When to worry about cholesterol levels

Several factors must be considered to prevent problems with high cholesterol. In this article, let's see how to maintain optimal cholesterol levels.

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Your body needs natural lipid cholesterol to maintain its proper functioning. Cholesterol is mainly made in the liver and can be obtained by eating certain foods and is found in all body cells. Therefore, it is very important to maintain optimal cholesterol levels so that the body can perform all functions.

What is cholesterol?

First, cholesterol is involved in the formation of bile acids, which are essential for the digestion or assimilation of fats.

It also produces vitamin D through exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D protects the skin from irritating chemicals, thus preventing dehydration. Moreover, it is essential for calcium metabolism, which is beneficial for bone health.

In addition, cholesterol is also a precursor to hormones such as cortisol and thyroid and sex hormones.

This is not the end. Cholesterol also plays an important role in determining the risk of cardiovascular disease. Atherosclerotic plaques can form on arterial walls from sediments of these molecules. If that happens, it will inevitably harm our health.

Types of cholesterol

First of all, it is important to know that cholesterol is transported from the liver or intestines to the rest of the tissue that needs blood. This is caused by the help of molecules called proteins.

There are two types of this protein.

Low Density Protein.This protein transports new cholesterol from the production site to the rest of the body's cells.

High-density protein (HDL): This protein transports cholesterol back from the cell to the liver.

Therefore, there are two types of cholesterol.

Bad cholesterol: This is cholesterol that binds to LDL and precipitates in the artery walls. In this case, the level must be lowered.

Good cholesterol: This is the cholesterol that carries excess cholesterol to the production site when attached to the HDL protein.

When to worry about cholesterol levels

• High levels of cholesterol cause cholesterol. Therefore, it is important to maintain optimal cholesterol levels. People with cholesterol levels of 240 mg/dl have been shown to have a higher risk of heart attack.
• Cholesterol levels can exceed the ability of HDL to return to the liver. Storage occurs when cells in the body fail to absorb these excess molecules at the blood level. It occurs in the arterial wall and accelerates the atherosclerotic process. The narrowing of the arteries occurs slowly and must be quiet but dangerous.
• It is important to lower cholesterol levels in patients who already have a heart attack or have a risk of stroke. And overall, it is very important to have a clean artery.

Optimal cholesterol levels and their modifications

Next, we will look at what is the optimal cholesterol level.

Total cholesterol

Normal: less than 200mg/dl

Moderate-high: 200-240 mg/dl

High: more than 240mg/dl

Cholesterol occurs when the total cholesterol level is higher than 200 mg/dl.

LDL cholesterol

Normal: less than 100mg/dl

Moderate-high: 100-160 mg/dl

High: 160 mg/dl or more

In some cases, the desired LDL level is less than 70 mg/dl.

HDL cholesterol

Normal: 35 mg/dl or more for men and 40 mg/dl or more for women

Triglyceride

Normal: less than 150mg/dl

Moderate-high: 100-500 mg/dl

High: 500mg/dl or more

Hypertriglyceridemia occurs when triglyceride levels are higher than 150-200 mg/dl.

Reasons for performing the inspection

In general, men should undergo these tests before age 35. Women are before the age of 45. If you have other conditions, it is a good idea to get tested before this age. Conditions include diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, or a family history of these diseases.

Additional inspections should be performed in the following specific situations:

If the number is normal, the test is repeated every 5 years.

People with diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease or stroke should be tested more often.

Levels of control should be assessed annually if patients are taking medications that help control blood cholesterol levels.