Importance Of Cholesterol In Blood
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| We have heard too many stories about Cholesterol, that it is not good for health. But the truth is that, Cholesterol is essential for good health and to carry out important functions of our body. Today we also hear that too many people are dying due to heart – attack at an early age because of High Cholesterol. Here are some important information about Cholesterol and how excess of Cholesterol can cause health problem. |
| Importance of Cholesterol: |
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Cholesterol is the primary component in the make up of all cells and development of membranes. |
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Cholesterol is the source of energy of our body. |
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It is important in development of the memory. |
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Nerve and muscle tissues cannot work properly without cholesterol. |
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It is a powerful antioxidant which protects against cancer and aging. |
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It is necessary for the uptake of hormones in the brain. |
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It is involved in the production of sex hormones. |
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It is important for the metabolism of fat soluble vitamins, including Vitamins A, D, E, and K. |
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It helps in making of Vitamin D from sun exposure. |
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The body uses Cholesterol to repair the injuries. |
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It also assists the body to fight against various infections. |
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It helps in making bile acids which helps in fat – digestion. |
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| The above points clearly mention how cholesterol is protective for our body. So now let’s know what is this Cholesterol? |
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| What is Cholesterol? |
Cholesterol is a waxy fat – like substance that is made in the body by the liver. Cholesterol forms part of every cell of the body and is essential for normal functioning of the body. Considerable amount of cholesterol is produced by the body but some food products also increase the levels.
Cholesterol may cause problem if your body makes too much or you consume too much in your food. The extra Cholesterol can deposit in the arteries and block them leading to various health problems. |
Normal values:
Total Cholesterol (TC): < 200 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter).
Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL): < 130 mg/dl.
High Density Lipoprotein (HDL): > 30 mg/dl.
Triglycerides (TG): 35 – 160 mg/dl. |
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There are three main types of lipoproteins
Cholesterol is carried in the blood by molecules called Lipoproteins. A lipoprotein is any complex or compound containing both lipid (fat) and protein. The three main types are: |
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LDL (low density lipoprotein) - people often refer to it as bad cholesterol. LDL carries cholesterol from the liver to cells. If too much is carried, too much for the cells to use, there can be a harmful buildup of LDL. This lipoprotein can increase the risk of arterial disease if levels rise too high. |
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HDL (high density lipoprotein) - people often refer to it as good cholesterol. Experts say HDL prevents arterial disease. HDL does the opposite of LDL.HDL takes the cholesterol away from the cells and back to the liver. In the liver it is either broken down or expelled from the body as waste. |
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Triglycerides - these are the chemical forms in which most fat exists in the body, as well as in food. They are present in blood plasma. Triglycerides, in association with cholesterol, form the plasma lipids (blood fat). Triglycerides in plasma originate either from fats in our food, or are made in the body from other energy sources, such as carbohydrates. Calories we consume, but are not used immediately by our tissues are converted into triglycerides and stored in fat cells. When your body needs energy and there is no food as an energy source, triglycerides will be released from fat cells and used as energy - hormones control this process. |
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| Hypercholesterolemia: |
| The presence of high levels of Cholesterol in the blood usually more than 220 mg/dl is termed as Hypercholesterolemia. |
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| Dangers of high cholesterol levels |
| High cholesterol levels can cause: |
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Atherosclerosis - narrowing of the arteries. |
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Higher coronary heart disease risk - an abnormality of the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. |
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Heart attack - occurs when the supply of blood and oxygen to an area of heart muscle is blocked, usually by a clot in a coronary artery. This causes your heart muscle to die. |
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Angina - chest pain or discomfort that occurs when your heart muscle does not get enough blood. |
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Other cardiovascular conditions - diseases of the heart and blood vessels. |
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Stroke and mini-stroke - occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or vein, interrupting the flow to an area of the brain. Can also occur when a blood vessel breaks. Brain cells begin to die. |
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What causes high cholesterol? |
| Lifestyle causes |
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Nutrition - although some foods contain cholesterol, such as eggs, kidneys, and some sea foods, dietary cholesterol does not have much of an impact in human blood cholesterol levels. However, saturated fats do! Foods high in saturated fats include red meat, some pies, sausages, hard cheese, lard, pastry, cakes, most biscuits, and cream. |
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Sedentary lifestyle - people who do not exercise and spend most of their time sitting/lying down have significantly higher levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) and lower levels of HDL (good cholesterol). |
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Bodyweight - people who are overweight/ obese are much more likely to have higher LDL levels and lower HDL levels, compared to people who are of normal weight. |
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Smoking - this can have quite a considerable effect on LDL levels. |
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Alcohol - People, who consume too much alcohol regularly, generally have much higher levels of LDL and much lower levels of HDL, compared to people who abstain or those who drink in moderation. |
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What are the treatments for high cholesterol? |
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| Lifestyle |
| Many people, especially those whose only risk factor has been lifestyle, can generally get their cholesterol and triglyceride levels back to normal by: |
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Doing plenty of exercise (check with your doctor). |
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Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, oats, and good quality fats. |
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Avoiding foods with saturated fats. |
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Getting plenty of sleep (8 hours each night). |
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Bringing your bodyweight back to normal. |
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Avoiding alcohol. |
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Stopping smoking. |
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If your cholesterol levels are still high after doing everything mentioned above, your doctor may prescribe a cholesterol-lowering drugs.
Hypocholesterolemia:
The presence of abnormally low levels of cholesterol in the blood is termed as Hypocholesterolemia
When the Total Cholesterol level is below 160 mg/dl, then it is termed as Hypocholesterolemia.
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| Possible causes for low cholesterol are: |
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Hyperthyroidism. |
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Liver disease. |
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Malnutrition. |
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Manganese deficiency. |
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Celiac disease (autoimmune disorder of small intestine). |
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Malabsorption. |
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| Got more questions chat with our online doctor |
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