September is National Cholesterol Education Month and the Heart Health Centre, in partnership with Kirk Supermarket and Pharmacy and the Health Services Authority, will be conducting free health screening checks that include cholesterol, blood pressure, and body mass index checks on Friday, September 17, between 4:00pm-8:00pm at Kirks supermarket. 

It is well known that high cholesterol levels put you at greater risk of heart disease but as Jodie Kelley, education and programs coordinator at the Heart Health Centre points out. “You can have high blood cholesterol and not know it but high cholesterol is a major controllable risk factor for heart disease, heart attack and stroke. This month is a good time to have your cholesterol checked. It’s also a good time to learn about food and lifestyle choices that can help you reach and maintain heart healthy cholesterol levels.”

Cholesterol is found in all cells of the human body. It is naturally made by the liver and is used for the production of hormones, vitamin D, and bile acids to help you digest fat. Cholesterol is a waxy type substance as it appears in the body and if there is too much blood cholesterol, some of the excess can become trapped in the walls of your arteries. This build-up is known as plaque and it becomes very dangerous as over time, plaque can narrow vessels and make them less flexible a process called atherosclerosis and when atherosclerosis affects the arteries of your heart, this condition is called coronary heart disease.  If the coronary arteries become partly blocked with plaque, blood flow is slowed to the heart muscle and can cause chest pain, or angina.  If blood supply is completely cut off by a blockage the result is a heart attack. 

Now we all probably know this but obviously a lot of us choose to ignore it because heart disease is the number one killer of women and men around the world. The only accurate way of knowing if you have high cholesterol levels is through a test .

Good and bad cholesterol

Like oil and water, cholesterol and blood do not mix. To travel in the bloodstream, cholesterol is attached to proteins and this combination of proteins and cholesterol is called lipoproteins.  Two common lipoproteins which carry cholesterol are:  LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein).  LDL (bad) cholesterol is the main source of artery causing plaque.  The chance of a heart attack becomes higher with elevated levels of LDL.  HDL (good) cholesterol on the other hand helps to keep LDL cholesterol from being lodged into your artery walls. It carries cholesterol back to your liver for removal from the body.

A blood test called a lipoprotein profile will measure your total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglyceride blood levels.

Understanding the numbers 

A desirable total cholesterol level is less than 200mg/dL.

HDL (good) cholesterol protects against heart disease and helps keep cholesterol from building up in the arteries.  For HDL, higher numbers are better.  HDL levels of 60mg/dL or more help to lower your risk for heart disease.

LDL (bad) cholesterol is the main source of cholesterol build-up and blockage in the arteries.  For LDL, lower numbers are better.  Optimum LDL level is less than 100mg/dL.

Triglycerides are another form of blood fat that can also raise heart disease risk.  Triglyceride level should be less than 150mg/dL

What affects cholesterol levels

Various factors can cause unhealthy cholesterol levels. Some factors cannot be changed but most can be modified.  Factors beyond our control include heredity, age, and sex but even young people can have high cholesterol levels

Diet:  Saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol in your food contribute to elevated cholesterol levels.  Reducing the amounts of these fats will help to lower your levels.

Weight:  Being overweight is a risk factor for heart disease and tends to increase your cholesterol.  Losing the extra pounds may help you lower your LDL and triglycerides, while raising your HDL.

Physical Activity:  Inactivity is another risk factor for heart disease.  Regular activity helps you lose weight and improve your cholesterol profile.  Thirty minutes of physical activity most days of the week should be your goal.

Along with diet, weight management, and physical activity your doctor may prescribe medication to help lower your cholesterol levels.  It’s important to talk with your doctor, know your risk factors, monitor your cholesterol profile, and develop a plan to reach heart healthy cholesterol numbers.

Information provided by the Heart Health Centre, “Your Guide to Lowering Your Cholesterol with Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes” and the U.S. National Cholesterol Education Program.