The term “lipids” refers to fats that circulate in the blood. Because fat does not mix with water (mostly what blood is), it must be carried in particles called “Lipoproteins,” which are round balls made up of lipids and proteins.
Lipoproteins are simply fat droplets surrounded by soap (called phospholipids). Similar to the fat droplets formed when you use detergent to clean greasy pans.
Triglyceride: This is a well-known type of fat. The lipoprotein system transports triglycerides from the stomach (where they are released from food) or Liver (where they are synthesized from sugar) to muscle and other tissues that require energy. Triglycerides are found in butter and oils.
Cholesterol: On the other hand, looks like wax when purified. Without it, we would not exist. Because cholesterol is so important, every cell in the body can make it. Our tissues make up 75% of the cholesterol in our bodies. The rest comes from our diet.
High cholesterol levels are a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and a leading cause of heart attacks. If you have a family history of high cholesterol, heart disease, or other risk factors like diabetes or high blood pressure, your home visit doctor in Chennai may advise you to undergo more frequent tests.
Functions Of Cholesterol
- It serves as a ‘base’ for many important hormones classified as STEROID HORMONES, such as testosterone and estrogen. Its functions include maintaining body equilibrium, developing secondary sexual and other characteristics, promoting muscle growth, etc.
- It serves as the foundation for the transport, synthesis (from raw products in the kidney and UV rays), and utilization of vitamin D. (Necessary for strong bones and teeth)
- Aids in the proper functioning of the Liver (bile salts circulation) and the abs waste disposal system.
- and many smaller uses in fat metabolism
Harmful Effects of Cholesterol
To understand this, we need to know two forms of cholesterol-
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HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) or Good Cholesterol:
Is the form in which cholesterol is transferred from the diet to the Liver. The liver is the primary organ where cholesterol is used to synthesize important substances.
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LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) or Bad Cholesterol:
This form is circulated from the Liver to various tissues for various reasons, all of which are unavoidable and ongoing processes in every human being from birth. This causes the deposition of ‘plaques’ in blood vessels of various organs such as the brain and heart, resulting in heart attacks and strokes. However, the amount and rate of deposition are affected by various factors such as lifestyle, diet, genetics, and so on.
Severe high cholesterol can cause xanthelasma or skin changes around the eyes. These diseases include peripheral coronary insufficiency, gallstones, vascular disease, and decreased oxygen supplies to the heart muscles. With many diseases linked to high cholesterol, the best defense is constant monitoring via blood tests.
Heart disease is more likely as you get older. You should discuss with your doctor how your cholesterol level affects your risk of heart disease. Remember that you can reduce your risk of developing these symptoms and the diseases themselves by lowering your LDL cholesterol count.
What Causes Bad Cholesterol?
Factors that increase the risk of bad cholesterol include:
- Poor diet: Eating saturated fat, which is found in animal products, and trans fats, which are found in packaged foods such as chips, cookies, or baked goods, can raise your cholesterol level. High-cholesterol foods like full-fat dairy products and red meat will also raise your cholesterol.
- Obesity: According to the WHO, you should keep your body weight between 18 and 23 BMI, which is considered a healthy weight for your height and age. Weighing more than your BMI can also result in higher cholesterol levels.
- Lack of physical activity: Exercise helps to boost your metabolism and keep your weight within a healthy range. It also regulates good cholesterol levels, lowering the risk of elevated bad cholesterol.
- Smoking: Cigarette smoking harms the blood vessel walls, making them more prone to fatty deposit accumulation. Smoking can also reduce HDL or good cholesterol levels.
- Age: Because the chemistry of your body changes as you age, your risk of high cholesterol rises. As we get older, our Liver becomes less capable of removing LDL cholesterol.
- Diabetes: High blood sugar levels contribute to higher levels of dangerous cholesterol known as very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and lower HDL cholesterol levels. High blood sugar levels also harm the lining of your arteries.
It is critical to get regular health checkups in order to maintain a healthy heart. If your test results are not within acceptable ranges, consult a doctor’s home visit. Your home visit doctor may advise you to take more frequent measures.
