Cholesterol stands at a crossroads, influencing our well-being and determining the fate of our cardiovascular system. While it’s a vital component of our cells, excessive levels can lead to a treacherous journey, increasing the likelihood of strokes and other mishaps.
Cholesterol Mastery: Empowering Yourself with Knowledge for a Healthier Heart and Brain
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance. It is present in all your body’s cells.
The image above- Chemical structure of Cholesterol
Is cholesterol a hormone?
No. However, It is the precursor to many steroid hormones, including sex hormones and hormones necessary for glucose metabolism and ion balances.
Cholesterol is a type of steroid the body produces to perform many vital functions.
The image above is a sample of cholesterol inside a transparent glass bottle.
What is the function of cholesterol in the body?
Ans: Its primary function is to maintain the integrity and fluidity of cell membranes. It serves as a precursor for synthesizing substances vital for the organism, including steroid hormones, bile acids, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. It is the precursor to many steroid hormones, including sex hormones and hormones necessary for glucose metabolism and ion balances in the body.
Where is Cholesterol made in the Body?
While all cells can synthesize cholesterol to a small extent, the liver is the primary site of cholesterol synthesis. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs.
Image Above: Cholesterol deposit on Arterys sidewalls
How much cholesterol does the body need to stay healthy and strong?
Adults’ recommended daily cholesterol intake is less than 200 milligrams (mg) daily. However, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that people with a history of heart disease or at high risk of heart disease consume less than 100 mg of cholesterol daily.
Who are the prime candidates to evaluate the cholesterol level in the body?
If either or one of your parents has high cholesterol levels, you are prone to get it. It may be regardless of how old you are. Visit your doctor, find your levels, and follow the doctor’s guidelines.
How many types of cholesterols are there?
There are two main types of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good” cholesterol. Too much LDL cholesterol in your blood increases your risk for coronary artery disease and other heart diseases.
What should be your ideal cholesterol levels?
A total cholesterol level of under 200 is best, but it depends on your HDL and LDL levels.
LDL cholesterol levels – less than 130 is best, but this depends on your risk for heart disease.
HDL cholesterol levels – 60 or higher reduces your risk for heart disease.
Triglycerides – less than 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) is best.
What happens to the excess cholesterol in your body?
The excess cholesterol in your body builds up plaque in your arteries, constricting the passage of the regular blood flow. Over time, Large plaque deposits can completely block a route of blood flow. Cholesterol plaques can also break apart, leading to the formation of a blood clot that blocks the flow of blood.
A blocked artery to the heart can cause a heart attack. A blocked artery in your brain can cause a stroke.
What are the symptoms of high cholesterol in the body?
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- There are no apparent symptoms in day-to-day living. I diverge here to share a personal experience. A family relative in her early sixties has cholesterol deposits in light yellow strips in different face parts. The doctor identified it as a cholesterol deposit and took care of it. As years go by, one can get a heart attack and brain stroke if you don’t take care of the situation.
- You talk to your doctor and use medication, alter your diet, exercise, and change your lifestyle early on.
- Recognize the fact that if either or one of your parents has high cholesterol, you inherit it.
How does the body get excess cholesterol?
Poor diet.
Overeating saturated fat or trans fats can result in unhealthy cholesterol levels. Saturated fats are found in fatty cuts of meat and full-fat dairy products.
What are the signs of high cholesterol in the brain?
While you need some cholesterol for your brain to function optimally, too much of it can be damaging. Excess cholesterol in the arteries can lead to strokes — a disruption in blood flow that can damage parts of the brain, leading to memory loss, movement, difficulty with swallowing and speech, and other functions.
How do you measure high cholesterol in the brain?
- While brain cholesterol cannot be measured directly in vivo, oxysterol, 24S-hydroxycholesterol (24-OHC), is the predominant metabolite of brain cholesterol and can be measured in the blood.
Would you eat excess egg and cheese daily if you have high cholesterol?
Not necessarily. Reducing the amount of unhealthy fats you consume is vital to lowering your high cholesterol. But you don’t have to completely rid your diet of eggs, meat, and dairy products to make it more cholesterol-friendly. You can incorporate these foods into your diet in a healthy way.
Would you always have a high triglyceride level when you have high cholesterol?
When coupled with high LDL cholesterol or low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides can lead to a buildup of fat in the artery walls and increase your risk of heart attack and stroke, according to the AHA. Knowing these numbers is an integral part of managing your cardiovascular disease risk. We will do another post on triglycerides.
What happens if I don’t eat any cholesterol-containing food?
While it is not recommended to eliminate all cholesterol-containing foods from your diet, as cholesterol is an essential component of cell membranes and is involved in various bodily functions, reducing your intake of dietary cholesterol can have several benefits for your overall health:
What are the recent guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) for lifestyle change and cholesterol consideration?
Does a person having high cholesterol necessarily have high triglyceride
What actions do you take if you have high cholesterol?
Eating a heart-healthy diet
From a dietary standpoint, the best way to lower your cholesterol is to reduce your intake of saturated fat and trans fat. The American Heart Association recommends limiting saturated fat to less than 6% of daily calories and minimizing the amount of trans fat you eat.
Reducing these fats means limiting your intake of red meat and dairy products made with whole milk. Choose skim milk or low-fat or fat-free dairy products instead. It also means limiting fried food and cooking with healthy oils, such as vegetable oil.
A heart-healthy diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry, fish, nuts, and nontropical vegetable oils while limiting red and processed meats, sodium and sugar-sweetened foods and beverages.
Exercise regularly.
Quit smoking and limit alcohol intake.
Sleep well. Center your mind and reduce stress by various means that are at your disposal.
Use Medication if necessary, As per your doctor’s advice. Follow up with your doctor’s appointment. Ask your doctor if you could benefit from having an electronic cholesterol-measuring gadget.
Summary: A Stroke-Free Future: The Power of Cholesterol Knowledge
As you embark on your journey towards a stroke-free life, remember that knowledge is your most potent weapon. By arming yourself with an understanding of cholesterol, its types, and its impact on your health, you can make informed choices and adopt a lifestyle that supports cardiovascular well-being.
Embrace a diet rich in heart-healthy foods, engage in regular physical activity, maintain a healthy weight, and quit smoking – all these steps contribute significantly to lowering LDL cholesterol and enhancing your overall health. Regular checkups with your healthcare provider are crucial to monitor cholesterol levels, identify potential risks, and receive personalized guidance.
Prevention is always the better path. By taking control of your cholesterol levels today, you invest in a healthier, stroke-free future.
