RCPG-Cholesterol Basics

Cholesterol Basics

Put down that cream filled donut, french fries or triple-dip cone. Its time to make some sense about cholesterol numbers.

As my partner's aunt says, Life was simple before they came up with cholesterol. Unfortunately, there is not just one cholesterol number to remember but three parts of your blood cholesterol panel that every adult should know- the LDL, HDL and triglycerides. Make sure yours are checked regularly (for most people once per year is plenty).

The LDL (low density lipoprotein), also known as the bad cholesterol, is the major fat that clogs up arteries and leads to heart attacks, strokes, aneurysms and the need for balloon angioplasty and bypass surgery.

If you have heart disease or other vascular disease, shoot for an LDL less than 100. If you just have risk factors for heart disease such as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, or family history of heart disease, your LDL should be less than 130. Everybody else should aim for an LDL below 160.

You can decrease your LDL by eating a low fat diet (lots of fruits and veggies), exercising daily and keeping your weight down. Some people require medications to achieve these low numbers.

The HDL (high density lipoprotein), or good cholesterol, works like nature's own Drano. HDL actually removes the fatty build-ups from your arteries and delivers them to your liver for disposal. You want your HDL as high as possible (70-100 is very good).

You can raise your HDL by stopping smoking, exercising daily and if you drink alcohol, having one drink per day. One of the B vitamins called niacin can help and is sometimes used under a doctorís supervision if the HDL is dangerously low.

The last important fat in your blood is called the triglycerides. This one used to be ignored, but now it is also felt to be an important fat to keep under control. You want your triglycerides below 200. Triglycerides can be reduced by controlling diabetes, eating a low fat diet, losing weight and exercising daily (yes, there is a pattern here!). Bottom line:

Know your LDL, HDL and triglyceride numbers.
Eat a low fat diet, exercise daily, stop smoking.
If your numbers are good, thank your genes and keep up the good work.
If your numbers are not where they should be, discuss it with your doctor.

RCPG-Setting the Pace for Cardiac Care