Blood Cholesterol :Definition ,Reasons ,Level ,Protect

The body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, but too much cholesterol can increase the risk of a heart attack.

Definition of Blood Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy molecule present in the blood that is found in high concentrations.

Due to high cholesterol, fatty deposits can form in a patient's blood vessels. Eventually, these plaques grow and make it difficult for enough blood to flow through the arteries. Sometimes these deposits can rupture suddenly and form a clot that causes a heart attack or stroke.

High cholesterol can be inherited, but it usually occurs as a result of an unhealthy lifestyle, making high cholesterol both treatable and preventable. By following a healthy diet, exercising, and sometimes taking medicine, high cholesterol can be lowered.


High cholesterol has no symptoms. Your infection can only be detected through a blood test.

When do you visit the doctor?

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the first cholesterol check should be done between ages 9 and 11, and then repeated every five years thereafter.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends cholesterol screenings every one to two years for men ages 45 to 65 and women ages 55 to 65. People over the age of 65 should have their cholesterol checked annually.

If the test results are not within the desirable ranges, your doctor may recommend more frequent measurements. Your doctor may also suggest more frequent tests if you have a family history of high cholesterol, heart disease, or other risk factors, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

Reasons of Blood Cholesterol

Cholesterol travels through the blood attached to proteins. 

This compound, which combines cholesterol and protein, is called a lipoprotein. The types of cholesterol differ depending on what the lipoprotein carries. They are the following:

• low-density lipoproteins.

Low-density lipoprotein, or "bad" cholesterol, carries cholesterol particles to all parts of the body. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol builds up in the walls of the arteries, making them hard and narrow.

• High-density lipoprotein HDL 

("good" cholesterol) picks up excess cholesterol and returns it to the liver.
A lipid profile is also often used to measure triglycerides, a type of fat found in the blood. A high triglyceride level can potentially increase the risk of heart disease.

Factors you can control, such as inactivity, obesity, and an unhealthy diet, contribute to high levels of bad cholesterol and triglycerides. Various factors that you cannot control can also contribute to this.

For example, your genetic makeup may make it difficult for your body to get rid of LDL cholesterol or break it down in the liver.
Conditions that can result in unhealthy cholesterol levels include:

• chronic kidney disease
• diabetic
• HIV AIDS
• hypothyroidism
• lupus
• Cholesterol levels can also be made worse by some types of medicines you may take to treat other health problems, such as:
• Young love
• Cancer
• Hypertension
• HIV AIDS
• cardiac arrhythmia
• organ transplant

Risk factor's Cholesterol

• Bad Diet Eating too much saturated or trans fat can cause your cholesterol to reach unhealthy levels. Saturated fats are found in the fatty parts of meat and full-fat dairy products. Trans fats are often found in packaged snack foods or candy.

• obesity; If your BMI is 30 or higher, you are at risk for high cholesterol.

• Lack of exercise. Exercise helps increase high-density lipoproteins (HDL), the body's "good" cholesterol.

• of smoking. Smoking cigarettes can lower your level of high-density lipoprotein, the "good" cholesterol.

• alcoholic drinks; Drinking too much alcohol can increase your total cholesterol level.

• age. Even young children can have unhealthy cholesterol, but it is more common in people over 40 years of age. The liver's ability to eliminate LDL cholesterol decreases as we age.

Complications of Cholesterol

Which can cause complications, such as:

• Chest pain; If the arteries that supply blood to the heart (coronary arteries) are affected, you may have chest pain (angina) and other symptoms of coronary artery disease.

• heart attack; If the plate breaks or ruptures, a blood clot can form at the site of the plaque rupture, blocking blood flow and blocking an artery in the bloodstream. When blood flow to a portion of your heart stops, you have a heart attack.

• Attack on the brain A stroke, like a heart attack, happens when a blood clot prevents blood flow to a portion of the brain.

protection Blood Cholesterol

The same heart-healthy lifestyle changes that might lower your cholesterol level can help prevent high cholesterol in the first place. To prevent high cholesterol, you can:

1. Eat a low-salt diet that focuses on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

1. Limit the amount of animal fats and use good fats sparingly.

1. Get rid of excess weight and stay at a healthy weight.

1. Give up smoking.

1. Exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.

1. Consume alcohol in moderation, if at all.