September is National Cholesterol Education Awareness Month. And while most of us have heard of cholesterol and have some vague notion that it is bad, some of us have little understanding of what it is, how it works and that cholesterol isn’t necessarily all bad.
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that is found in every cell of the body. In fact, your body NEEDS some amount of cholesterol in order to make important hormones, to digest foods and to make Vitamin D. But having too much cholesterol — and the wrong type — can put us at risk for a variety of health issues, including heart disease, vascular disease and stroke.
But not all cholesterol is alike. LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, otherwise known as the bad cholesterol, can build up in the arteries of the heart and brain, leaving us at risk for stroke and heart disease. Atherosclerosis is the condition where this plaque builds up and narrows and hardens the arteries.
HDL and LDL; What Do They Mean?
Conversely, HDL, or high-density lipoprotein can pick up excess cholesterol particles and bring them back to the liver, making it the good cholesterol. This, in turn, protects you from the very thing that LDL puts you at risk of. The higher your level of HDL, the better. This is higher than 55mg/dL for women and 45 mg/dL for men.
Cholesterol has two different sources, your body and food. The body produces approximately 75% of cholesterol whereas the remaining 25% comes from food. Although genetics can affect LDL levels, most high LDL levels are caused by lifestyle and the food we eat.
Lowering LDL levels can be attained by paying attention to the food you eat, the exercise you get, and the maintenance of a healthy weight. In some cases where lifestyle changes have not helped sufficiently, a doctor may prescribe a statin drug. Similarly, these very same lifestyle changes will increase HDL levels.
It’s important to understand your cholesterol levels, primarily LDL. A complete cholesterol test is a blood test that will test for four types of fats in your blood — your total cholesterol, your HDL, your LDL, and your triglycerides. Triglycerides are the excess calories your body converts into stored fat. This level is the one most associated with weight, sugar intake, alcohol intake, smoking, lack of exercise or having diabetes.
When To Get Tested?
You should have a complete cholesterol test if you:
- Have a family history of high cholesterol
- Have a family history of heart attacks
- Are overweight
- Lead a sedentary lifestyle
- Eat an unhealthy diet
- Smoke
- Are a male over 45 years of age or female over 55 years of age
Your health and longevity are important, both for you and your family. Lifestyle changes and testing are simple ways that you can take care of yourself so you can live a long and healthy life.
At Vital Imaging, our mission is to provide health-centric information and tools, cutting edge technology and the most exceptional patient care in the industry. We are here to support you each step of the way toward a healthier lifestyle. Call us today (305) 596-9992 to schedule any diagnostic imaging tests you may need.