Cholesterol: The Good, The Bad, and What You Can Do About It
Cholesterol plays a crucial role in our bodies, yet it’s often misunderstood. It's found in the food we eat and is also produced naturally by our bodies. Understanding the difference between good and bad cholesterol is key to managing heart health. In this blog, we will explore the facts about cholesterol, its impact on the body, and practical steps to keep your cholesterol levels in check.
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy substance produced by your liver. It circulates in your blood and aids in building cells and creating needed vitamins and hormones. Since your liver makes all the cholesterol your body will need, the rest of the cholesterol in your system comes from the foods you eat, like meat and cheese. There are two types of cholesterol: high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL).
The Good: HDL
HDL is seen as “good cholesterol” because it carries LDL in the bloodstream back to the liver to be broken down and used by the body. For this reason, we recommend keeping your HDL levels high, as they can help decrease the risk of heart disease and other cardiac events.
The Bad: LDL
LDL is considered “bad cholesterol” because it can build up in the arteries. This excess cholesterol buildup can result in narrowed arteries, which increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases. Because of this, we recommend keeping your LDL levels low.
What About Triglycerides?
Triglycerides are one of the most common fats found in the body. The primary function of triglycerides is to store excess fat from your diet. If you have high levels of both LDL and triglycerides but low levels of HDL, you’re at an increased risk for strokes and heart disease.
What You Can Do About It?
Here are some things you can implement in your everyday life to start lowering your cholesterol:
Eat a heart-healthy diet. In most cases, high cholesterol is due to a diet high in dietary cholesterol. Be mindful of how much saturated and trans-unsaturated fats you consume.
Incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Increasing your physical activity will increase your HDL levels, which is the “good cholesterol” that carries LDL to the liver to be broken down and used.
Quit smoking. Smoking and vaping lower your HDL levels and increase your triglycerides.
At Heart & Vascular, we’re here to help you address and decrease your high cholesterol. We’re dedicated to providing our patients with the best, evidence-based, patient-centered care, and we look forward to helping you on your heart health journey.
Contact us today to schedule your cholesterol test with one of our board-certified physicians.