CHRONIC HIGH CHOLESTEROL LEVELS ARE DANGEROUS

Most people know that high cholesterol levels are a bad thing, but few could actually tell you what they mean!

If your doctor tells you that you have high cholesterol levels, it means that you have an excess of cholesterol, one of the body's fats (lipids). Cholesterol is a key player as a building block in the structure of cells, and is also involved in making hormones and producing energy.

However, too much of this vital substance can lead to problems. It is not a disease in and of itself, but it can lead to other serious diseases such as arteriosclerosis, hardening and narrowing of the arteries.

When people refer to high cholesterol levels they are usually talking about elevated levels of LDL (low-density lipoprotein). There are actually two types of cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), also known as good cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), also known as bad cholesterol.

The reason we see them as good and bad is that HDL has a useful function, reducing cholesterol by taking excess amounts back to the liver, thus helping to protect against arteriosclerosis, while LDL contribute to cardiovascular disease.

What is thus crucial is a combination of total blood cholesterol levels, and also the ratio of LDL to HDL - these will influence your risk of arteriosclerosis.

Cholesterol levels are typically rated as follows:

Ideal: Blood cholesterol level less than 5mmol/l.

Mildly High: between 5 to 6.4mmol/l.

Moderately High: between 6.5 to 7.8mmol/l.

Very High: above 7.8mmol/l.

Anyone who has a history of cardiovascular disease (including angina, a previous heart attack, coronary angioplasty or coronary bypass surgery), or who has other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as smoking, diabetes and high blood pressure, should strive to keep their total cholesterol level below 5mmol/l or their LDL below 3mmol/l.

So how do you keep your cholesterol levels down? There are both hereditary and environmental factors that affect cholesterol levels, with some people suffering from inflated cholesterol levels that are inherited.

However, the major influence for most people is their diet. Research has clearly demonstrated that diets that are high in saturated fat will raise cholesterol levels. In particular, you should look to reduce or avoid sources of saturated fats, including: Sausages, Fatty Meats, Butter, Lard, Cheeses, Full fat Milk, Full Fat Yogurt, Cakes, Cookies, Ice Cream, Chips and Fast Foods.

The problem for many people is that there are few recognizable symptom of elevated cholesterol in the bloodstream - the only way to really find out is to have a blood test.

Other than that, the symptoms are typically those of arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis is the build up of fatty deposits or plaques on the walls of the arteries. Because of this build up, the arterial walls become hard and narrow losing their natural elasticity. It becomes harder and harder for the blood to flow through them, and eventually they can rupture.

When they rupture, blood can clot around the rupture, completely stopping the flow, and lumps of plaque can be released into the blood stream and carried elsewhere in the body, where they can form clots and blockages.

These clots can block major blood vessels in the lower limbs, starving the leg of blood to such an extent that it requires amputation. They can also be carried to the brain, where they can block an artery or cause a smaller blood vessel to rupture, leading to bleeding (hemorrhage) in the brain.

Therefore, if you are overweight, have a history of heart disease, or eat a diet high in saturated fats, it is recommended that you have your doctor check your blood cholesterol levels on a regular basis.