There are many questions about cholesterol. What should we know? How can we control it? We've all had these tests done, but do we really know what cholesterol is, how it's produced, and how it affects our health?
Cholesterol
It's important to understand that our bodies need cholesterol because it's a component of body tissues and blood plasma, and it also plays a vital role in the formation of bile, cell membranes, and certain hormones. Most cholesterol is produced in the liver, and the rest comes from our diet.
LDL and HDL
- LDL: This is called bad cholesterol, which sticks to the arteries. A normal range (in people without other health conditions) is considered to be up to 130 mg/dL.
- HDL: This type of cholesterol, called "good" cholesterol, removes the remaining pieces of LDL and returns them to the liver. The normal range for women without other health conditions is considered to be around 50 mg/dL, and for men around 40 mg/dL.
Diseases that alter cholesterol levels
- Obesity or overweight
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes and hypothyroidism
- Tobacco use (reduces HDL cholesterol) and excessive alcohol consumption
- Sedentary lifestyle
- To be a man over 45 years old
- Being a woman over 55 years of age or post-menopause
- Having a close relative, parents or siblings, with a cardiovascular disease.
I have high cholesterol. How does it manifest itself?
Anyone can have it high cholesterol, This disease does not produce symptoms; it is a silent pathology which poses a risk to the heart.
What test should I take to measure my cholesterol?
Lipid profile test which measures blood fats and the cholesterol where you can see the HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides are measured. This test is performed using a blood sample and requires a 12-hour fast and abstaining from alcohol the night before. Learn more about our laboratory and sample collection services at our family clinics.
Treatment
It is verified that the cholesterol high is not altered by another disease such as for example thyroid, When high cholesterol comes from another pathology, the focus is on controlling where it originates.
If a special diet and exercise are not recommended, avoid saturated animal fats (cheese, meat, sausages, butter, whole milk, organ meats, sea urchins, crustaceans, shrimp, prawns, etc.) and increase your intake of vegetables, fish, and low-fat dairy products.
If cholesterol cannot be lowered or levels are very high, medication is used. When medication is used, it is for life.
Conclusions
In our family health centers Located in Dallas and Fort Worth, we are committed to prevention, so we recommend being clear on this topic:
- Continue routine checkups from age 18
- It's important to understand that cholesterol is hereditary, so if there's a family history, it needs to be controlled.
- High cholesterol doesn't cause symptoms, but if detected early, heart attacks or strokes can be prevented.
- One-third of the population owes their high cholesterol to environmental factors such as diet.
- Cigarettes lower "good cholesterol"; exercise raises it.
- Women in the premenopausal stage have high levels of "good cholesterol" because estrogen levels rise. After menopause, this protection is lost.
At Clínica Hispana del Metroplex laboratories, we use cutting-edge technology, incorporating concepts such as efficiency, effectiveness, productivity, and automation, which has allowed us to provide faster and more reliable results.
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We accept walk-ins., We are committed to the well-being of all families, we are dedicated to prevention, and we are growing to be more near you.
