Cholesterol is a fat that is useful for the body. But if ratein the body too high, cholesterol will accumulate in the blood vessels and interfere with blood flow.
Cholesterol is a substance that is produced naturally by the liver, but can also be found in foods of animal origin, such as meat and dairy. Cholesterol is needed by the body to form healthy cells, produce a number of hormones, and produce vitamin D. Although it is important for the body, cholesterol can be detrimental to health if levels are too high.
Cholesterol Symptoms
High cholesterol does not cause symptoms. As a result, many people are not aware of having high cholesterol levels, until serious complications such as heart disease or stroke arise. Therefore, it is important to do a blood test to determine normal or high cholesterol.
For adults, it is recommended to have cholesterol checks every 4-6 years, starting at the age of 20 years.
Although rare, high cholesterol can occur in children. Cholesterol checks in children are recommended when they are 9-11 years old, and repeated at 17-21 years old. In children from families with diabetes and high cholesterol, cholesterol checks are recommended at the age of 2-8 years and repeated at the age of 12-16 years.
Normal Cholesterol
To find out normal cholesterol levels, you need to first understand the types of cholesterol and their functions. Basically, cholesterol can not dissolve in the blood. Therefore, the liver produces substances called lipoproteins to distribute cholesterol throughout the body. There are two main types of lipoproteins, namely:
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)LDL serves to carry cholesterol throughout the body through the arteries. If the levels are too high, LDL will accumulate in the artery walls. LDL is known as the 'bad cholesterol'.
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL)HDL functions to return excess cholesterol to the liver, to be removed from the body. Therefore, HDL is known as the 'good cholesterol'.
In addition to the two types of cholesterol above, there are also other types of fat called triglycerides that are often checked. Unlike cholesterol, which the body needs to make cells and a number of hormones, triglycerides are used as a source of energy.
Triglycerides are formed when the body converts the remaining calories that are not used by the body. If the body continues to consume more calories than it uses, triglyceride levels will rise. This condition can also increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Below are normal cholesterol values consisting of LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol, which can be seen from blood tests:
- LDL: less than 100 mg/dL.
- HDL: 60 mg/dL or more.
- Triglycerides: less than 150 mg/dL.
- Total cholesterol: less than 200 mg/dL.
It is important to remember, the higher the HDL cholesterol level, the better it is for the body. Conversely, the higher the levels of LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol, the worse it is for health. High cholesterol is a combination of high total and LDL cholesterol and low HDL.
Due to High Cholesterol
Excessive cholesterol levels need to be treated. If left unchecked, this dangerously high cholesterol will build up on the walls of the arteries and form plaque, thereby narrowing the arteries. This condition is known as atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis over time can block blood flow, resulting in the following dangerous diseases:
- Blockages can occur in the arteries of the heart, so that the heart muscle gets less nutrition.
- A heart attack can occur when blood flow to the heart is completely blocked.
- A stroke can occur when blood flow to the brain is blocked.
- Peripheral artery disease can occur when blood flow to the legs is blocked.
ReasonHigh cholesterol
Hypercholesterolemia or high cholesterol can be triggered by an unhealthy lifestyle, illness, and heredity, as will be explained below.
Unhealthy lifestyle
Consumption of foods high in cholesterol and saturated fat can cause high cholesterol. Examples of these foods are fried foods, milk full cream, chicken skin, and offal. Other habits that can increase cholesterol levels, are lack of exercise and smoking.
Illness
People with obesity, diabetes, and hypothyroidism are prone to suffer from high cholesterol.
Descendants
High cholesterol can be triggered by changes or mutations in a number of genes, which are inherited from both parents. This gene mutation makes the body unable to remove cholesterol from the blood. However, high cholesterol due to genetic factors is less common when compared to the previous two factors.
How to Lower Cholesterol
High cholesterol can be lowered by leading a healthy lifestyle, as described below:
Sport
Exercising regularly can help raise HDL levels, and prevent heart attacks. Do light exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, such as jogging, cycling, swimming, or aerobic exercise.
Healthy diet
Adopting a healthy diet is important to maintain normal cholesterol levels. Avoid cooking food by frying. As an alternative, if the food is baked, boiled, or steamed.
Another way is to increase the consumption of high-fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables. Avoid consumption of red meat, offal, egg yolks, full cream milk, cheese, and snacks such as cakes and biscuits. Instead, increase the consumption of fish and foods with omega 3 content, such as avocados and nuts.
Drugs
If the two methods above have been followed but cholesterol levels are still high, several types of drugs can be used as recommended by the doctor, namely:
- Statin drugs, such as simvastatin and atorvastatin.
- Ezetimibe.
- Bile acid-binding drugs, such as cholestyramine.
If the patient's triglyceride level is also high, the doctor will also prescribe the following drugs:
- Fibrates, such as fenofibrate and gemfibrozil.
- Omega 3 and lecithin supplements
- Vitamin B3 (niacin).