Most
people fear cholesterol, believing it is all bad. But new studies found that
people actually need some cholesterol to be healthy.
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| A normal cholesterol level can be maintained through a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle |
MediCard
president and CEO Dr. Nicky Montoya says, “People cannot live without
cholesterol. Health risks increase when there are worse than good cholesterol
in the body.”
Cholesterol
is a naturally occurring substance produced by the liver. The body transports
cholesterol from the liver by coating it with a water-soluble “bubble” of
protein called lipoproteins. Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) carry cholesterol
to the tissues. This is the "bad" cholesterol. High LDL levels are linked to increased risk for heart disease.
High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) carry excess cholesterol back to the liver, which
processes and excretes it. The more HDLs, "good" cholesterol, the
body has, the lower the risk of heart disease.
Contrary
to what many people think, the body actually needs a good amount of cholesterol
to function properly. The liver produces
about a thousand milligrams of cholesterol per day, the exact amount the body
needs.
Cholesterol
is essential for cell structure, healthy brain development, as well as to
produce hormones like estrogen, testosterone and adrenal hormones. It also
boosts metabolism because cholesterol helps the body produce vitamin D. Cholesterol
produces bile acids that help the body digest fat and absorb essential
nutrients.
Dr.
Montoya says, “A healthy HDL level may protect against heart attack and stroke.
The more HDL you have, the lower your risk for developing heart disease.” Too
much LDL, on the other hand, cause fatty buildups or plaques that narrow
arteries, raising the risk for heart attack and stroke.
Too high
LDL levels can cause atherosclerosis, a dangerous accumulation of cholesterol
and other deposits on the walls of the arteries, reducing blood flow.That can
lead to chest pain and heart attack if it occurs in the arteries of the heart
and stroke, if it occurs in the arteries of the brain.
A low cholesterol level can also cause health problems. “Some pregnant women with low total cholesterol are more likely to give birth prematurely and have babies with low birth weight. Low total cholesterol level has also been linked to cancer, hemorrhagic stroke, anxiety and depression,” says Dr. Montoya. He recommends keeping the total cholesterol level under 200 mg/dl (milligrams per decilitre), about the average for adults.
A normal
cholesterol level can be maintained through a healthy lifestyle, the key to
long life. High amounts of saturated fat, found in fatty meats, processed
meats, junk foods and baked goods like cakes, biscuits and pastries, in the
diet can increase cholesterol level.
Lean meat
and fish should be added to the diet at least twice a week. Two and a half hours of workout each week can
also help lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol. Most
importantly, Dr. Montoya advises against smoking as it damages the walls of the
blood vessels resulting in the accumulation of fatty deposits.
He also
recommends regular cholesterol test, a blood test that measures the amount of
cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. A cholesterol test is essential,
especially if a person has a family history of high cholesterol levels or heart
disease, is overweight, drinks alcohol frequently, smokes, has diabetes, kidney
disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, or underactive thyroid gland. He suggests
testing every five years beginning at age 20.
To help
people know their cholesterol levels, MediCard has free-standing clinics in key
cities nationwide that offer blood cholesterol test and consultations. Visit a
MediCard clinic near you or check out their website, www.medicardphils.com,
for more information.
