If you're hitting your stride in middle age, you're probably becoming more and more aware of diseases like cancer, hypertension and cholesterol. According to the American Heart Association, over 98.6 million Americans have total cholesterol that's greater than 200 mg/dL. Along with other risk factors like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, sedentary living and cigarette smoking, high serum cholesterol is one of the leading killers of adults in the United States. However, there is good news. All of the risk factors listed above can be easily treated, extending your life by years. It all begins with a simple set of tests.
Your Current Cholesterol Levels
Before you can evaluate any problem, it's important to determine how bad (or how good) things are. The next time you schedule an appointment with your physician for your annual physical examination, be sure to arrive at his office fasting for at least 12 hours. He'll be able to drawn a blood sample from you that will determine your total cholesterol, low density lipoproteins (LDL), high density lipoproteins (HDL) and triglycerides. All of these contribute directly to the health of your heart and will indicate how much work you have ahead of you.
Cholesterol in the Body
While cholesterol gets a bad rap in the media about how it can shorten your life, it is an important part of how your body functions. Cholesterol is a waxy-like substance that is responsible for building cells, regulating fluids and manufacturing hormones like testosterone and estrogen. Where cholesterol becomes a problem is when you have more than you need circulating through your blood. The Western diet is filled with food laden with saturated fat and cholesterol. Beginning at an early age, LDL cholesterol begins to accumulate on the the inside of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart, which can ultimately cause a heart attack.
The Good and the Bad
Many people who have only heard of the ill effects of cholesterol are surprised to learn that there is more than one type of cholesterol, and some of it's even good for you. The bad type of cholesterol is called low density lipoprotein, or LDL. Over time, it's responsible for accumulating on the inside of your arteries, causing heart disease, stroke and peripheral artery disease. There is, however, another form of cholesterol called high density lipoprotein (HDL) that is beneficial to your body. HDL cholesterol carries away LDL cholesterol before it has a chance to adhere to the arterial linings. Another form called lipoprotein (a) appears to increase one's chance of blood clots and could be a marker of atherosclerosis.
Stroke and Periperhal Aterial Disease
Just like accumulating cholesterol in the coronary arteries can cause problems in the heart, cholesterol accumulating in the carotid arteries can cause trans-ischemic attacks (or TIA) or strokes. If cholesterol accumulates in the arteries of the lower extremities, it can cause peripheral artery disease, or PAD. People with PAD find it difficult to walk for extended periods of time. In all three types of cholesterol problems, patients are always at risk for pieces of cholesterol breaking off and totally occluding the blood supply to the area is supplies. When this happens, it's often fatal or irreversible damage to the body.
Effects of High Cholesterol
Fortunately, not everyone with high cholesterol levels suffer from a heart attack, stroke or PAD. Of the 1.5 million heart attacks that occur in the United States every year, about 500,000 die--most of them already have a history of heart disease and may have ignored the risk factors for heart disease, like high cholesterol. According to the Women's Heart Foundation, death by heart attacks fell by over 30 percent between 1983 and 1993. And recent findings are showing that the faster that people seek medical attention when they first experience symptoms, the better their chances of recovery. The first 15 to 60 minutes are the most important
Reversing High Cholesterol
Whether or not you have high cholesterol, the time to take action is now. Changes in diet, exercise and using prescription medications can make significant differences, even if you've already suffered from a heart attack or stroke. Check with your physician and a registered dietitian for tips on how to lower your cholesterol. It could literally save your life.
