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Understanding High Cholesterol: A Guide to Prevention and Treatment
Approximately nearly 28% of American adults (age 20 or older) have high cholesterol, and many are unaware they even have it.This means they’re going untreated for a condition that can lead to heart attack, stroke, peripheral artery disease, chest pain (angina), or other cardiovascular problems.
But how can you stay vigilant about something that doesn’t readily make itself known?
“Know your numbers,” says Dr.Seth Martin, a preventive cardiologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Very high levels of cholesterol can sometimes cause cholesterol buildup in the eyes (corneal arcus) and tendons (xanthomas) that are detectable on a physical exam. Though, moast people don’t have those, and regular cholesterol blood tests are a reliable way to catch high cholesterol and intervene.”
The good news: Your annual checkup often includes routine blood tests that measure cholesterol. What’s known as a lipid panel has readings for:
* HDL (high-density lipoprotein): Considered “good” cholesterol because it helps remove excess cholesterol from the body by carrying it from the bloodstream to the liver, which then removes it from the body. Optimal levels are 40 mg/dL or higher for men and 50 mg/dL or higher for women. Higher levels are generally better.
* LDL (low-density lipoprotein): Considered “bad” cholesterol because it contributes to artery-clogging plaque buildup. Optimal levels are less then 100 mg/dL for most people, but targets can vary based on individual risk factors.
* Triglycerides: The most common type of fat in your body. Optimal is less than 150 mg/dL.
* Total Cholesterol: All the cholesterol in your blood. It includes both HDL and LDL, plus 20 percent of triglycerides. Desirable levels are less than 200 mg/dL.
As important as cholesterol numbers (particularly LDL) are, they don’t tell the whole story, says Martin. “We interpret and treat numbers in the context of a person’s overall cardiovascular risk,” he explains. “Treatment decisions are based on a complete assessment, considering factors like age, family history, blood pressure, smoking status, and presence of other conditions like diabetes, not just a single number.” Risk calculators, like those provided by the American Heart association, are often used.
Here’s what you need to know about high cholesterol – the causes, risk factors, treatments and best ways to prevent it.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in every cell of your body. Your liver makes most of it, and the rest comes from foods like meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products.
Despite its reputation as the enemy of good health, it’s not inherently bad. Actually, your body needs cholesterol to build cells, produce hormones (like estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol), synthesize vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight, and help your liver digest fats.Cholesterol is considered problematic only if you have too much of it.
If too much LDL cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can lodge in the artery walls, where it combines with other substances to form plaque. Over time, the buildup causes arteries to narrow and become less flexible (a condition known as atherosclerosis), leading to a heart
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