You may have seen commercials or magazine ads for cholesterol medication that portray comic family members and unhealthy foods as sources of cholesterol. The concept behind these ads is based in scientific fact: some people do have a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol levels. While heredity can certainly affect the way your body produces or disposes of cholesterol, it is only one of many factors at work.
Identification: Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy, thick substance present in your blood. According to the American Heart Association, your body makes about 75 percent of your total cholesterol supply, with the rest coming from animal source foods, such as eggs, milk or meat. While your body needw some cholesterol to support cell growth, too much can clog your blood vessels and arteries, leading to cardiovascular disease and an increased risk of stroke.
Cholesterol Levels
Often referred to as "bad" cholesterol, LDL is the type of cholesterol that clogs your arteries. HDL, or "good" cholesterol, transports LDL to the liver where it can be disposed of. According to MayoClinic.com, a healthy cholesterol level is under 200. In terms of LDL, a score between 100 and 129 is "near ideal." If you're genetically predisposed to high cholesterol --- and thus at risk for heart disease --- you may be advised to aim for a lower number, below 100 or below 70, depending on your doctor's assessment of your risk level.
High Cholesterol Factors
The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute notes that heredity is not the only factor influencing your cholesterol level. Your diet, stress level, weight, amount of physical exercise, drinking habits and even your age and sex play a role. Surprisingly, the NHLBI notes that alcohol consumption can increase your HDL, but cannot decrease your LDL --- only physical exercise can do that.
Hereditary High Cholesterol
According to the NHLBI, 1 in 500 people will inherit the genes for familial hypercholesterolemia, or hereditary high cholesterol. The government's Medline Plus website notes that the disease stems from a defect on chromosome 19, making your body unable to rid itself of LDL. Unfortunately, you only need to inherit this gene from one parent to become a victim. People with familial hypercholesterolemia usually have a long family history of heart attacks and high cholesterol.
Heredity as Factor
According to Robert Ronzio, PhD, in "The Encyclopedia of Nutrition and Good Health," only 5 percent of all high cholesterol cases are caused by heredity alone. In most cases, high cholesterol is caused by a complex interplay of factors, such as a poor diet, lack of exercise, kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and your genetic makeup.
References
- American Heart Association: About Cholesterol
- American Heart Association: Good vs. Bad Cholesterol
- MayoClinic.com: Cholesterol Levels: What Numbers Should You Aim For?
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: What Makes Your Cholesterol High or Low?
- MedlinePlus: Familial Hypercholesterolemia
- "The Encyclopedia of Nutrition and Good Health"; Robert Ronzio; 2003
