Every time we get a medical checkupOne index that gets the most attention is cholesterol. And it’s common for our GP to call our attention when High levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) are detected and even congratulations if you pay attention to our good cholesterol (HDL). It is at the right levels.
It is common in any family conversation about health that the question arises: How did they give you cholesterol values? do you have good or bad?
bueno, all that should change, ,The division between good and bad cholesterol is wrong. It has been used for many years, but cholesterol is neither good nor bad. This is an age-old misconception that science and scientific evidence has shown in recent years.” infobae doctor Paul Coral, Medical specialist in internal medicine, lipidologist and president of the Argentine Society of Lipids (SAL).
Cholesterol in Arteries Not Good for You, Says Doctor (clevelandclinic.org)
According to experts, cholesterol is a fatty substance that is present in all tissues of the human body and is necessary for the normal functioning of the body. It serves as a raw material for cell membranes (walls) and for the synthesis (manufacture) of hormones such as estrogens and androgens.
,But high HDL (good cholesterol) doesn’t protect you from heart disease. They are not cardiovascular protective factors. Physicians should stop pursuing HDL cholesterol targets. It is not good to have too much or too little of it, ”completed the expert. And he remarked: “Today science has no way of knowing how HDL lipoprotein works, because it is very complex and contains many There are tasks that medicine has not yet solved. So it is a mistake to follow the old rules.
Coral’s statement a. is supported by published scientific studies by magazine last yearMetabolism Diagnostics and Experimentswhich states that Not all good cholesterol is healthy, and the presence of large particles may be associated with an increased risk of heart attack. The research has been carried out by researchers from the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Hospital Clinique-IDIB Associated PressS, IDIBEL, the Research Institute of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau and the Hospital Clinco Universitario from Zaragoza.
Doctors insist on controlling cholesterol levels in the body (NHI) – Photo: Kristin Close/DPA
in this work, Researchers have analyzed the genetic characteristics that determine the size of good cholesterol particles, and their relationship with the risk of later presenting myocardial infarction. The findings are that genetic characteristics associated with the generation of large good cholesterol particles were directly related to a higher risk of heart attack, whereas genetic characteristics associated with smaller good cholesterol particles were related to a lower risk of heart attack.
,There is a positive causal relationship between the size of HDL cholesterol particles and the risk of heart attack, therefore, we have to increase the level of good cholesterol in the blood, but always in smaller particles.“, indica Roberto Allosua, researcher at IMIM and the University of Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya (Uvic-UCC),
“The particles of good cholesterol are more effective in carrying them to the liver to eliminate cholesterol.” If we have to do something with HDL, it is to increase the number of small particles, which act to eliminate cholesterol. enough, which actually take it to the liver to be eliminated and do not allow it to accumulate in the arteries and cause heart diseases”, said his colleague lvaro Hernaz.
There are no immediate symptoms due to increased cholesterol in the blood. It accumulates until it causes heart disease.
types of cholesterol
To reach places in the body where it is needed, cholesterol is transported through the blood bound to proteins called lipoproteins. Some lipoproteins are responsible for carrying excess cholesterol from the organs to the liver where it is recycled. These lipoproteins that remove cholesterol are called HDL (corresponding acronym in English for the expression of high-density lipoprotein). Other lipoproteins carry cholesterol from the liver to the rest of the organs. they are called LDL (abbreviation in English for low-density lipoprotein). LDL-cholesterol deposits on the walls of arteries and damage to them cause blockages (a process called atherosclerosis). For this reason LDL-cholesterol should be low. Higher levels of total cholesterol indicate more fat in the tissues and its accumulation in the arteries is associated with an increased risk of heart diseases,
,High cholesterol is diagnosed with a laboratory blood test. In general, experts recommend taking the first measurement at age 20 and then every 5 years if the result is normal, that is, if the value obtained is less than 200 mg/dL. If cholesterol is high, the doctor will define the type of treatment and the frequency with which control should be performed,” recommends the Argentine Cardiology Foundation (FCA).
cardiologist Carlos Reguera, Head of Cardiology and Preventive Medicine areas Institute of Neurosciences of Buenos Aires (in vain) explained to infobae that “we must understand that sometimes risk factors do not predict disease, but are disease”. ,For this reason, we must intensify care and control, focusing especially on the prevention of each. (high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, overweight, among others). We must remember that cardiovascular diseases currently remain the leading cause of death worldwide.”
High cholesterol is diagnosed by a laboratory blood test.
Does high cholesterol cause symptoms? Elevated blood cholesterol does not cause symptoms, It is not associated with headache, fatigue, or other symptoms. “The manifestations of dyslipidemia are its late consequences when it is not controlled for a long time and among them are coronary disease (blockage of the heart arteries due to the accumulation of fat and other substances), cerebrovascular accident, aortic Dosable. Aneurysm and coronary artery disease. Peripheral vascular disease (clogging of the arteries of the legs, kidneys, brain).
In the absence of symptoms, it is important to periodically control cholesterol and carry out treatment if necessary. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are caused by disorders of the heart and blood vessels. In Argentina, being overweight and diabetes are the risk factors that most concern health professionals. Similarly, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, stress and hereditary factors can also cause this type of pathology.
An annual preventive checkup is suggested, which should include initial cardiological consultation and subsequent complementary studies (laboratory analysis (with differentiated cholesterol profile), electrocardiogram, ergometry, echocardiogram and Doppler of neck vessels.
80% of total cholesterol is related to our hereditary metabolism, that is, only 20% of cholesterol is in the hands of our habits and behavior
In turn, the Barcelo Foundation offers some tips for promoting a healthy lifestyle, which reduces your chances of developing heart diseases, which are known as . is referred to as “9 Commandments”:
1- Don’t smoke
2- Keep cholesterol level low
3- Improve your diet (eat more vegetables and fruits)
4- Control the weight
5- Give up sedentary life
6- Do not abuse the consumption of alcohol
7- Avoid high blood pressure
8- Reduce stress
9- Monitor diabetes closely
