What is cholesterol and why you should be concerned

So what is Cholesterol anyway?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in the all cells of the body. Cholesterol can generally be classified into three distinct types:

• Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL): Often referred to as “bad” cholesterol.
• High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL): Often referred to as “good” cholesterol.
• Triglycerides: A kind of fat found in your blood.

Importance: 

Cholesterol is vital for building cells, producing hormones and vitamin D. High levels of LDL can lead to plaque buildup in arteries and increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. Hence it is important to maintain a balance between cholesterol types.

Causes:

As with most health concerns, there are various causes. Here are the most pertinent ones:

• Diet: High intake of saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol-rich foods.
• Lifestyle factors: Lack of physical activity, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption.
• Genetics: Family history of high cholesterol can increase risk.
• Other factors: Age, gender, and certain medical conditions such as diabetes and hypothyroidism.

Associated Risks of High Cholesterol:

The very mention of cholesterol can strike fear in our hearts, but what negative outcomes are a possible result?

• Atherosclerosis: Buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in and on the artery walls.
• Heart Disease: Increased risk of coronary artery disease and heart attacks.
• Stroke: Elevated risk due to potential blood clots that can block blood flow to the brain.
• Peripheral Arterial Disease: Narrowing of the arteries in the limbs.

Indicators, Management, and Prevention:

The best early warning indicators to check if you may be at risk, are Lipid Palen Tests (in the form of blood tests), often carried out at health screenings and health checkups. This test measures total cholesterol, across all three types. It is recommended to have your cholesterol checked every four years for adults over 20 years old, with increased frequency, if there are additional risk factors.

It’s not all doom and gloom regarding cholesterol as there are holistic ways of keeping your cholesterol levels healthy. The best place to start would be keeping a healthy diet, with an emphasis on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats. This can be reinforced with regular exercise consisting of sessions lasting at least 30 minutes.

High cholesterol levels can also be combated by lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, and stress management. Additionally, medications like Statins, bile-acid-binding resins, and other medicines may be prescribed by doctors.

We hope this has been an informative article on cholesterol. From all of us here at Keppel Club, we wish our members the very best of health.