Medical Insurance and Health Care

Cholesterol
High blood cholesterol is a major cardiovascular risk factors. Studies show that lowering blood cholesterol reduces the risk of heart disease.

What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fatty substance (a lipid) present in all body cells. The liver makes all the cholesterol your body needs to form cell membranes and produce certain hormones. When we eat animal foods such as meat, eggs and dairy products, Extra cholesterol enters the body. Although we often blame the rise in blood cholesterol to cholesterol in the foods we eat, the main cause of this increase is actually saturated fat. The fat dairy, red meat fat and tropical oils such as coconut oil are some foods rich in saturated fat.

The blood cholesterol levels, which indicate the amount of lipids or fats in the blood, expressed in milligrams per deciliter (mg / dl). In general, we recommend a cholesterol level below 200 mg / dl. Among the 200 mg / dl and 239 mg / dl, cholesterol is considered high or borderline and it is advisable to reduce it. A level of 240 mg / dl or more is considered high cholesterol and need to take steps to reduce it. Some ways to reduce cholesterol levels are changing your diet, begin an exercise program and take cholesterol-lowering drugs.

The country of high cholesterol
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), more than 98 million American adults have cholesterol levels of 200 mg / dl or more. Of these, nearly 34 million have cholesterol levels of 240 mg / dl or more. The levels are generally higher in menstruating women because the hormone estrogen increases levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL), the “good cholesterol”.

The risk of high cholesterol, or hypercholesterolemia, tends to increase with age, and the disorder is more common in women than in men. Obesity of any kind, physical inactivity and diabetes are major risk factors.

The Good, the Bad, the total
The blood carries cholesterol to cells in special carrier particles called ‘lipoproteins’. Two of the most important are lipoproteins of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL). Physicians evaluate the relationship between LDL, HDL, and a fat called “triglycerides” and the relationship between them and total cholesterol.

Low-density lipoprotein
The particles of LDL transport cholesterol to the cells. LDL cholesterol is often called “bad cholesterol” because it is believed that elevated levels of this substance contribute to cardiovascular disease. Too much LDL in the blood leads to an accumulation of fat (called “plaque”) on the walls of the arteries, which begins the process of atherosclerosis. When plaque builds up in the coronary arteries supplying the heart, increases the risk of heart attack. LDL levels may be elevated in people whose diet is high in saturated fat, cholesterol, or both. Sometimes an underactive thyroid gland (which is called “hypothyroidism”) can also raise LDL levels.

High density lipoprotein
The particles of HDL transport cholesterol from your cells back to the liver where it can be eliminated from the body. HDL is called “good cholesterol” because it is believed that elevated levels of this substance reduces cardiovascular risk. People with low levels of HDL have an increased cardiovascular risk, even if your total cholesterol is below 200 mg / dl. Low levels of HDL are often a result of physical inactivity, obesity or smoking. It is also common for people with type 2 diabetes have low levels of HDL cholesterol. Men generally have lower levels of HDL cholesterol than women, because the female hormone estrogen increases HDL. But when women stop menstruating, your HDL levels can decrease.

Triglycerides
Triglycerides are fats that provide energy to muscles. Like cholesterol, are transported into the cells of the body by lipoproteins from the blood. A diet high in saturated fats or carbohydrates can raise triglyceride levels. It is believed that high levels increase the cardiovascular risk, but not all scientists agree that elevated triglyceride levels, independent of other factors, are a cardiovascular risk factor. People with high triglycerides often are obese or have low levels of HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes, all cardiovascular risk factors. Very high levels of triglycerides (1000 mg / dl) may cause abdominal pain and a potentially fatal disease of the pancreas called “pancreatitis.”

Total cholesterol
Total blood cholesterol is the sum of cholesterol carried in LDL particles, HDL and other lipoproteins. All adults over age 20 should have a full lipoprotein profile every 5 years. You need to fast for 10 to 12 hours before the test and during that space of time allowed is the only liquid water. This full profile to determine the levels of total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides. LDL is the major lipid to predict cardiovascular risk.

If measured cholesterol levels from a blood sample taken on an empty stomach, ie the patient having eaten within 10 to 12 hours before the test will only be possible to calculate the total and HDL cholesterol. If the results indicate a high total cholesterol or low HDL cholesterol, or if the patient has other cardiovascular risk factors, your doctor may order a complete lipoprotein profile.

In this way, doctors can evaluate the results of full lipoprotein profile and other cardiovascular risk factors of the patient, and use a risk assessment tool to better predict the likelihood of suffering a heart attack within 10 years.