, and create hormones. It is carried in the blood to and from the cells via two types of lipoproteins, called low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
While HDL cholesterol is considered the “good cholesterol”, high levels of LDL or bad cholesterol can be detrimental to your heart health.
High cholesterol, also known as hypercholesterolemia, is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Abnormal levels of LDL cholesterol or HDL cholesterol are treated with a low-fat diet, exercise, and medications such as statins.
Having enough cholesterol to meet your needs is important. Having too much cholesterol can cause problems. If your cholesterol levels are high, the condition is called hypercholesterolemia. If your cholesterol levels are low, the condition is called hypocholesterolemia.
Why cholesterol matters for heart health?
Cholesterol is required by our body in small amounts. When there is too much cholesterol in your blood, it starts building up in the walls of your arteries. This can cause narrowing or clogging of the arteries, slowing or blocking the blood flow to your heart muscles. If the blood supply to a part of the heart is completely cut off by such a blockage, it can lead to a heart attack.
Heart disease is one of the most preventable chronic conditions. Explore our heart care range to take care of your heart.
What should we do?
Follow the 3Cs
Check,
Change
Control
Check your cholesterol levels. Assess your risk by knowing the number.
Change your lifestyle to help improve your cholesterol levels.
Control your cholesterol levels with medical assistance.
Cholesterol when in control can give your arteries their best chance to remain clear of blockages. Know your cholesterol levels to take control of it.
TESTS TO MEASURE CHOLESTEROL LEVELS .
Everyone over the age of 20 should get their cholesterol levels measured at least once every five years.
Total cholesterol.
LDL levels.
HDL levels.
VLDL levels and triglycerides.
Non-HDL cholesterol.
Ratio between cholesterol and HDL
5 Steps to reduce your cholesterol levels
1 Eat smart, every day:
Cut down on sugar drinks, too much salt, processed meats, packaged foods, and refined carbs (white rice, white wheat). Include more veggies, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, and lean meat like fish and chicken..
2 Move more:
Exercise helps increase good cholesterol levels. It also helps maintain a healthy weight which brings down your cholesterol levels. Get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity (like brisk walking, cycling, hiking) 5 days a week. If you can’t get 30 minutes of exercise at a stretch, engage in a short duration of activities, making sure to keep active throughout the day
3 Manage your blood sugar levels:
Having diabetes increases the risk of high cholesterol. This is because diabetes may reduce the levels of good cholesterol and increase the levels of triglycerides and bad cholesterol, causing diabetic dyslipidemia. This further puts pressure on heart health. Controlled blood sugar levels help avoid damage to your heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves.
HbAlc is the gold standard test to evaluate how well controlled your sugar levels are. Stay ahead in the health game by taking the HbAlc test today..
4 Limit alcohol:
Alcohol enters the liver and changes into triglycerides and LDL (bad cholesterol) there, raising your unwanted cholesterol levels. It’s best if you quit alcohol altogether. However, if you do drink, keep it within the limit.
5 Give up smoking:
Quitting smoking increases your levels of good cholesterol. Within 20 minutes of quitting, your blood pressure and heart rate come back to normal. And, within 12-24 hours of quitting smoking, your risk of heart attack starts reducing significantly.
5 Truths to Know
Unsaturated fats can actually help keep cholesterol numbers low.
Statin benefits far outpace any risks.
An imaging test can detect the impact of cholesterol on your risk.
LDL cholesterol levels are a major factor in risk for cardiovascular disease.
A new class of drugs can dramatically lower your LDL cholesterol.
Umair Shafiq Khanday, B Sc Nursing ,Pacific Institute Of Medical Science Udaipur.Gold Medalists From Sai Tirupati University Udaipur.
