Cholesterol
9/3/2015
Health Tips: Cholesterol
from Dr. Lisa Gillespie, Chief Medical Officer, Rockdale Medical Center
What is cholesterol, exactly? Cholesterol is a waxy substance naturally created by our livers. The substance is circulated through the blood and to the heart, keeping our hearts and bodies happy and healthy. Cholesterol also comes from the foods we eat, family history, gender, and age. A diet high in saturated and trans fats can supply us with more than the needed. When we consume these types of food, the body makes more cholesterol.
There are two types of cholesterol. LDL (bad) is the cholesterol which damages our bodies and places us at a higher risk for serious health problems including loss of limbs and death. HDL (good) is the healthy cholesterol that we all need in order for our bodies to function properly and happily.
HDL helps remove and lower the damaging LDL levels from our bodies. HDL removes the LDL from the arteries, carries it to the liver, where it is broken down and passed out of our bodies. A healthy amount of this good cholesterol may help prevent heart disease, stroke, PAD, and other health risks associated with LDL. How do we maintain our HDL?
1. Choosing healthier foods and snacks high in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as walnuts and salmon. Eat more oat bran, which is found in oatmeal and cereals. When you are grocery shopping, pay attention to the labels, foods with added plant sterols may also help.
2. Daily aerobic exercise, such as walking, jogging, swimming, dancing, or bike riding. 30 minutes of aerobic activity should be a part of your daily routine in order to maintain healthy levels.
3. Nutritional supplements, such as vitamins
4. Have your triglyceride levels checked. Those with higher levels are at greater risk.
Too much bad cholesterol (LDL) can create plaque, a thick, hard substance which makes blood flow extremely difficult. The artery walls of our hearts can become clogged with plaque. The plaque will start to break up and cause blood clots, which can flow to the brain causing a stroke. When the artery walls of the heart become too clogged with plaque a heart attack can occur.
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is another consequence of bad cholesterol. This occurs when blood flow to the arteries of the legs are blocked with so much plaque that the legs cannot function as they are supposed to, and instead become painful and weak. Even a simple trip up a flight of stairs can be too much for a person with this disease. Though, the pain will subside with rest, the pain and weakness will return once the legs are in motion again. If left untreated, further damage can occur resulting in amputation.
Your primary care physician can determine your HDL and LDL levels with a simple blood test. If treatment is necessary, you and your physician will develop a treatment plan, inclusive of education, diet and exercise, to help control unhealthy cholesterol levels. Talk to your primary care physician today about ways to protect your heart.