WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH YOUR CHOLESTEROL LEVELCholesterol is a fat (lipid) which is produced by the liver and is crucial for normal body functioning. It is a soft, waxy substance found in all parts of the body. Your body makes some cholesterol, and some cholesterol comes from the food you eat. Cholesterol is needed for the body to function properly. But too much cholesterol can clog your arteries and lead to heart disease. There are two main types of fat – saturated and unsaturated. Eating foods that are high in saturated fat can raise cholesterol levels in the blood.
Cholesterol helps the body produce hormones (cortisol, corticosterone, aldosterone, androgens, estrogens and others), bile acid, and vitamin D. Cholesterol moves through the bloodstream to be used by all parts of the body. It also insulates nerve fibers.
The amount of cholesterol in human blood can vary from 3.6 mmol/liter to 7.8 mmol/liter.
Below is a list of cholesterol levels and how most doctors would categorize them in mg/dl (milligrams/deciliter) and 5mmol/liter (millimoles/liter).
Desirable - Less than 200 mg/dL
Bordeline high - 200 to 239 mg/dL
High - 240 mg/dL and above
- Optimum level: less than 5mmol/liter
- Mildly high cholesterol level: between 5 to 6.4mmol/liter
- Moderately high cholesterol level: between 6.5 to 7.8mmol/liter
- Very high cholesterol level: above 7.8mmol/liter
High cholesterol levels can cause:
o Atherosclerosis - narrowing of the arteries.
o Higher coronary heart disease risk - an abnormality of the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart.
o 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.
o Angina - chest pain or discomfort that occurs when your heart muscle does not get enough blood.
o Other cardiovascular conditions - diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
o 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.
Symptoms of high cholesterol do not exist alone in a way a patient or doctor can identify by touch or sight. Symptoms of high cholesterol are revealed if you have the symptoms of atherosclerosis, a common consequence of having high cholesterol levels. These can include:
• Narrowed coronary arteries in the heart (angina).
• Leg pain when exercising - this is because the arteries that supply the legs have narrowed.
• Blood clots and ruptured blood vessels - these can cause a stroke or TIA (mini-stroke).
• Ruptured plaques - this can lead to coronary thrombosis (a clot forming in one of the arteries that delivers blood to the heart). If this causes significant damage to heart muscle it could cause heart failure.
• Xanthomas - thick yellow patches on the skin, especially around the eyes. They are, in fact, deposits of cholesterol. This is commonly seen among people who have inherited high cholesterol susceptibility (familial or inherited hypercholesterolaemia).
How is high cholesterol diagnosed?
Cholesterol levels may be measured by means of a simple blood test. It is important not to eat anything for at least 12 hours before the blood sample is taken. The blood sample can be obtained with a syringe, or just by pricking the patient's finger.
The blood sample will be tested for LDL (bad cholesterol) and HDL (good cholesterol) levels, as well as blood triglyceride levels. The units are measure in mg/dl (milligrams/deciliter) or 5mmol/liter (millimoles/liter).
People who have risk factors should consider having their cholesterol levels checked. Men have a greater chance of having high blood cholesterol levels than women.
Causes and remedies to be continued. GO and check your cholesterol level, it is so important. IT IS ALWAYS BEST TO KNOW. Yes i have done mine, glad i did.
