Feel free to get your cholesterol in check

Take a moment to reflect on real life, cholesterol is critical to preventing serious health problems, especially heart disease.  

Your blood cholesterol level is an important issue. By NazihPharmacy

On this page:

1. What is cholesterol?
2. What causes high cholesterol?
3. When do you need a cholesterol test?
4. What do cholesterol tests show?
5. What are cholesterol levels?
6. What foods lower cholesterol?
7. What about medicine?
8. FAQ 
9. Summary

Millions of people suffer from high blood cholesterol levels, on third of theim say they have not had their numbers checked in recent years.  

Controlling cholesterol levels is the right way to prevent heart disease and other blood vessel problems.  

But to know when you should take the tests? How do the numbers help you?  It's not easy and it's not difficult ! How bad cholesterol affects your body?

Should you reduce if your cholesterol is high?  To what extent can you lower your cholesterol level by changing your diet or sports activities? 

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fatty or waxy substance produced by the liver. It is involved in the formation of the body’s cell membranes and hormones. 

That is, it is a healthy substance necessary for vital construction. However, there are some foods, such as Meat and dairy(1) , that increase the amount of cholesterol in your blood. 

Cholesterol is present in every cell in your body. The body produces cholesterol, but people also consume it in food. 

Cholesterol performs essential functions, including(2): 

• Making digestive bile acids in the intestines

• Making vitamin D 

• Making some hormones 

• Helping to build cell walls 

Cholesterol travels around your body in lipoproteins. There are several types(3) of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol: 

• High-density lipoprotein (HDL): The cholesterol in HDL is known as “good” cholesterol

• Low-density lipoprotein (LDL): This is unhealthy or “bad” cholesterol

• Triglycerides: This is a type of fat that your body uses for energy. High triglyceride levels combined with high LDL or low HDL can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke

• Total cholesterol: The total amount of LDL, HDL, and triglyceride levels in your blood

In short, there are several types of cholesterol, each of which is beneficial, but changing your cholesterol levels can be harmful. 

What causes high cholesterol?

Cholesterol is mostly produced in the body by the liver. However, every cell in the body can also produce it(4). 

Several factors can lead to increased LDL levels. These include: 

• Eating a diet high in fat. Reducing your fat intake in your diet can help manage cholesterol levels. It is especially helpful to limit animal foods, meat, dairy products, chocolate, fried and processed foods

• Genetic traits, as some people have high cholesterol levels due to their genes(5). People with this condition have increased levels of LDL cholesterol in their blood

• Chronic stress negatively affects health. Lifestyle changes can contribute to high cholesterol levels

• Living an inactive lifestyle can contribute to high LDL levels and low HDL levels. A 2021 study(6) suggests that low physical activity increases LDL levels and the risk of cardiovascular disease

• People taking certain medications(7) may have higher levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and lower levels of HDL cholesterol. Known medications that can have a negative effect on lipid levels include anticonvulsants, hormones, thiazide or loop diuretics, SGLT2 inhibitors for diabetes, antipsychotics, progestins, and corticosteroids

• Excessive smoking, drinking alcohol, and energy drinks

• Overweight and obesity and age - 45 years and older for males and 55 years and older for females

In short, the causes of high cholesterol vary between diet, lifestyle, certain medications, and even age. 

A cholesterol test is essential in all circumstances and a doctor's consultation is necessary if any of these causes are present.

When do you need a cholesterol test?

All adults age 20 or older should have their cholesterol checked every four to six years.  

You may need more frequent tests if you have certain risk factors include(8): 

• High blood pressure 

• During menopause after 50 in women

• Magensium deficiency

• People with digestive problems

• People with cancer

• Diabetes 

• people with kidney stones

• A family history of heart disease

• When you needs losing your weight

• People with osteoporosis

High levels of cholesterol in the blood lead to the death of cartilage cells, arthritis, and osteoporosis, which makes them easy to break.

But through statistics , heart disease is becoming increasingly common among young people.  

The National Heart, Lung , and Blood Institute recommends starting cholesterol testing between ages ( 9 to 11 ), or at age ( 2 ) if there is a strong family history of high cholesterol and heart disease. 

Your doctor determines the appropriate date and time for the cholesterol test.

What do cholesterol tests show?

The laboratory doctor checks your cholesterol with a blood test called a lipoprotein panel .  This measures total cholesterol.

Get your cholesterol in home test

  

Low-density lipoprotein, called ( LDL), cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein, called( HDL), cholesterol.  

And triglycerides, which are another type of fat that causes atherosclerosis and come mainly from food. Cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter in all reports.

  Sometimes the test includes very low-density lipoprotein, called ( VLDL)(9), which carries triglycerides to different parts of the body.

  For some cases , the doctor may also order a test for lipoprotein( ApoB ), the particle that actually carries cholesterol in the blood.  

This is a more accurate indicator of heart attack risk, especially if you have moderate or slightly elevated LDL numbers. Your doctor confirms the need for this. 

There are also home tests that use a finger prick blood sample to check your cholesterol. 

If you use one of these tests, you should discuss your results with your doctor for follow-up and, when possible, do a self-test, which is more reliable.

What are normal and dangerous cholesterol levels? 

Cholesterol buildup is part of a process that narrows your arteries, called atherosclerosis. 

In atherosclerosis, plaques form and restrict blood flow. 

High cholesterol is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and a cause of heart attacks. 

Cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). 

The table below shows ideal and dangerous cholesterol levels for most people(10):

Types	Healthy	At-risk	Dangerous
LDL	below_100	100_159	160_above
HDL	60_above	40_59	below_40
Triglycerids	below_150	150_199	200_above
T.Cholesterol	below_200	200_239	240_above

When your LDL or triglyceride levels fall into the "borderline high" category. In these cases, assessing the risk of infection is more difficult.

Doctors recommend keeping your total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels within certain ranges to maintain healthy hearts and arteries. 

What foods lower cholesterol? 

Changing the way you eat can lower your cholesterol. 

Various foods lower cholesterol by providing soluble fiber, which binds cholesterol in the digestive tract and pulls it out of the body before it enters the bloodstream. 

Some foods provide you with polyunsaturated fats, which lower bad LDL cholesterol. 

Some foods contain plant sterols and stanols(13), which prevent your body from absorbing cholesterol. 

Add these foods to your daily diet to lower bad LDL cholesterol: 

• Eggplant and okra. These two vegetables are good sources of soluble fiber

• Sesame and other whole grains. Like oats and oat bran, sesame and other whole grains can help reduce your risk of heart disease, primarily through the soluble fiber they provide

• Beans, spinach, lentils, chickpeas, avocado, and peas are especially rich in soluble fiber. They also take a while for your body to digest, which means you feel fuller longer after eating a meal

• Nuts like almonds, walnuts, peanuts, and other nuts are good for your heart. Eating 2 ounces of nuts a day can lower your bad cholesterol because they contain fiber and omega-3s

• Using liquid vegetable oils like canola, sunflower, safflower, and others instead of butter, lard, or shortening when cooking or at the table can help lower your bad cholesterol

• Grapes, apples, blueberries, and citrus fruits. These fruits are rich in pectin, a type of soluble fiber that lowers bad cholesterol

• Eating soybeans and foods made from them, such as tofu and soy milk, is a powerful way to lower your cholesterol

• Eating  anti-inflammatory foods   can lower your LDL and triglyceride levels

• healthy diet rich in vitamin C and calcium, may save your life

• Eating fish two or three times a week can lower LDL cholesterol by replacing meat, which contains saturated fats that boost LDL, and by providing LDL-lowering omega-3 fats. Omega-3s reduce triglycerides in the bloodstream and protect the heart

Changing your daily routine by adopting sports activities such as walking. Regular walking  may help you a lot.

Supplements may offer a less glamorous way to get soluble fiber or succinate. Natural foods are still the best for lowering cholesterol.

What about medicine?

Your cardiologist may recommend cholesterol-lowering medications if you've already had a heart attack or stroke or if an ultrasound or angiogram shows large blockages in your arteries. 

If your LDL cholesterol level is 190 or higher, In this case, taking medication is necessary in plus to recommendations for healthy eating and exercise .

Doctors consider cholesterol levels along with age, family history of heart disease, smoking history and other factors before deciding whether to prescribe medication .

The most common cholesterol medications are statins(14), which reduce LDL cholesterol. 

It may take some trial and error to find the right medication and dose, and most people need to continue taking statins for life.  

Stopping the medication can raise your cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about what causes cholesterol. 

Does stress increase cholesterol? 

Stress can increase cholesterol levels. This can happen indirectly through adopting less healthy habits so a healthy lifestyle is required. 

There may also be a direct biological link. However, more research is needed on this topic. 

What foods cause high cholesterol? 

Eating a balanced diet is one way to help moderate cholesterol levels. According(15) to the American Heart Association, a person may want to avoid foods that contain saturated fats. Examples include red meat, sausages, bacon, and ready-made and processed meals. 

Can alcohol cause high cholesterol? 

Alcohol does not contain cholesterol. However, drinking large amounts of alcohol, more than 30 grams (g)(16) per day, may have a negative effect on fat or cholesterol accumulation. 

Researchers are still investigating the relationship between the two. 

How to reduce cholesterol in your body? 

To reduce(17) cholesterol in your body, a person can get enough physical exercise and achieve and maintain a moderate weight. 

They can also choose foods that are lower in trans fats and highly processed foods. In short: 

• Eating monounsaturated fats

• Use polyunsaturated fats

• Limit trans fats

• Eating soluble fiber

• Exercise

• Avoid smoking

• Consider plant sterols

• Keep a healthy weight

• Drink in moderation

• Try supplements

What reduces cholesterol quickly? 

Your doctor may choose medications along with lifestyle changes to help lower your cholesterol more quickly. Examples of cholesterol-lowering medications include statins, bile acid sequestrants, niacin, fibrates, and injectable PCSK9 inhibitors. 

What is a normal cholesterol level by age?

 Cholesterol levels typically increase with age. A healthy total cholesterol level for someone younger than 19 is less than 170 mg/dL, while for people 20 or older, it is 125 to 200 mg/dL. 

Your doctor can provide you with more information about what your ideal cholesterol level should be based on your age and other factors that may affect your cholesterol.

Summary

The blood cholesterol numbers issued after the test give great meaning about the heart and circulatory system , and the long series of vascular diseases that does not end except with a new lifestyle that depends on healthy vegetarian food and practicing some daily sports activities. Be well