September is cholesterol education month, a time to bring awareness to your heart health when it comes to your cholesterol levels.
“Cholesterol and blood don’t mix. Think of them like oil and water,” says Craig Brett, MD, cardiologist and chief of medicine, Northern Light Mercy Hospital. “Cholesterol must be transported through the bloodstream in a ‘vehicle’ that can dissolve in blood. The predominant one that carries cholesterol is called LDL. The cholesterol carried in LDL is often called bad cholesterol. That’s a misnomer, since it provides cholesterol to all the cells in the body that needs it, which is a good thing. It only becomes ‘bad’ when there is an excess amount. HDL is the ‘vehicle’ that pulls cholesterol out of blood vessels, and so we call that level ‘good’ cholesterol.”
Dr. Brett says there are several times throughout someone’s life when they should have their cholesterol checked.
“Children between the age of 9-11 should have their first check of cholesterol levels. This will often identify the genetic abnormalities that can cause very high levels at an early age. If those levels are okay, then levels should be checked every 4-6 years after adolescence. People who have genetic lipid disorders or who are on cholesterol medication may be tested more frequently,” he says. “A lot of times people may not know that they have high cholesterol whether it’s due to genetics or lifestyle, and by the time they find out, they may have already developed vascular problems as a result. A simple blood test called a ‘lipid profile’ is all that is needed to provide the basic information about cholesterol levels.”
If you find out that you do suffer from high cholesterol, there are several ways to lower it.
“Diet and lifestyle certainly play a major role. Avoidance of saturated fats, high fat dairy products and sugars, as well as maintaining a healthy weight with regular exercise will generally help keep these cholesterol levels at a healthy amount. But it’s also important to have your levels checked, especially if you have a genetic disorder,” Dr. Brett shares.
For more information on cardiovascular care at Northern Light Health visit Cardiovascular Care Services - Northern Light Health.