Cholesterol is a type of lipid that has many different functions in the body. Having a cholesterol level in a certain range is very important for the continuation of these functions. However, if cholesterol is above healthy limits, it poses a risk for many health problems.
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy lipid, that is, a type of fat. It is produced in the liver. Cholesterol; It takes part in cell membrane functions, hormone and vitamin D production.
Cholesterol is not water-soluble and therefore cannot circulate freely in the blood. Molecules called lipoproteins are needed to circulate in the blood. Cholesterol, which binds to water-soluble lipoproteins, can circulate freely in the blood. Different types of cholesterol are encountered in the blood according to the cholesterol and lipoprotein ratios in this complex.
What is Bad Cholesterol (LDL Cholesterol)?
Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) transports cholesterol to the vessels. is a complex. When the level of LDL cholesterol in the blood increases, this cholesterol accumulates in the arteries and causes congestion. In the vein where the cholesterol plaque is formed, blood flow may decrease and a clot may form. All these situations; It can cause health problems such as heart attack, stroke.
What is Good Cholesterol (HDL Cholesterol)?
High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) helps LDL in the blood to return to the liver and It cleanses the body. In this way, it prevents the formation of cholesterol plaque in the vessels. Having HDL levels at healthy levels helps to prevent diseases such as heart attack, clot formation and stroke.
What is Total Cholesterol and How is it Calculated?
Total cholesterol is a value that shows the total amount of cholesterol in the blood. In addition to LDL and HDL, triglyceride levels are also used to calculate total cholesterol. Triglycerides are the common form of body fat. Although triglycerides are not a type of cholesterol, they are included in the calculation of total cholesterol because they pose a risk for diseases such as atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke.
Total cholesterol; It is found by adding the level of LDL and HDL in the blood and 20% of the triglyceride value to them. For example, a person with an LDL value of 100, an HDL value of 50 and a triglyceride value of 100 His total cholesterol is 170.
What Should Your Cholesterol Values Be?
Normal cholesterol values for individuals younger than 20 years old: Total Cholesterol: <170 mg/dL LDL: <110 mg/dL and HDL: >45 mg/ Normal cholesterol ranges for women older than 20 years: Total Cholesterol: 125-200 mg/dL LDL: <100 mg/dL HDL: >50 mg/dL. Values for men older than 20 years: Total Cholesterol: 125- 200 mg/dL LDL: <100 mg/dL HDL: >40 mg/dL.
What is High Cholesterol and What Are Its Symptoms?
High cholesterol is a health problem that occurs as a result of increased cholesterol levels in the blood.
High cholesterol usually does not cause any symptoms in the patient and is noticed during routine blood analysis. In some cases, undiagnosed high cholesterol may be encountered in patients admitted to the hospital due to heart attack, stroke, and coronary artery disease. By detecting high cholesterol in the early period and diagnosing it before it causes any problems in the veins, the patient is protected from many complications.
High cholesterol can occur due to many reasons. In addition to controllable factors such as diet, active lifestyle and smoking related to high cholesterol, there are also uncontrollable variables such as genetic predisposition. Some people are more prone to produce more cholesterol due to their genetic background and therefore to have high cholesterol.
Factors that increase the risk of increased cholesterol levels:
- Bad Nutrition: Saturated fat in animal foods and trans fat in packaged foods pose a risk for high cholesterol. Foods such as red meat, full-fat milk and dairy products, ready-made biscuits or crackers can cause cholesterol elevation.
- Obesity: People with a body mass index of 30 and above are at risk for high cholesterol.
- Sedentary Life: Exercising regularly causes HDL (good cholesterol) levels to increase, while LDL (bad cholesterol) levels decrease. A sedentary lifestyle also increases the risk of high cholesterol.
- Age: Cholesterol levels increase with aging. Also, with aging, the liver's capacity to clear LDL from the blood decreases.
- Smoking: Smoking causes damage to blood vessels and facilitates the formation of cholesterol plaque on the vessel walls. In addition, smoking can cause a decrease in HDL levels.
- Diabetes: Diabetes causes elevated levels of very low density lipoprotein (Very Low Density Lipoprotein, VLDL), a very harmful type of cholesterol. At the same time, diabetes can cause damage to the vessel wall, leading to the development of problems such as coronary artery disease and stroke.
How is High Cholesterol Diagnosed and Treated?
A blood test is sufficient to diagnose high cholesterol. In the blood test, LDL, HDL, Triglyceride and Total Cholesterol levels are checked. Roughly speaking, LDL over 100 mg/dL, HDL below 40 mg/dL in men and 50 mg/dL in women, and triglyceride and total cholesterol levels above 200 mg/dL are considered high cholesterol and can be treated with treatment. starts.
However, it should not be forgotten that these values may change depending on the age, gender and additional diseases of the person. For example, while LDL below 100 mg/dL is sufficient for a healthy adult, the target LDL value for diabetic patients is below 70 mg/dL.
The primary method in the treatment of high cholesterol is lifestyle changes. Lifestyle changes in people who do not have any comorbidities and have borderline high cholesterol can reduce their cholesterol values to the desired level. Lifestyle changes that can be made to lower cholesterol:
- Establishing a vegetable-based diet,
- Restricting the consumption of full-fat milk and dairy products, red meat,
- Olive oil in meals, Using vegetable oils such as canola oil,
- Limiting processed food consumption,
- Exercising regularly in accordance with age, gender and physical condition,
- Losing excess weight, keeping the body mass index in a healthy range,
- If smoking, quitting smoking can be listed as.
High cholesterol is a disease that progresses silently without causing any symptoms. However, high cholesterol levels cause serious problems on cardiovascular health. For this reason, it is beneficial for people with high cholesterol risk factors to have regular check-ups.
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