Lifestyle7 myths about cholesterol that you need to disprove for the benefit of your health

7 myths about cholesterol that you need to disprove for the benefit of your health

Surely there are many things you know about this old acquaintance of medical check-ups. For example There are 2 types of cholesterol: LDL and HDL cholesterol.. The first is known as bad cholesterol, since it contributes to the accumulation of fat in the arteries, and HDL is the good type that helps eliminate excess in the arteries.

If you have too much LDL or too little HDL, cholesterol can combine with other substances and form plaque inside your arteries, making them narrow and hard. increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. But if you think you only need to worry about not having high levels of the “bad guy,” you’re kind of wrong.

Perhaps you also did not know that it is essential for life. Cholesterol is a basic component of the animal cell membrane and is manufactured by your body in the liver—although it can also be taken in through the diet. These are lipoproteins, that is, a combination of lipids (fats) and proteins, present in your blood.

The normal cholesterol levels they vary according to age, weight and sex. In general, healthy total values ​​are all those below 200 mg/dl. Ideally, LDL levels should be less than 100 mg/dl.

If you are concerned about cholesterol, perhaps your triglyceride level should also be concerned, since it is a type of fat present in your blood, which in high concentrations can also increase cardiovascular risk.

With all that said, here’s 7 false beliefs about cholesterol that you should clarify since they could put your health at risk.

cholesterol is bad

doctor

Cholesterol tends to be seen as something negative that needs to be lowered, but the reality is that your body you need it for the synthesis of vitamin D and sex hormones, as well as being present in all cells.

Cholesterol is an essential molecule to cover various metabolic functionsand we manufacture what we need”, commented the nutritionist and biologist Juan Revenga in conversation with Business Insider Spain. It can also be incorporated through food, since it is present in foods of animal origin such as eggs, meat or cheese.

Plus optimal HDL levels helps transport cholesterol back to the liver to be eliminated from the body. This reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke.

If I had high cholesterol I would notice it.

cholesterol, heart healthcholesterol, heart health

The how high cholesterol manifests itself in your body it is through a myocardial infarction or stroke. Consequence of fatty deposits accumulated in the blood vessels, which hinder the circulation of blood through the arteries, which can form a clot and give rise to these tragic incidents.

Or put in a softer way, high cholesterol has no warning signs or symptoms. So the way to detect it in time and remedy it is through check-ups that include a blood test. However, 7 out of 10 Spaniards have not had a cholesterol check in the last year.

I’m a healthy weight, so I can’t have high cholesterol

scale, weight, lose weightscale, weight, lose weight

Being overweight and having an unhealthy diet can more easily lead to elevated levels. On the contrary, each kilogram of weight loss is associated with a 0.8 mg/dL decrease in LdL levelsaccording to a 2017 review published in the british medical journal.

This does not mean, however, that a thin person may not be at risk of high cholesterol. As the specialists emphasize, This is often due to factors such as genetics. It can also influence the thyroid function, medications, exercise, sleep, and diet, list in Medical News Today Alexandra Lajoie, a cardiologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

You don’t need to control “good” cholesterol

Man taking blood pressure to check cholesterolMan taking blood pressure to check cholesterol

Undoubtedly one of the Biggest myths about cholesterol. The term “good” refers to HDL (high-density lipoprotein), which has a protective function against diseases of the heart and blood vessels. So their levels tend to go more unnoticed.

However, this tag may be on its way to becoming obsolete. In recent years it has become clear how the “good” cholesterol could also compromise health.

Research recently published in JAMA Cardiology has found that at elevated levels high-density lipoprotein cholesterol can carry a risk of fracture in the elderly, and may contribute to the loss of bone density.

A study, carried out in 2018 on 116,000 people in Denmark, showed that both high and low levels of HDL in the blood were associated with a significantly increased risk of both infectious diseases and death.

What is good cholesterol and what is it for?

The results, published in the European Heart Journal reveal that people with high HDL levels had a 43% increased risk of hospitalization. In men, this also carried twice the chance of dying during the study compared to patients with moderate HDL. For women, the risk was 68% higher.

Last year, Harvard research also found that there are several subtypes of “good” HDL cholesterol, and that some of them they can also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

If I am a woman I do not have to worry about cholesterol levels

cardiovascular disease, medical, heart problemscardiovascular disease, medical, heart problems

Cholesterol, like cardiovascular conditions, is not just a men’s issue. Women can also reach high levels, depending on their genetics or lifestyle. Especially after menopause, says Dr. Samia Mora, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and specialist in Cardiovascular Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

In this regard the campaign Your cholesterol, more than a number carried out in Madrid, Seville and Bilbao by the Spanish Heart Foundation (FEC) detected that more than half (54%) of the adults in the sample (1,855 patients over 18 years of age) suffered from hypercholesterolemia. The figure rose to 61% in relation to women.

It is important to keep this in mind because even though heart disease kills more women than menscientific evidence reveals that they are more likely to be misdiagnosed and less likely to opt for prompt and adequate treatment.

If I’m under 50 I don’t need to have my cholesterol checked

doctor, medical examination, healthdoctor, medical examination, health

“You don’t have to trust yourself because you’re young, you have to control hypertension, cholesterol, avoid tobacco, what are called vascular risk factors”, remarks the neurologist Débora María Cerdán Santacruz in the daily Segovia Day.

Although it tends to be associated as a problem that affects the older population, young people can also be affected, especially if they were born with high cholesterol.

This disease is called familial hypercholesterolemiaan inherited disorder that makes it difficult for the body to remove low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol from the blood.

As they explain from the Johns Hopkins Hospital, this implies that Since childhood, cholesterol accumulates on the walls of the arteries and veins, narrowing the ducts and drastically increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke at a very young age.

Since the body also produces more over time, doctors recommend that those over the age of 20 have their cholesterol levels checked, ideally every 5 years.

I can control my cholesterol with diet and exercise alone

women walking, walking, sport, exercisewomen walking, walking, sport, exercise

Eating healthy and exercising are valid strategies to naturally lower cholesterol. To which it is also possible to add losing weight if there is an excess, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption.

But unfortunately these tricks do not work for all cases, so for some people, reaching adequate cholesterol levels will involve taking medication like the popular statins. According to the CDC these cases include:

  • Having very high levels of “bad” cholesterol or familial hypercholesterolemia.
  • Previous cardiovascular diseases, since this can cause the arteries to be narrowed due to an excess of plaque (accumulation of fats, cholesterol and other substances).
  • Type 2 diabetes: This condition lowers HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels and raises “bad” cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

So it is convenient to talk to a doctor about the best way to control cholesterol.

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