cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance found in all cells of our body. Cholesterol is used in the production of cell membranes and some hormones, but excessive amounts in the blood are harmful. While cholesterol is produced in the liver, it is also taken with food. Cholesterol is found in foods of animal origin such as meat, dairy products and eggs, but not in fruits, vegetables and grains.

Why is Cholesterol Important?

High blood cholesterol levels It increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The higher a person's cholesterol level, the more likely they are to have heart disease. The leading cause of death for men and women in Turkey is cardiovascular disease.

What is Good Cholesterol (HDL-Cholesterol) - Bad Cholesterol (LDL-Cholesterol)?

Cholesterol is carried from the liver to the cells and from the cells back to the liver through the blood. Since cholesterol and other fats do not dissolve in the blood, they are carried in packages called lipoproteins. There are two types of cholesterol carriers: LDL-Cholesterol, known as bad cholesterol, and HDL-Cholesterol, known as good cholesterol.

LDL cholesterol is the main package that carries cholesterol in the blood. When it is high in the blood, it sticks to the inside of the vessels and forms plaques there. With the addition of some substances other than cholesterol, these plaques grow and the clots that form in the cracks on them block the vessels. This disease, which is very common in our age, is known as atherosclerosis. If the vascular occlusion occurs in the heart vessels, it causes a heart attack; if it occurs in the brain vessels, it causes a stroke.

Part of the cholesterol in the blood is carried in packages called HDL-Cholesterol. HDL-Cholesterol prevents the accumulation of cholesterol in the vessels. Studies have shown that heart disease is less common in people with high HDL-Cholesterol. Research conducted by the Turkish Cardiology Association has shown that HDL-Cholesterol value is low in Turkish society. Smoking and obesity lower good cholesterol, regular exercise increases it.

Since HDL-C is also cholesterol, how can it be good cholesterol?

When we look at the effects of cholesterol in the blood, , the answer to this can be easily found. LDL-C produced in the liver It is absorbed and given to the blood. Once administered into the blood, this LDL-C accumulates on the walls of blood vessels. These deposits in the vessels are called "atherosclerotic plaques" and if they grow, the vascular space narrows. HDL-C has the opposite effect of LDL-C. It collects the cholesterol circulating in the blood and brings it to the liver to be eliminated from the body. Thus, it reduces the exposure of blood vessels to the harmful effects of cholesterol.

 

When evaluating the cholesterol level and deciding on drug treatment, whether the person has vascular disease or whether there are other factors that increase the risk of disease is also taken into consideration. For example, while a level of 230 mg/dl does not pose a risk in a premenopausal woman with no other risk factors and high good cholesterol, the same level may require the initiation of cholesterol-lowering drug treatment in a 55-year-old man who has had a heart attack.

What value should it be below to say that good cholesterol or HDL-K is low?

There are different values ​​for low HDL-K in men and women. Low HDL-C is said to be below 50 mg/dl in women and 40 mg/dl in men. HDL-C values ​​are generally lower in Turkish society.

How is cholesterol risk estimated?

Since it was cheaper and easier in previous studies, total risk was used to determine the risk. cholesterol was measured. LDL-C and HDL-C values ​​can now be easily checked. Every 10 mg/dl increase in LDL-C values ​​increases the risk of heart attack by approximately 20%. On the other hand, with the increase in HDL-C values, the risk of heart attack decreases. Every 1 mg/dl increase in HDL-K reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease by 2-3%.

Who should have cholesterol measured and how often?

What Complaints Does High Cholesterol Cause?

Cells in our body need cholesterol to perform their functions. However, if this cholesterol is excessive, it accumulates on the walls of the vessels and forms what we call 'atherosclerotic plaque'. These plaques grow over time and narrow the vascular space. This narrowing can sometimes be slow, and sometimes rapid if the plaque ruptures and comes into contact with blood. As a result of rapid or slow narrowing of the vascular space, not enough blood reaches the organs fed by these vascular structures, resulting in life-threatening situations such as heart attack or stroke. Therefore, people over the age of 20 should know their blood cholesterol levels and implement the lifestyle changes required. Especially people whose parents or siblings are known to have heart disease at an early age, and diabetics should have their blood cholesterol measured and take the necessary precautions.

Why is High Cholesterol Important?

High blood cholesterol levels increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The higher a person's cholesterol level, the more likely they are to have heart disease. The leading cause of death for men and women in Turkey is cardiovascular disease.

Do lifestyle changes reduce cholesterol levels?

Reducing fatty foods, reducing oils and fats. Positive changes we make in our lives, such as eating healthy foods, avoiding excessively high-calorie foods, exercising regularly, and reducing weight, especially increase HDL-K and reduce triglyceride values. If we pay attention to our diet and exercise regularly, we can reduce LDL-C values ​​by 10-15%.

Is it necessary to treat cholesterol with medication?

Adequate diet. Despite exercise, targeted levels of blood lipids are often not achieved. In this case, drug treatment is required.

How low should our cholesterol value be? Is there a normal or abnormal value for everyone?

There is no normal or abnormal value determined for all patients. The target LDL-C value is determined by looking at the patient's diseases other than cholesterol. In addition, the patient is unlikely to have a heart attack in the following years. There are some tables used to determine e risk. According to these tables, if the patient has a high risk of having a heart attack, the LDL-C values ​​of these patients should be kept lower. Only in those with high cholesterol, the target value is LDL-C below 160 mg/dl. Although it is considered sufficient for people with diseases such as diabetes or coronary heart disease to have an LDL-C value below 100 mg/dl, these values ​​are now being lowered even further. In patients with diabetes and coronary heart disease, the LDL-C target value is even lower, and there are studies showing that it should be 70 mg/dl or even lower. It is recommended that you discuss the desired LDL-C values ​​and the risk of having a heart attack in detail with your doctor.

How often should I have my blood cholesterol levels checked?

Unless your doctor has additional recommendations. It is recommended that people over the age of 20 have their cholesterol levels checked at least every 5 years.

What is Triglyceride? What Should Be Normal Levels?

Triglyceride is the form of fat found in nature. Like cholesterol, it is both produced in the body and taken with food. Heart disease was found more frequently in those with high measured levels in the blood. Since the relationship between blood cholesterol level and heart disease is more evident, the second target is blood fat.

Why Are Blood Fats Low in Some People and High in Others?

Blood Cholesterol and Triglyceride levels are a combination of hereditary and environmental factors. The absorption of fats, their processing in the liver, their production, their uptake by the cells, and their retrieval by the liver after the cells are destroyed is a very complex chain of events. Congenital differences in various links of this chain lead to different blood levels of fats in individuals. The second important factor is nutrition. The amount of fat in daily food consumption determines the blood level at a rate that varies depending on the person's hereditary characteristics.

Do Cholesterol Levels Vary Between Societies?

The average cholesterol levels of various societies differ. . This difference is due to the nutritional style as well as the hereditary characteristics of the people who make up that society. � also plays a role. The average blood cholesterol levels of societies with high levels of saturated fat in their diets are higher than those with low fat consumption, and the frequency of cardiovascular disease in these societies is also higher.

Does Lowering Blood Cholesterol Level Reduce the Possibility of Cardiovascular Disease?

It has been conclusively shown that lowering blood cholesterol levels through diet or medication reduces the likelihood of the disease in people without heart disease and prolongs life in those with heart disease. The frequency of cardiovascular disease has also decreased in societies that have managed to change their diet and whose average cholesterol level has decreased.

What are the other risk factors that lead to cardiovascular disease?

• Age: Cardiovascular disease is more common in men over the age of 45 and in women over the age of 55.
• Family history: Heart disease is more common in those with heart disease in their first-degree relatives, such as a mother, father, or sibling.
• Smoking
• High blood pressure (Blood pressure being over 140/90 mm Hg)
• Diabetes
• Obesity: Being overweight compared to height, Accumulation of body fat mostly in the abdominal area increases the risk of heart disease. Waist circumference greater than 102 cm in men and 88 cm in women increases the risk.

If people with these risk factors have high cholesterol or triglycerides in the blood, the risk of heart disease increases exponentially.

What are the types of fat in foods and how do they affect blood cholesterol levels? ?

There are three types of fats in food. Oils containing saturated fatty acids, mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Saturated fats are high in solid fats and unsaturated fats are high in liquid oils. Saturated fats and cholesterol in the diet increase blood cholesterol levels. Saturated fats are found mostly in animal fats. Mutton, beef, dairy products made from whole milk, and hard margarines are the foods containing the most saturated fats. Liquid oils contain unsaturated fatty acids. Polyunsaturated fatty acids in oils such as sunflower oil and corn oil, and monosaturated fatty acids in olive oil.

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