What do cholesterol levels mean?

What Does It Mean To Have A Cholesterol Level?

Cholesterol is a fatty substance present in the blood. Every time we talk about it, we think that it is a problem for our health, but in fact, cholesterol is essential for life: with it, most hormones are formed and bile acids (necessary for normal digestion) are built up.

Types Of Cholesterol

“Cholesterol not only travels in the blood, but it is also transported with specific lipoproteins, such as HDL, for good cholesterol, and LDL, for bad cholesterol, or low-density lipoproteins,” José Luis Palma, vice president of the Heart Foundation (FEC), explained. Palma explained that cholesterol moves inside these molecules enters the tissues and performs its functions.” In addition to forming certain proteins and hormones, it gives stability and firmness to the cell membranes, without cholesterol we cannot live, and a lot of cholesterol means that we do not look either,” he recalled. We can distinguish between

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol

HDL cholesterol, also known as good cholesterol, gets its name from the combination of cholesterol and HDL. When these binds together, the excess cholesterol is transported to the liver, where it is destroyed. Once it reaches the liver, it is stored there or excreted by the bile.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol

Known as bad cholesterol, when it binds to LDL particles, it is deposited on the walls of arteries, forming atherosclerotic plaques that block the flow of blood and can cause heart attacks.

VLDL cholesterol

VLDL cholesterol is responsible for transporting triglycerides.

Total cholesterol

The sum of HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and VLDL cholesterol.

What Is The Normal Level Of Cholesterol?

When it comes to cholesterol levels, Palma explains that it depends on each person, the cardiovascular risk factors they have and their age, which means there is no standard number for everyone. Considering that each case is analyzed individually, the FEC vice president pointed out that patients with significant cardiovascular risk factors, such as smoking, previous myocardial infarction, angina or coronary artery bypass, etc. Patients with hypertension or diabetes should ideally have total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL and LDL (bad cholesterol) between 70 and 75 mg/dL, while HDL (good cholesterol) should be higher than 45 mg/dL for men and 50 mg/dL for women. of blood is desirable.” However, this number is not easy to achieve.” Apostil Palma. “When we talk about people without hypertension or diabetes, which are not major risk factors for a healthy life, levels are generally in the figure between 220 and 230 mg/dL, which is always desirable to tolerate LDL between 100 and 110 mg/dL of mercury,” he added.

How Do You Maintain Cholesterol Levels At The Right Level?

In this sense, the FEC Vice President stressed that people without risk factors and with a cholesterol of 220 or 230 should be advised to live an active life.” Exercise, follow a healthy diet (basically a Mediterranean diet), drink alcohol in moderation, do not smoke, maintain an ideal weight, and consume vegetable fats such as olive oil (the best-monounsaturated fat available). If you have a history of cardiovascular disease or other associated risk factors, then you need to follow these recommendations in addition to diet and more exercise; if these lifestyle changes do not lower your cholesterol, your doctor will prescribe medications that will help lower your cholesterol. It needs to be done. “Patients at risk (especially after age 40) should consider and follow these recommendations to increase their consumption of vegetables, legumes, and vegetable fats, maintain a normal weight and avoid other risk factors such as obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, stress, and smoking. According to him, “All of these risk factors, including cholesterol, increase the likelihood of cardiovascular disease.” Finally, Palma reminds everyone that after the age of 40, cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels must be controlled.