Many people do not realize they have high cholesterol until they get blood test results from a physician. Cholesterol is a waxy molecule that makes up your cell membranes and certain hormones. Your body requires some cholesterol to stay healthy, but high cholesterol levels can raise your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Only Overweight People Have High Cholesterol
Overweight people often have high cholesterol levels because may make unhealthy diet and exercise choices. However, even thin people can have problems with high cholesterol. Poor diet, infrequent exercise, high stress levels, genetic predisposition and certain medications sometimes cause elevated cholesterol levels. These factors affect thin individuals as well as people who are overweight or obese.
Kids Cannot Have High Cholesterol
Many people think of high cholesterol as a problem that affects middle-aged or older adults. Atherosclerosis, or the accumulation of cholesterol in blood vessels, can affect preteen children. A 2008 report from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that physicians screen at-risk children for high cholesterol. Children who are obese or overweight, have high blood pressure or have a family history of cardiovascular disease should have their cholesterol levels checked. Regular cholesterol screenings may be appropriate for at-risk children as young as 2 years.
All Cholesterol Is Bad
Using the term "cholesterol" to refer to all types of cholesterol molecules is slightly misleading. There are two major types of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, and high-density lipoprotein, or HDL. A typical lipid profile from a blood test gives your levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. LDL is often called "bad" cholesterol because it carries cholesterol molecules through your blood vessels, lodging the molecules on vessel walls or in your heart. HDL, on the other hand, transports cholesterol into your liver to be excreted from your body. Because HDL removes potentially dangerous cholesterol deposits, it is known as "good" cholesterol.
Standard guidelines for adults consider HDL levels above 60 mg per deciliter to be healthy. LDL levels should be lower than 130 mg per deciliter. Thus, having high cholesterol is not always a bad thing. High HDL levels may lower your risk for cardiovascular disease.
All Cholesterol-Free Foods Are Healthy
All nutrition labels must state the dietary cholesterol levels of a product. Decreasing your dietary cholesterol intake does not necessarily lower your cholesterol levels, according to clinical dietitian Sue Makowski, of Rhode Island Hospital. Foods high in saturated and trans fats play a greater role in raising your total cholesterol and LDL levels. Following a low-fat diet and avoiding processed foods is a better strategy for lowering cholesterol than eating only cholesterol-free foods. Even foods with relatively high dietary cholesterol levels, such as eggs, can safely be incorporated into a heart-healthy diet. Consult your physician to discuss diet choices that can help you control high cholesterol levels.
