A Number You Should Know : Why Cholesterol Counts
We ’ ve all heard that it ’ s important to monitor our cholesterol levels . Cholesterol is produced naturally by your body , but it ’ s also found in food products that come from animal sources like meat , poultry and dairy products . Even though cholesterol has gotten a bad rap , your body actually needs a certain amount of it to form cells , aid in digestion , convert Vitamin D in the skin and develop hormones . But when your
Nathan D . Zilz , MD , PhD , FACC , Cardiologist , YRMC PhysicianCare Cardiology in Prescott Valley
body produces too much cholesterol , it can line the walls of your arteries with a substance called plaque , which can make it harder for your heart to circulate blood . Plaque can also break open and form blood clots which can lead to a stroke or heart attack .
Here are some important facts you should know about cholesterol .
1 . It ’ s Not All Bad There are two types of cholesterol . LDL is known as the “ bad ” cholesterol because it contributes to the plaque that can clog arteries . Eating foods containing saturated and trans fats can increase the LDL in your blood . There ’ s also a “ good ” cholesterol . Called HDL , it acts as a scavenger to help remove LDL cholesterol from the arteries .
2 . Count on Having Your Numbers Checked If you ’ re age 20 or older and have not been diagnosed with heart disease , the American Heart Association recommends you have your cholesterol levels checked every four to six years . However , if you do have heart disease or other risk factors such as your age , family history , smoking or high blood pressure , your doctor will advise you on how often to have your cholesterol checked . According to the National Institutes of Health , your cholesterol level should be less than 200 ( based on levels of less than 100 for LDL and 60 or more for HDL ). “ It ’ s also important for parents to monitor their children ’ s cholesterol , particularly if there is a family
8 November 2016 pccnews