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IT’S EASY
to ignore cholesterol—
after all, you can’t see it, taste it, feel
it or smell it. Cholesterol usually gets
a pretty bad rap, but it’s essential to
many functions in the body. Among
other things, this fatlike, waxy
substance is needed to produce cell
membranes and some hormones.
“Yet too much cholesterol in the
blood can build up in the walls of
arteries, making it a major risk
factor for coronary heart disease,
heart attack and stroke,” says Andreh Carapiet, MD, internal medicine
physician at Glendale Adventist Medical Center (GAMC).
Here, Dr. Carapiet shares some key points about cholesterol.
Not all cholesterol is created equal.
“Cholesterol moves through
the blood in fat-protein combinations called lipoproteins,” Dr. Carapiet
explains. “Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is often called bad
cholesterol because it’s the type that can build up and block arteries.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is considered the good kind
because it helps to remove bad cholesterol from the body.”
The third component of the lipoprotein trio is triglycerides, another
type of blood fat that also contributes to heart disease.
Cholesterol affects more than your heart.
Excess cholesterol can join
with fat, calcium and other substances to make a thick, hard substance
called plaque. Plaque can block the arteries to the heart, causing heart
disease. If patches of plaque break open, the resulting blood clots can
set off a heart attack. Plaque can also build up in arteries away from
the heart, stopping the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain or limbs.
These blockages put you at risk for stroke or peripheral arterial disease.
You can control most risk factors for high cholesterol.
Men who are
45 or older and women who are 55 or older are at increased risk for hav-
ing abnormal cholesterol levels simply because of their age. You can also
inherit a greater risk for the condition. However, you can control most
of the factors that lead to abnormal cholesterol by eating a low-fat diet,
staying physically active, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking.
You need to have your cholesterol levels checked.
“The only way to
detect abnormal cholesterol is to be tested,” Dr. Carapiet says. “Once you
turn 20, you should have your levels checked every five years. If
you are at high risk for cholesterol problems, your doctor may
recommend more frequent testing.”
For a GAMC physician referral, call
(818) 409-8100
.
Andreh Carapiet, MD
H e a r t H e a l t h
Head:
Light-headedness or
sudden dizziness
Chest:
Pain, pressure,
fullness or squeezing in
the middle of the chest
that lasts more than a few
minutes or comes and goes
Skin:
Cold sweat
ANATOMY
OF
HEART
ATTACK
SYMPTOMS
MAKE THE
CALL NOW
A heart attack is a medical
emergency. If you are
experiencing any of these
symptoms, dial 911.
Keeping tabs on your cholesterol levels can help
you keep them under control. Here are the numbers
to aim for—and the ones to avoid.
LDL (low-density lipoprotein).
This is the bad
cholesterol that builds up in arteries:
■
■
Less than 100 mg/dL of blood is optimal.
■
■
100 to 129 mg/dL is near or above optimal.
■
■
130 to 159 mg/dL is borderline high.
■
■
160 to 189 mg/dL is high.
■
■
190 mg/dL and above is very high.
HDL (high-density lipoprotein).
This is the good
cholesterol that can help lower heart disease risk:
■
■
60 mg/dL or higher helps protect against heart
disease.
■
■
Less than 40 mg/dL (for men) or 50 mg/dL (for
women) is too low and is a risk factor for heart
disease.
Triglycerides.
These are another type of fat
in the blood associated with heart disease when
levels are high:
■
■
Less than 100 mg/dL is optimal.
■
■
Less than 150 mg/dL is normal.
■
■
150 to 199 mg/dL is borderline high.
■
■
200 to 499 mg/dL is high.
■
■
500 mg/dL and above is very high.
Sources: American Heart Association; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Sources: American Heart Association;
Glendale Adventist Medical Center
CHOLESTEROL
4 KEY FACTS
It’s all about the numbers
Sudden fatigue or
weakness
Arm(s), back, jaw, neck,
shoulder(s):
Pain or
discomfort
Lungs:
Shortness of
breath, with or without
chest discomfort
Stomach:
Nausea or
discomfort
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