High Cholesterol

What is High Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance produced in the liver. It is also found in some kinds of foods, including food from animals, like dairy products (whole milk), eggs and meat. Cholesterol is not itself bad - in fact, the body requires it to function properly. However only a small amount is needed and too much cholesterol in your diet can lead to health problems, including heart disease.

Cholesterol travels through the blood in a protein package, known as a lipoprotein. There are three kinds: high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL). These descriptors relate to how much protein there is in relation to fat. Another kind of fat, called triglycerides, is also a factor.

• Low density lipoproteins (LDL): LDL, also called "bad" cholesterol, can cause buildup of plaque on the walls of arteries. The more LDL there is in the blood, the greater the risk of heart disease.
• High density lipoproteins (HDL): HDL, also called "good" cholesterol, helps the body get rid of bad cholesterol in the blood. The higher the level of HDL cholesterol, the better. If your levels of HDL are low, your risk of heart disease increases.
• Very low density lipoproteins (VLDL): VLDL is similar to LDL cholesterol in that it contains mostly fat and not much protein.
• Triglycerides: Triglycerides are carried in the blood by very low density lipoproteins. Excess calories, alcohol or sugar in the body are converted into triglycerides and stored in fat cells throughout the body.

What Causes High Cholesterol?

There are numerous factors that can cause cholesterol to become unbalanced or excessive. These include:

• Diet
• Obesity
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Age and Gender
• Diabetes
• Heredity
• Smoking

What are the symptoms of high cholesterol?

A blood cholesterol test is the only way to detect high cholesterol since there are no symptoms.

How is high cholesterol treated?

The goal of treatment is to reduce bad cholesterol to achieve the right ratio of LDL (which should be lower) to HDL (which should be higher). Typically both lifestyle and cholesterol medications are used to achieve this goal.

Doctors determine your "goals" for lowering LDL cholesterol based on the number of risk factors you have for heart disease.

• 0-1 risk factor for heart disease, you are at low-to-moderate risk. Lifestyle changes, such as a lower cholesterol diet, are recommended to keep the cholesterol in check.
• 2 or more risk factors, you are at moderate risk or next-highest risk, depending on what heart disease risk factors you have. Sometimes your doctor will try lifestyle changes but most often you will require cholesterol-lowering drugs.
• If you have known heart disease, diabetes or multiple risk factors, you are at high, or very high, risk. This category requires a combination of cholesterol-lowering drugs and lifestyle changes including a lower cholesterol diet to control their cholesterol levels.

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