Lipid disorder:
It is unhealthy ratios of one or more types of fats in the blood. The term "blood Lipid" is often applied to cholesterol and triglycerides, although there are other types of fats.
Cholesterol:
A waxy, fat-like substance made by the liver that the body needs to perform important functions (e.g.: producing hormones and digesting fatty foods). The body makes all cholesterol it needs in the blood, which is why it is recommended to eat as little dietary cholesterol as possible while eating a healthy diet. Dietary cholesterol is found in animal foods (e.g.: meat, seafood, eggs, and dairy products).
Side effects of high cholesterol:
High blood cholesterol can lead to accumulation of fats on the arteries walls and, over time, to a narrowing of the arteries. This narrowing prevents blood flow to and from the heart and other organs, which puts a person at risk of heart disease (such as angina pectoris and stroke).
Blood lipid level:
The percentage of fat is known by performing standard blood analyzes for fats (lipid profile) considering fasting (not eating or drinking except water) for a period of 9 to 12 hours. In this analysis, the percentage of total cholesterol in the blood, the percentage of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and the percentage of lipoprotein are measured High-density lipid (HDL) and triglycerides.
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol: It works to deposit fats inside the walls of blood vessels, which leads to narrowing them, so when it is present in the blood at high levels, it makes a person more susceptible to heart disease or stroke, and the ideal ratio is less than 100 mg / dL.
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol: when present in the blood in healthy proportions, reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke, and good cholesterol works to get rid of harmful cholesterol by transferring it to the liver to be broken down and disposed of, but it does not get rid of it Finally, between a third and a quarter of it is transferred, and the ideal ratio for men is at least 40 mg/dL and for women at least 50 mg/dL.
- Triglycerides: A type of fat in the blood that the body uses to obtain energy, but when its percentage increases in the blood, along with low levels of good cholesterol or high levels of bad cholesterol, may lead to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, and the ideal ratio is less than 150 mg / dL.
- otal cholesterol: Based on the ratio of good cholesterol, bad cholesterol and triglycerides, the ideal ratio is less than 200 mg/dL.
Risk factors for an increase in blood cholesterol:
- Having type 2 diabetes.
- Obesity.
- Genetic high cholesterol.
- Eating an unhealthy diet rich in saturated fats and trans fats.
- Physical inactivity
- Smoking.
- Getting old.
Symptoms:
There are no symptoms of high cholesterol in the blood, which is why it is important to check cholesterol levels. Symptoms of complications of high cholesterol may appear on the patient, such as:
- Coronary artery blockage.
- High blood pressure.
- Having blood clots.
In some cases, the patient does not show any symptoms, and it is detected by a routine blood test.
Treatment:
High cholesterol is treated and managed by a combination of adjusting some lifestyle factors and taking cholesterol-lowering or triglyceride-lowering medications prescribed by a doctor. Lifestyle modification is done as follows:
- Weight loss: Losing 5% to 10% of your body weight can help improve cholesterol levels.
- Increase physical activity.
- Quit Smoking.
- Follow a heart-healthy diet that limits your intake of saturated and trans fats.
Prevention:
- Make healthy lifestyle changes (such as choosing foods lower in saturated and trans fats and maintaining a healthy weight).
- Good follow-up with the healthcare team; To prevent or treat other chronic health conditions and ensure that they do not lead to high LDL cholesterol.
- Check your cholesterol regularly. You may need to have your cholesterol levels tested at least once every 4 to 6 years if you don't have heart disease. This is often determined by a health assessment by your doctor.