All about Cholesterol

Good cholesterol, bad cholesterol, high cholesterol, low cholesterol- talking about cholesterol seems to be the latest trend. Amidst the ever-changing urban lifestyle, it is essential that we keep a tab on signs and symptoms of cholesterol. And more importantly, we take measures to keep it under control before the problem becomes difficult to manage. But before that, one must be aware of what actually cholesterol is, how it affects your body, the signs and symptoms to look out for and the cure. In this article we shall talk about all these aspects.

The basics

Cholesterol is a lipid molecule that is produced by the liver and is essential for the functioning of the human body. Each and every cell in the human body has an outer layer of cholesterol. You may be surprised to know that cholesterol isn’t bad itself, rather it is one of the many important substances that are required to keep the body healthy.

Types

Before understanding the types of cholesterol, it is essential to know that cholesterol is carried in the blood by lipoproteins (a complex compound containing both lipids and proteins). The three main types are – high density lipoproteins (good cholesterol), low density lipoproteins (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides.

HDL – it is due to the presence of HDL that your heart stays healthy and that is the reason that HDL is referred to as good cholesterol. HDL constantly works to carry the cholesterol back to the liver away from the cells. In the liver, the cholesterol is either broken down or excreted as a waste.

LDL – it is LDL that carries the cholesterol from the liver to the cells. There are chances that your body may transport an amount exceeding the normal which can be a matter of concern. If too much LDL is circulated in the blood, it would slowly start depositing along the inner walls of the arteries connecting the heart and the brain. Over a prolonged period, this deposit would turn into a thick layer and block the arteries. As a result, a clot would be formed, leading to stroke or heart attack.

Triglycerides –a type of fat found in the blood plasma of your body. Triglycerides in plasma come from either fat in the food you eat, or they are made in the body from other energy sources like carbs.

Functions

Given below are some of the main functions that cholesterol serves –

• It helps in building and maintaining the cell membranes (outer layer of the cells)
• It prevents crystallization of hydrocarbons in cells
• It is an essential molecule for the synthesis of bile acids, vitamin D and steroid hormones
• It converts the energy from sunlight into vitamin D in your body
• It assists the body in bile production
• It is involved in production of sex hormones – androgens and estrogens
• Helps provide insulation to the nerve fibres
• It is essential for the metabolism of fat soluble vitamins namely A, D, E and K

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of high cholesterol level stealthily creep up without making you notice any substantial change in your normal body functioning. There are no particular external signs that can warn you of an increased cholesterol level and by the time you realize that might be the case, the cholesterol might well be blocking your arteries to create a biological commotion in your body.

The best way to judge is to get a regular health check-up and to ask your doctor to perform a cholesterol check.

Causes of High Cholesterol

There can be a number of causes that can be the reason of high cholesterol. Some of the most common ones are –

• Smoking
• Obesity
• Being inactive or lack of exercise
• Genetic make-up
• Unhealthy eating habits
• Family history

Eating a diet that has high amount of saturated fat (meat, egg yolk, butter, ghee, cheese) and trans fat (packaged foods like cookies, cakes, chips etc.) may put you at an increased risk of high cholesterol.

Diagnosis

Cholesterol levels in your body are measured by a blood test. The levels are categorized in mg/dl (milligrams/decilitre)

High cholesterol – 240 mg/dl or above

Borderline high cholesterol – 200-239 mg/dl

Normal Range – less than 200 mg/dl

Treatment and Prevention

For starters, one should switch to a healthy lifestyle comprising healthy eating and exercising. Do whatever you like, walk, run, swim or cycle but make sure you do get yourself some heavy breathing in a day. The next step is to avoid the use of tobacco. If a person has high cholesterol levels due to genetic make-up or family history, then lifestyle changes alone would not help. The doctor might prescribe some cholesterol lowering medication depending on various factors like age, cholesterol level, other diseases etc.

Seek your doctor’s advice on cholesterol because they’d know better about your condition. Even a small step would lead to healthy changes, so put on those walking shoes and take the first step towards a healthy life.