THE BASICS - Cholesterol

Cholesterol Basics

Cholesterol is a paradox: Everyone needs it, but too much of this good thing can spell trouble for some people. A fat-like substance, cholesterol aids vital bodily functions such as building new cells, producing hormones, and digestion.

Normally, your liver makes all the cholesterol your body needs. But you also get cholesterol from your diet. Cholesterol is found in foods derived from animal products, although it's possible to remove it through special processing techniques. While foods derived from plant products do not contain cholesterol, they can (like animal products) contain saturated fats. And a diet high in saturated fats can also raise your cholesterol level, especially if you are genetically predisposed to high cholesterol.

The cholesterol and fats you eat are absorbed into your blood through your stomach and intestines. Much of the fat is then transported to fat cells, while most of the cholesterol is taken to wherever your body needs it in the form of high density lipoprotein (HDL) particles. Your liver takes up whatever is left. This leftover cholesterol is either used by the body or taken apart to create low density lipoprotein (LDL) which circulates in your blood. HDL is commonly referred to as the ‘good cholesterol,' while LDL is often called the ‘bad cholesterol.'

The amount of cholesterol in your bloodstream is important because of its role in various cardiovascular diseases. The risk of developing these conditions is complex and depends not only on how much cholesterol but also what kind of cholesterol you have in your blood. Generally speaking, high levels of LDL -- the ‘bad cholesterol' -- are associated with increased risk of developing coronary heart disease; high levels of HDL -- or ‘good cholesterol' -- are associated with decreased risk.

• LDL cholesterol collects in the walls of arteries, initiating ‘hardening of the arteries' or atherosclerosis; people with atherosclerosis are in turn vulnerable to heart disease, stroke, and other problems caused by clogged blood vessels. Even so, some people who have high LDL cholesterol never actually get heart disease, and many heart attack victims do not have abnormally high cholesterol levels.

Since no one can predict with certainty which people with high cholesterol will develop heart disease, play it safe and keep your cholesterol levels in check. The American Heart Association recommends that you eat less than 300 mg of cholesterol per day. But dietary control alone does not work for everyone; some people will also need to take medicines to reduce their cholesterol levels.

• Another factor to consider is triglycerides -- the form in which your body transports fat. (In fact, the bulk of your body's fat is triglycerides). It's not clear whether high triglycerides alone increase your risk of heart disease, but many people with high triglycerides also have high LDL or low HDL levels, which do increase the risk of heart disease.

Who Develops Cholesterol Problems?

Most cholesterol problems are determined largely by luck of the genetic draw. Some families are genetically blessed with low total cholesterol or high levels of HDL (‘good cholesterol'), regardless of diet or lifestyle. Other families inherit genes that increase their risk for high cholesterol. In these people, eating a diet high in saturated fat can significantly raise cholesterol levels. Stress can also raise blood cholesterol levels, especially since stress can lead to poor eating habits that may increase cholesterol intake.

On the positive side, vigorous exercisers -- such as long-distance runners -- tend to have high HDL cholesterol levels. Before menopause, women tend to have higher HDL cholesterol than men their age.

August, 2001, Medical Reviewers: the Cleveland Clinic

For More in depth  information on cholesterol, please visit the Cleveland Clinic's Website

The information on this web site is intended for information reference purposes only and is not intended as a substitute to professional medical advice. Prior to participating in any exercise program or activity, it is recommended that you seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care professional. None of the information on this web site should be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition.

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