Cholesterol 101

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Cholesterol 101

• Facts Every Adult Should Know

By Jennifer Palm
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What is Cholesterol?

• A waxy, fat-like substance
• Produced naturally
• in the body
• - via the liver
• Also consumed through your diet

Sources of cholesterol
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Cholesterol Continued

• Its normal to have a certain amount of
  cholesterol in your body
• In fact, its needed for good health
• to produce cell membranes and various hormones
• But too much cholesterol can have a negative
  impact on your health

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Types of Cholesterol

• There are two different kinds
• Low-density lipoproteins (LDL)
• Often referred to as bad
• cholesterol
• High-density lipoproteins (HDL)
• Often referred to as good
• cholesterol

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Types of Cholesterol Contd

• Low-density lipoproteins
• deliver cholesterol to the body
• stick to the walls of the arteries clogging
  them
• High-density lipoproteins
• carry the LDL to the liver to be broken down
• work to protect the arteries from plaque build up

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High Cholesterol

• Also known as hypercholesterolemia
• Greatly increases your risk of having a heart
  attack or stroke

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High Cholesterol Continued
Extra cholesterol in the blood
Builds up on the walls of your arteries
Causing arteries to narrow or harden - a process
known as atherosclerosis
Which can completely block an artery
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High Cholesterol Continued
This picture illustrates how cholesterol builds
up in your arteries over time.
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High Cholesterol Continued
A blocked artery has the potential to be
extremely life-threatening.
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Contributing Factors

• Diet
• Consuming foods high in saturated/trans fats and
  dietary cholesterol
• Includes
• Fast food
• Fried food
• Egg yolks
• Meat
• Dairy products

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Contributing Factors Continued

• Obesity
• Major risk factor for heart disease
• Usually due to an intake of foods high in
  saturated fats
• Smoking
• Another risk factor for heart disease and stroke
• Reduces HDL and changes LDL

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Contributing Factors Continued

• Inactivity
• Can lead to weight gain
• Raising LDL cholesterol
• Heredity
• High cholesterol tends to run in families
• Resulting in high levels of LDL

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Contributing Factors Continued

• Gender and Age
• Men usually develop coronary artery disease
  earlier than women
• Men tend to have lower HDL levels while women
  have higher LDL
• Everyones LDL levels rise as they age

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Contributing Factors Continued

• Other Medical Conditions
• There are other conditions that can also affect
  your cholesterol levels, including
• Kidney disease
• Diabetes
• Hypothyroidism

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Recommended Values
If total cholesterol and LDL are higher than
recommended values or if HDL is lower, you are at
an increased risk for heart disease.
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Cholesterol Testing

• There are no signs and symptoms
• So, get your blood cholesterol checked at least
  once a year by your physician

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Cholesterol Testing Continued

• If your cholesterol is high
• You will be put on a diet and exercise regimen
• If that does not work, you will be put on
  medication

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Suggestions For Lowering Cholesterol

• Maintain a healthy diet
• Limit saturated and trans
• fats in your diet
• Increase dietary fiber
• Eat plenty of fruits and
• vegetables
• They contain zero cholesterol!

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Suggestions For Lowering Cholesterol Contd

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Being overweight or obese can drastically
  increase LDL levels
• Losing weight can lower these levels
• A proper diet and regular physical activity
• can help you achieve this!

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Suggestions For Lowering Cholesterol Contd

• Be active
• Engage in at least 30 minutes of physical
  activity on most, if not all days of the week

• Benefits
• lower cholesterol levels
• maintain a healthy weight

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Suggestions For Lowering Cholesterol Contd

• Quit smoking
• It speeds up the process of atherosclerosis
• Limit alcohol consumption

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References

• http//www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?ident
  ifier1516
• http//familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/commo
  n/heartdisease/risk/029.html