A lipid which is called cholesterol has many variant functions in our body. For the continuation of some functions having cholesterol is very vital. However, if cholesterol is above healthy limits, it poses a risk for many health problems.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is not water-soluble and therefore cannot circulate freely in the blood. Molecules called lipoproteins are needed to circulate in the blood. Cholesterol, which binds to water-soluble lipoproteins, can circulate freely in the blood. Different types of cholesterol are encountered in the blood according to the cholesterol and lipoprotein ratios in this complex.
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What Is Bad Cholesterol (LDL Cholesterol)?
Low-density lipoprotein (Low-Density Lipoprotein, LDL) is a complex that carries cholesterol to the vessels. When the quantity of LDL cholesterol in the blood rises, it collects in the arteries, causing constriction. In the vein where the cholesterol plaque is formed, blood flow may decrease and a clot may form. All these situations; can cause health problems such as heart attack and stroke.
What Is Good Cholesterol (HDL Cholesterol)?
High-density lipoprotein (High-Density Lipoprotein, HDL) ensures that LDL in the blood is returned to the liver and cleared from the body. It inhibits the development of cholesterol plaque in the arteries in this way. Having HDL levels at healthy levels helps to prevent diseases such as heart attack, clot formation, and stroke.
What Is Total Cholesterol and How Is It Calculated?
Overall cholesterol is a number that represents the total quantity of cholesterol in the blood. In addition to LDL and HDL, triglyceride levels are also used to calculate total cholesterol. Triglycerides are a kind of body fat that is rather prevalent. Although triglycerides are not a type of cholesterol, they are included in the calculation of total cholesterol because they pose a risk for diseases such as atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke.
Total cholesterol; It is found by adding the level of LDL and HDL in the blood and 20% of the triglyceride value to them. For example, a person with an LDL value of 100, an HDL value of 50, and a triglyceride value of 100 have total cholesterol of 170.
What Should Cholesterol Values Be?
- Normal cholesterol values for individuals younger than 20 years:
- Total Cholesterol: <170 mg/dL LDL: <110 mg/dL and HDL: >45 mg/dL.
- Normal cholesterol ranges in women older than 20 years:
- Total Cholesterol: 125-200 mg/dL LDL: <100 mg/dL HDL: >50 mg/dL.
- Values for men over 20 are:
- Total Cholesterol: 125-200 mg/dL LDL: <100 mg/dL HDL: >40 mg/dL.
Those who have values above the specified total cholesterol limit should definitely apply to a health center and have the necessary controls done.
What Is High Cholesterol, What Are Its Symptoms?
High cholesterol is a health problem that occurs as a result of increased cholesterol levels in the blood.
High cholesterol does not generally produce any symptoms in the patient and is discovered via routine blood testing. Undiagnosed elevated cholesterol may be found in certain individuals brought to the hospital owing to a heart attack, stroke, or coronary artery disease. By detecting high cholesterol in the early period and diagnosing it before it causes any problems in the veins, the patient is protected from many complications.
High cholesterol can occur for many reasons. In addition to controllable factors such as diet, active lifestyle, and smoking-related to high cholesterol, there are also uncontrollable variables such as genetic predisposition. Some people are more prone to produce more cholesterol due to their genetic background and therefore to have high cholesterol.
Factors that increase the risk of elevated cholesterol levels:
Malnutrition: Saturated fat in animal foods and trans fat in packaged foods pose a risk for high cholesterol. Foods such as red meat, full-fat milk, and dairy products, ready-made biscuits, or crackers can increase cholesterol.
Obesity: People with a BMI of 30 or above are at risk of having elevated cholesterol.
Sedentary Life: Exercising regularly causes HDL (good cholesterol) levels to increase, while LDL (bad cholesterol) levels decrease. Leading a sedentary life also increases the risk of high cholesterol.
Age: Cholesterol levels increase with age. Also, with aging, the liver's capacity to clear LDL from the blood decreases.
Smoking: Smoking causes damage to blood vessels and facilitates the formation of cholesterol plaque on the vessel walls. In addition, smoking can cause a decrease in HDL levels.
Diabetes: Diabetes causes elevated levels of very low-density lipoprotein (Very Low-Density Lipoprotein, VLDL), a very harmful type of cholesterol. At the same time, diabetes can cause damage to the vessel wall, leading to the development of problems such as coronary artery disease and stroke.
How Is High Cholesterol Diagnosed and Treated?
A blood test is sufficient to diagnose high cholesterol. In the blood test, LDL, HDL, Triglyceride, and Total Cholesterol levels are checked. Roughly speaking, LDL over 100 mg/dL, HDL below 40 mg/dL in men and 50 mg/dL in women, and triglyceride and total cholesterol levels above 200 mg/dL are considered high cholesterol and can be treated with treatment. starts.
However, it should be kept in mind that these values may vary depending on the age, gender, and comorbidities of the person. For example, while LDL below 100 mg/dL is sufficient for a healthy adult, the target LDL value for diabetic patients is below 70 mg/dL.
The primary treatment for high cholesterol is lifestyle changes. Lifestyle changes in people who do not have any comorbidities and have borderline high cholesterol can reduce their cholesterol values to the desired level. Lifestyle changes to lower cholesterol:
- Creating a vegetable-based diet
- Restricting the consumption of full-fat milk and dairy products, red meat
- Using vegetable oils such as olive oil and canola oil in meals
- Limiting processed food consumption
- Doing regular exercise in accordance with age, gender, and physical condition
- Losing excess weight, keeping body mass index in the healthy range
- If smoking is used, it can be listed as quitting smoking.
Medication can be started for patients whose lifestyle changes do not reduce their cholesterol levels sufficiently or who initially have very high cholesterol values. The drug group to be used in the treatment of high cholesterol; may vary according to parameters such as age, additional disease, risk factors. Drug groups commonly used in the treatment of high cholesterol:
Statins: Statins prevent the use of substances necessary for cholesterol production in the liver. Thus, it lowers cholesterol levels in the blood. In people with coronary artery disease, it may contribute to reversing the damage in the vessel.
Bile Acid Binders: Cholesterol is also used in the production of bile acids in the liver. This group of drugs reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood by converting excess cholesterol to bile acid.
· Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors: They act by stopping the absorption of cholesterol from the intestine.
High triglyceride levels also pose a risk for cardiovascular diseases. The types of drugs used in the treatment of high triglycerides are as follows:
· Fibrates: They accelerate the clearance of triglycerides from the blood.
· Niacin: Restricts LDL and VLDL production in the liver.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids: Omega 3 fatty acid supplements help reduce high triglyceride levels.
High cholesterol is a disease that progresses silently without causing any symptoms. However, high cholesterol levels cause serious problems in cardiovascular health. For this reason, it is beneficial for people with high cholesterol risk factors to have regular check-ups.
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