Cholesterol Awareness

Cholesterol- What it is and how to keep it from taking control of you.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a lipid, a type of soft, waxy fat found in the body. Having high "bad" cholesterol means you have too much LDL (low-density lipoprotein) in your blood. Aside from the cholesterol that is produced by your body, common sources of cholesterol include: meat, fish, poultry, eggs, butter, cheese, milk, and other animal products.

What is cholesterol used for in the body?

Cholesterol is very important to us but only in the right amounts. Too much can lead to strokes or heart Disease and so, keeping your cholesterol levels in check is very important. Cholesterol is used by the body in the production of cell membranes and is an important part of some of the hormones in our bodies.

What is “Good Cholesterol” and what is “Bad Cholesterol”?

Good cholesterol or HDL is a substance that binds to the “Bad Cholesterol” and stops it from building up in your arteries. It then moves it to your liver where it is broken down and no longer harmful to you.

Bad cholesterol or LDL is the cholesterol that is necessary for the production of cell membranes and other hormones in your body. Excess LDL cholesterol builds up in your blood stream making plaques which over time causes clogging of your arteries which in turn leads to heart disease, stroke, and the disruption of kidney and intestinal function. Poor circulation, also a result of plaque buildup, impairs movement of the limbs. Fragments of the plaques may break off and travel through the bloodstream to obstruct smaller vessels.

If Cholesterol is so important, then why is it so dangerous?

LDL cholesterol is found in your blood stream and can build up in your arteries. When this happens your artery becomes clogged and makes blood flow very difficult. These build ups usually occur near the heart which is why they are even more dangerous. The plaque build ups cause thickening of the artery walls which leads to Arteriosclerosis.

Arteriosclerosis is when the walls of the arteries thicken, harden, and lose their elasticity. The blood vessel channels develop twists and turns and become narrowed so that the heart must work harder than normal to pump blood through the arteries. In the disease’s advanced stage, there is a risk of a decrease in blood flow and oxygen supply to all parts of the body. The disorder, commonly known as hardening of the arteries, develops as people age, but its severity varies greatly from person to person. Little is known about the cause of arteriosclerosis. Heredity appears to play a role in many cases. Lifestyle factors, such as continual stress or a diet abundant in animal fats, also appear to contribute to the condition.

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