What is Cholesterol

For as long as I can remember there’s been a lot of talk about cholesterol. And for years, I’ve pretty much ignored it. But, hey—I’m getting older; I’m starting to think a bit about “health issues.” Much of the talk about this stuff makes me concerned about my heart: hardening of the arteries, heart disease, heart attack, stroke (So, cholesterol isn’t good for my brain either?). Do I have reason to be concerned? I wanted to know, so I did a little research. —Here’s what I found:

Cholesterol is an alcohol. It is carried through our body by blood. And, in fact, it can be found in every one of our cells. It mainly functions in building cell membranes and some hormones. So, it’s certainly necessary. But, with cholesterol, as with so many other things—when there is too much of it, it presents a potential for trouble. Too much cholesterol (high cholesterol or hypercholesterolemia) contributes to the risk of heart disease and possible heart attack.

Excess cholesterol is carried by blood from our cells to the liver where it is broken down for excretion. (The liver also manufactures cholesterol.) It is carried along in the blood stream by proteins called lipoproteins (fatty protiens). That combination forms a soft waxy substance in the blood. Basically, it is a solid mass moved along by our blood; it does not dissolve. It’s possible for some of this substance to settle out of the blood and adhere to artery walls. Of particular concern are low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL).

LDL is the most common cholesterol in our blood. It’s called bad cholesterol because we are likely to have an excessive amount of it. When there is too much LDL cholesterol in our blood, it can settle and build up on the walls of arteries. This forms a thick hard deposit. The deposit becomes a plaque that narrows arterial passages and constricts the flow of blood. This is a condition called atherosclerosis. The constricted blood flow increases the possibility of clot formation. When a clot cuts off or significantly reduces the flow of blood to the heart, a heart attack is quite likely. Or, the blocking of blood to the brain may cause a stroke. To prevent this doctors recommend keeping your LDL level at or below100 mg/dL.

In contrast HDL cholesterol is called good cholesterol. This form takes the the excess away from the arteries and to the liver. It may even have a scrubbing effect that causes some settled LDL to move along. Doctors recommend levels of at least 60 mg/dL. They believe that as too much LDL contributes to the risks of stroke and heart attack, the opposite is true of HDL—too little will introduce a risk factor.

There does seem to be reason for concern. Maybe ignoring the cholesterol issue isn’t such a good idea? I did some further research to find out what can cause high cholesterol. I learned my body makes enough cholesterol for its needs (sometimes more than it needs) and that the food I eat can contribute to any excess. I read about testing and the medicines doctors prescribe for control. Medicine is best discussed with a personal physician, but I also found some lifestyle suggestions that seem to be practical for anyone, especially if they have a cholesterol problem. Among the things that contribute to cholesterol levels and heart health are diet and exercise. We can exert a significant control of these.

In addition to cholesterol, I found quite a lot of information about factors that can contribute or be a detriment to heart health. I’ll share some of this in future blogs.