Why is it important to manage your cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a frequently addressed topic at your Doctor’s office, and don’t you wonder why this is the case? Having said that, let us delve further into the science behind lowering cholesterol.
Cholesterol and its role in atherosclerosis: Excess cholesterol can accumulate in the lining of blood vessels—within the subendothelial space of the walls of arteries, this leads to narrowing of the blood vessels and plaque accumulation. This plaque can get dislodged and become a source of obstruction to blood flow, and this causes the sequelae of heart attacks, strokes, and end organ damage. This is the fundamental philosophy of lowering cholesterol.
Sources of increased cholesterol states: There are multiple factors that contribute to high cholesterol, which include Diet (alcohol, saturated fats in red meats, high-fat dairy, high-sugar foods, fried goods, etc.), Medications (psychiatric medications, retrovirals, thiazides, steroids, hormone replacements, etc.), Disease states (familial hypercholesterolemia, hypothyroidism, obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, PCOS [Polycystic ovarian syndrome], Metabolic syndrome, renal disease, etc.).
Modifiable factors: The number one modifiable factor in cholesterol regulation is a lifestyle modification. Diet and exercise are factors that cannot be taken for granted.
What is the role of LDL and HDL in overall health?
LDL (also known as Low density lipoprotein) is described as one of the most important agents contributing to atherosclerosis. This is why levels of LDL are to be kept at the lower end. Medications like Statins help achieve this goal and have been shown in studies to have a beneficial outcome in long-term health and disease prevention. There are several other medications other than statins that have been used for the regulation of lipid levels.
HDL (also known as High Density cholesterol) is widely known for its protective effect on the heart. We are going to delve further into quality vs. quantity. Science points out that conditions like metabolic syndrome, obesity, and diabetes can cause a shift in the particle size of HDL. Diabetic patients can tend to have lower levels of large HDL particles and higher levels of lipid poor HDL. Research shows that surgically assisted weight loss can shift that balance back towards that of the lean state. This is why weight maintenance at healthy levels must go hand in hand with other methodologies of cholesterol control. Therefore, normal balances of HDL can assist in cardio-protection, whereas dysfunctional HDL may not offer that same protection.
Renal disease: Science shows that high cholesterol levels can have a negative effect on your kidneys, with high levels of Triglycerides and LDL causing adverse effects on kidney function.
We have explored briefly on why cholesterol control is vital to our lives, and having said that, pursuing a diet that is low in saturated fat and prepared in a health-conscious manner will facilitate our efforts in achieving adequate cholesterol balance. As always, I wish you choose nutrition wisely and live long and strong!
