High Cholesterol

What Is High Cholesterol?

Cholesterol a lipid, or fat, that is found in the blood stream. There are two kinds of cholesterol. HDL is the “good” form of the lipid and LDL is the “bad” form. The body needs a certain amount of both HDL and LDL cholesterol to function properly. However, depending on a person’s diet, exercise levels, and genetics, cholesterol levels can grow to dangerous levels, which can lead to a variety of cardiovascular disorders. For example, excessive cholesterol accumulates in the blood vessels and arteries leading to atherosclerosis, also known as hardening of the arteries. This can create blood flow issues that may lead to swelling and blood clots

What Factors Contribute to High Cholesterol?

When a person has high levels of the bad cholesterol, it increases their risk of getting cardiovascular disease including cardiac episodes like heart attacks and strokes. Cholesterol levels also indicate that a patient has other health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes in patients.

Several factors influence cholesterol levels including:

• Food: A diet that includes many foods high in saturated and trans fats contributes to high cholesterol levels.
• Exercise: Getting plenty of exercise for at least 30 minutes, five days a week as recommended by health professionals can help to regulate cholesterol levels.
• Heredity: Patients with a family history of high cholesterol are at higher risk and should manage their lifestyle to maintain good health and have regular screenings.
• Age: A person’s cholesterol levels naturally start to increase after the age of 20.
• Obesity: Weight management is an important preventative tool as being overweight or obese can contribute to high cholesterol levels.

How Are Cholesterol Levels Measured?

High cholesterol in itself doesn’t cause any symptoms but leads to other serious health conditions. Regular screening is important as it is easier and more effective to treat high cholesterol when it is caught in its early stages. A blood test called a lipid panel is the most efficient way to measure a patient’s cholesterol levels. A lipid panel reveals the precise amount of the lipids in a patient’s blood. A person must also maintain adequate levels of the HDL cholesterol. Optimal LDL level is less than 100mg/dL and the optimal level for HDL cholesterol is 60mg/dL or higher.