Cholesterol helps your body build new cells, insulate nerves, and produce hormones. Normally, the liver makes all the cholesterol the body needs. But cholesterol also enters your body from food, such as animal-based foods like milk, eggs, and meat. Too much cholesterol in your body is a risk factor for heart disease.
There are two forms of cholesterol that many people are familiar with: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad" cholesterol) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good" cholesterol.) These are the forms in which cholesterol travels in the blood. LDL is the main source of artery-clogging plaque. HDL actually works to clear cholesterol from the blood.
Triglycerides are another fat in our bloodstream. Research is now showing that high levels of triglycerides may also be linked to heart disease.
High cholesterol itself does not cause any symptoms, so many people are unaware that their cholesterol levels are too high. Therefore, it is important to find out what your cholesterol numbers are. Lowering cholesterol levels that are too high lessens the risk for developing heart disease and reduces the chance of a heart attack or dying of heart disease, even if you already have it.
Some recommend that everyone over age 20 should get their cholesterol levels measured at least once every 5 years. The test that is performed is a blood test, that includes:
Here's how to interpret your cholesterol numbers:
HDL*
*HDL (good) cholesterol protects against heart disease, so for HDL, higher numbers are better
Anyone can get high cholesterol, and it can be caused by many different things. Some things you can control like lifestyle habits, others you can’t. As long as you take care of the things you can control, you’ll help lower your risk. Factors that can affect your cholesterol levels include:
Your risk of heart and circulatory disease is increased if you have high cholesterol as well as other risk factors, such as:
The more risk factors you have, the higher your risk of developing a heart or circulatory disease such as a heart attack, stroke or vascular dementia.
How Is High Cholesterol Treated?
The main goals in treating high cholesterol are to lower your LDL levels and lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. To lower cholesterol, eat a heart-healthy diet, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy weight. Some may also need to take cholesterol-lowering drugs.
Doctors determine your "goals" for lowering LDL based on the number of risk factors you have for heart disease. Based on your risk, your doctor will determine the intensity of LDL reduction you need, and prescribe a medication accordingly.
Including whether you are also diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. Many health care providers recommend treating anyone with CVD with high-dose statin therapy. This includes those with coronary heart disease and who have had a stroke.
For those who do not have CVD, treatment is determined by your individual risk for developing heart disease. That risk can be estimated using calculators which factor your age, sex, medical history, and other characteristics. If your risk is high (such as a 7.5 or 10 percent risk of developing CVD over 10 years), your doctor may start you on treatment preventively. They generally keep in mind your preferences towards taking medication in general. For those people whose risk is unclear, a coronary artery calcium score, which is a screening test looking for calcium (an indication of atherosclerosis) in the arteries, can help determine the need for statins.
For both those who have CVD and those who do not, when the decision is made to start medication, the first choice is usually a statin.
Other special groups who may need treatment:
Cholesterol-lowering drugs include:
Cholesterol-lowering medicine is most effective when combined with a healthy diet and exercise program.
Some people with high cholesterol achieve the best results with combination drugs. These drugs treat cholesterol problems and are sometimes combined with medications like blood pressure drugs in one pill.
The side effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs include:
*If you have muscle aches, call your doctor immediately. This could be a sign of a life-threatening condition.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-attack/symptoms-causes/syc-20373106
https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/heart-disease-lower-cholesterol-risk
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/high-cholesterol
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