As most people are aware, cholesterol is a waxy substance that is found in fats or lipids in the blood. While it’s true that the human body requires a certain amount of cholesterol in order to produce healthy cells, it’s to be noted that the body is able to synthesize all the cholesterol it requires. However, this compound can also be found in the foods. Due to this, the body receives more cholesterol than it requires for maintaining the health. It’s to be noted that when the body has too much of content, it would start to build up in the arteries thereby, causing all sorts of health issues. This makes it important to learn about the cholesterol care here. Find below the importance of cholesterol care.

Good vs. Bad Cholesterol

Cholesterol is of two kinds:

• High-density lipoproteins or HDL
• Low-density lipoproteins or LDL

In this, the high-density cholesterol is deemed as “good cholesterol” because it can help break down and remove low-density cholesterol, which is considered as “bad cholesterol”. The low-density cholesterol is said to be bad cholesterol because it tends to stick to the walls of the blood vessels and make them inflexible and narrow. As mentioned earlier, the human body actually needs certain amounts of both these cholesterols to function properly. The problems occur only when the levels of low-density cholesterol are very high or the levels of high-density cholesterol are very low.

Numbers Mean a Lot Here

As such, the following levels of cholesterol are generally considered as healthy for most adults:

• Overall body cholesterol levels less than 200 mg/dL
• LDL cholesterol levels less than 100 mg/dL
• HDL cholesterol levels greater than 50 mg/dL for women and 40 mg/dL for men

So, for the adults, the desirable cholesterol level is <200 mg/dL. If the values go above 200 up to 239 mg/dL, then the particular individual will be considered to be in borderline high risk for cardiovascular diseases. And, if the cholesterol levels go above 240 mg/dL, the individual will be considered to be at high risk for cardiovascular problems. In general, an individual is advised to consult with a physician if the cholesterol level is above 200 mg/dL.

In the case of adolescents, the desirable blood cholesterol level is <170 mg/dL. If the levels are greater than 170 mg/dL and are up to 199 mg/dL, then the particular individual will be considered to be in borderline high risk for cardiovascular diseases. And, if the level is found to be greater than 200 mg/dL, then the particular individual will be considered to be at greater risk for cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, if an adolescent is found to have a cholesterol level of above 170 mg/dL, it’s advisable that he/she should consult a doctor.

Problems Caused by High Cholesterol

It has been mentioned above that a person with higher cholesterol levels is at greater risk for cardiovascular diseases. Some people might wonder why? Well, it’s because when this compound builds up on the walls of the arteries, it will become harder for the blood to pass through them. Due to this, some problems might occur. A heart attack is one of the common issues caused due to the high cholesterol levels. If a plaque breaks away, it could clog an artery completely thereby, cutting off blood flow to the heart. This would cause a heart attack. On the other hand, if the blood flow to a person’s heart is limited, he/she would experience a chest pain or angina. In general, this is considered to be a symptom of coronary artery disease. Finally, if a plaque blocks the blood flow to the brain, then it would result in a stroke.

Apart from these, the high cholesterol levels could also lead to some other medical conditions like high blood pressure, dementia, atherosclerosis, and so on.

What Can be Done to Prevent These?

It’s to be noted that generally there are no symptoms to let the individuals know if their cholesterol levels are very high. Therefore, it’s important for everyone to have the cholesterol levels checked often. This is a simpler process that can be done with the healthcare provider by just giving the blood sample. If a person finds that his/her cholesterol level is too high, he/she can consult with the doctor to get the proper medication prescribed for them.

One thing to be remembered here is that high cholesterol is a condition that could be treated or prevented. While treatment would involve some medications, prevention would involve making lifestyle changes. Some of the major lifestyle changes would involve following a heart-healthy diet with reduced saturated fat and/or cholesterol, weight loss, exercises, and avoid tobacco. To reduce fat in the diet, people will be asked to limit the intake of red meats like beef, pork, and veal. Also, it’s good to avoid fried foods.

Finally, one must understand that maintaining a healthy cholesterol level would start with a blood test plus a consultation with the physician to understand the risk factors. If this is done, a lot of health conditions can be prevented much easily.