Why is Cholesterol Sooo Important?
Many of us have memorized numbers running through our minds such as our phone numbers, social security numbers as well as important dates such as our birth dates. But did you know that knowing your cholesterol number could help you make choices to save your life? It is recommended that beginning at the age of 20, we should have our cholesterol checked every 5 years and if you are at risk for high cholesterol and or cardiovascular disease, your physician will want to check your levels more frequently. I am taking cholesterol medication, so I get my cholesterol checked every six months.
We hear so much bad news about cholesterol that you may not know that we need cholesterol in our body to "form our cell membranes, some hormones, vitamin D, bile acids and is needed for other functions" per the American Heart Association. Because cholesterol can not be dissolve in the blood, it depends on agents to carry it to the places needed by the body. These agents are called lipoproteins and they help to make up our total cholesterol count. The LDL or Low density lipoprotein also known as the "bad cholesterol", the HDL or High density lipoprotein called "good cholesterol" along with triglycerides make up this number. A total cholesterol that is too high can cause major damage to the inside of our vascular system increasing our risk for heart disease. But as you can see not all lipoproteins are bad.
So why is knowing my numbers so important? A high level of LDL cholesterol or bad cholesterol in the blood along with other conditions such as those caused by high blood pressure, can begin to cause cholesterol to collect on the inner walls of arteries. This collection can become hard causing atherosclerosis. The build up can also cause the arteries to narrow and become less flexible. The result can lead to a decreased blood supply to major organs and or increased pressure in the arteries. For example - a heart attack or stroke can occur if this narrowing becomes blocked in the arteries that supplies blood to the heart or brain. Our organs have to have oxygen to survive. Arteries supply oxygenated blood to our body. When a tissue is blocked from getting oxygen, death to the organ can occur if left untreated. Death to you can occur if this condition takes place in a major organ.
HDL cholesterol or "good cholesterol" may actually take away the build up of bad cholesterol or at least slow its progress. It takes the cholesterol back to the liver where it can be processed away from the body.
Triglycerides are a type of fat that the body produces. Lifestyle choices can cause this number to be elevated. Conditions such as being over weight, smoking, eating a high carbohydrate diet and lack of exercise are just a few bad choices that can increase this number. People with diabetes may also have elevated triglycerides.
Here are the recommendations of Cholesterol numbers:
Total Cholesterol:
Below 200 mg/dl Best
200-239 mg/dl Borderline high
240 mg/dl High
LDL Cholesterol:
Below 70 mg/dl Best for people at high risk for heart disease
Below 100 mg/dl Best for people at risk for heart disease
100-129 mg/dl Near ideal
130-159 mg/dl Borderline high
160-189 mg/dl High
190 mg/dl and above Very high
HDL Cholesterol:
Below 40 mg/dl for men
Below 50 mg/dl for women Poor
50-59 mg/dl Better
60 mg/dl and above Best
Triglycerides:
Below 150 mg/dl Best
150-199 mg/dl Borderline high
200-499 mg/dl High
500 mg/dl and above Very high
http://www.bing.com/health/article/mayo-MADS00178/High-cholesterol?q=hypercholesterolemia&qpvt=high+cholesterol
Making healthy lifestyle choices can help reduce your total cholesterol and may help increase your HDL number as well. These choices include losing weight, eating a less fatty diet, exercising, and quitting smoking. If you have not had your cholesterol checked, please see your physician. You may also have your cholesterol checked at a health fair or community health event.
Knowing these numbers and making healthy lifestyle choices to improve these numbers may just save your life!!
In Christ,
Rhonda
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