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Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a myth which induces a sense of apprehension because of its literally split personality-like functioning in the body. Cholesterol is a lipid - a waxy-fatty substance found in the membrane of the cells in our body. The body needs cholesterol for digesting dietary fats, making hormones and strengthening cell walls. But on reaching high levels, it can lead to atherosclerosis and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

An average person makes 75% of blood cholesterol in the liver and 25% is absorbed from food intake. Though fat plays the biggest influence in high cholesterol level, it is to be clarified that fats are a source of energy and the harmful fats are the saturated fats derived primarily from meat, dairy products and some vegetable oils made from coconut, palm and cocoa. Cholesterol throughout the body is transported in the bloodstream by lipoproteins such as low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL).

Cholesterol in blood is categorized as 'good' and 'bad' depending upon the function of liver. LDL referred to as the "bad" cholesterol carry cholesterol from the liver to the rest of the body. When there is excess LDL cholesterol in the blood, it combines with other substances and sticks to the walls of arteries forming plaque which narrow an artery enough to slow or block blood flow leading to the condition atherosclerosis. The desirable LDL is 100mg/dl and high is 160-189mg/dl. On the other hand, HDL referred to as the 'good' cholesterol extracts cholesterol particles from the artery walls and transports them back to the liver to be disposed through the bile, thus protecting the arteries from the atherosclerosis process. The desirable HDL is above 60mg/dl and undesirable is below 40mg/dl.

Many factors such as genetic, obesity, inactive lifestyle and unhealthy diet contribute to high cholesterol. Therapeutic changes in lifestyle like weight loss, regular exercise, not smoking and following a low saturated fat and cholesterol can help in maintaining a low cholesterol level. Drug therapy is prescribed only when lifestyle changes cannot reduce the LDL cholesterol to desired levels.