Cholesterol
Cholesterol can be both good and bad so it's important to learn: what cholesterol is, what causes high cholesterol, how it affects your health, whether you are at risk and how you can effectively manage your blood cholesterol levels.
Understanding the facts about cholesterol will help you take better care of your heart.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a soft, fatty substance found in the bloodstream and in all body's cells. We get cholesterol in two ways: our body makes some of it and the rest comes from products we eat. Having cholesterol is normal and it is an important part of a healthy body because it's used for producing cell membranes and some hormones, and serves other essential bodily functions.
Cholesterol is transported around the body via the blood and attached to a protein. The fat-protein combination is called lipoprotein. Lipoproteins can be high density (HDL) or low density (LDL) depending on how much protein there is in relation to fat.
Low Density Lipoproteins are also known as 'bad' cholesterol as they cause cholesterol to be deposited in the arteries. About 70% of cholesterol is transported as LDL, as it is mostly made up of fat and not much protein. As the 'bad' cholesterol circulates in the blood, it slowly builds up on the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain and too much build up may result in the arteries becoming blocked and eventually resulting in a heart attack and/or stoke.
High Density Lipoproteins are known as 'good' cholesterol because they actually prevent cholesterol building up in the arteries. Around 20% of cholesterol is transported as HDL, which are mostly protein and not much fat. Medical experts believe that a high level of 'good' cholesterol protects your body against heart attacks, as HDL tends to carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it is passed from the body.
What causes high cholesterol?
There are several factors that may contribute to high cholesterol:
- A diet that is high in saturated fats
- A lack of exercise
- A family history of high cholesterol
A high level of cholesterol is one of the most important risk factors for coronary heart disease. Other major risks are smoking and having high blood pressure.
How it might affect you?
Cholesterol is essential for good health, however too high a level of cholesterol in the blood affects your overall heart health.
The main risk associated with high cholesterol is coronary heart disease. This is caused by blood vessels becoming narrowed with fatty deposits called plaques, which cholesterol contributes to. Narrowed blood vessels reduce blood flow to the heart, which can result in angina (chest pain) or if the vessel is blocked completely, a heart attack. Further information can be found on www.heartuk.org.uk, www.bhf.org.uk/cholesterol or www.chss.org.uk/pdf/publications/factsheets/factsheet cholesterol 04.pdf.
Are you at risk?
According to the British Heart Foundation seven out of ten people over the age of 45 have high cholesterol.
As a high cholesterol level has no symptoms the only conclusive way to find out is to have it checked by your doctor. Measuring cholesterol levels involves a simple blood test conducted by your GP.
What can you do to reduce cholesterol levels?
Sometimes it's the simple things that can make a big difference to your health. The following small lifestyle changes not only benefit your cholesterol they can also improve the quality of your life:
Also don't forget to start adding miniCol into your weekly shopping basket, as eating 65g a day is proven to reduce cholesterol as part of a healthy balanced diet.