Coronary artery disease is a condition caused by the narrowing of the coronary arteries, the major arteries feeding the heart muscle, resulting in decreased blood flow to the heart. Decreased blood flow to the heart is a major cause of heart attack. The link between LDL, or low density lipoprotein, and coronary artery disease has indicated there is a greater risk for heart attack.
Heart Attack
The cause of a heart attack is attributed to atherosclerosis, a buildup of fatty deposits containing cholesterol, creating a thickening and partial blockage of blood flow. Constrictions from the atherosclerosis can close of the artery completely or they can trigger the formation of blood clots that can become lodged due to the narrowing of the artery. Blockage from either case causes the heart to be deprived of necessary oxygen.
LDL
Cholesterol is a common word and easily connected with heart disease. Understanding what the cholesterol numbers mean is important in understanding the risk for a heart attack. According to "Patient Education Management," LDL is the main source of cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries. Since LDL increases the risk for heart attacks, an easy way to remember that it is the bad cholesterol is to remember that "L" represents the word "lousy." LDL is considered the bad cholesterol because it is the carrier of harmful, plaque building fats in the blood. The lower the value of LDL, the lower the risk for having an heart attack.
Ideal LDL Levels
Knowing what the desired level of LDL should be depends on a patients degree of risk factors. According to the Mayo Clinic, a patient who has a very high risk for heart attack should have an LDL below 70 mg/dL. The ideal level of LDL for those who are not in higher risk categories is between 100 to 129 mg/dL. LDL level 190 mg/dL and above are considered very high which is an indication of a greater risk for developing a heart attack.
Risk Factors
The level of LDL and the associated risk factors for heart disease depend on many factors, including heredity, the amount of fat in the diet and how a person chooses to live. Factors that raise LDL include a high saturated fat diet, cigarette smoking, a lack of exercise, obesity, excessive alcohol intake and a family history of high cholesterol.
Controlling Risk Factors
Changing lifestyle and modifying dietary habits can help decrease the plaque accumulation in arteries. Consuming a very low-fat diet; providing ample fruits, vegetable and grains; restricting the amounts of animal protein in combination with exercise and stress reduction can help lower LDL levels. Healthy choices of food include steamed or baked foods, whole-grain breads and pasta, in addition to lean meat, skinless poultry and fish.
References
- "Patient Education Management;" Teaching meaning behind cholesterol numbers: L. Randall; August 2008
- "The Nurse Practitioner;" Assessing Coronary Heart Disease Risk and Managing Lipids: L. Braun & R. Rosenson; Decemeber 2001
- Mayo Clinic: Cholesterol Levels
- "Nutrition and Diet Therapy;" F.A. Davis; 2011
