What Role Does Cholesterol Play in Coronary Heart Disease?

Just mention the words "coronary heart disease" to anyone and they will be afraid of what this means for them. Does it mean they will die? Can anything be done to prevent coronary heart disease? These questions will be addressed in this article.

Causes of coronary heart disease (CHD)

Coronary heart disease is caused when the blood vessels to the heart (coronary arteries) become narrowed by a build-up of fatty material within their walls. This is known as 'atherosclerosis'. The fatty material is called 'atheroma'. Atheroma develops when LDL cholesterol is changed in a process known as 'oxidation' and is then taken up by the cells within the coronary arteries' walls and this is where the narrowing begins. But if we look at HDL cholesterol, this has the opposite effect. It helps remove cholesterol from the circulation and appears to protect against coronary heart disease. For a person to be healthy, they must have a low level of LDL and a higher level of HDL in the body. Diet plays a major role. As part of a healthy diet, it is important to limit the amount of saturated fats eaten and choose more unsaturated fats. It is best to try to also reduce the total amount of fat in the diet.

Measuring cholesterol levels

To measure blood cholesterol levels, a simple blood test is performed. This is done in two ways. A sample can be taken using a syringe and needle and then sent to a laboratory for analysis. Or a finger prick, called a capillary sample, is taken and analyzed on a desktop analyzer. Before you have your triglyceride levels measured, you will be asked to abstain from food for 12 hours before the test. The blood cholesterol, HDL and LDL are measured in units called millimols per litre of blood. The healthy target is to have a total cholesterol level under 5 mmol/l, and an LDL level under 3mmol/l. Do not be concerned if you have a high reading, as there can be a lot of variation in the levels of blood cholesterol and other blood fats, from day to day and even at different times in the same day. The doctor will need to take several blood tests before medication is prescribed. If you have recently had a heart attack, the blood cholesterol will not give an accurate reading. It will not normally be given until about three months or so after the heart attack.

A person's lifestyle plays an important role

Each person will have a different risk of developing high cholesterol, depending on their lifestyle. The major risk factors include smoking, high blood pressure, and not being physically active. The point is that the higher your cholesterol, the higher your risk of heart disease. The overall risk of having a heart attack is even greater if you have high blood pressure and smoke. Physical inactivity alone will not increase your risk. So make changes while you still can by getting your blood pressure checked and quitting smoking. Further risks of developing high cholesterol levels include not getting enough omega-3 fats, an insufficient amount of fruit and vegetables in the diet, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption and eating too much salt. Angina, diabetes and familial hyperlipidaemia (an inherited condition) also place a person at greater risk of having a heart attack.

Making lifestyle changes

Heart attacks can be avoided if a person takes positive steps to make lifestyle changes. Smokers can halve their risk of having a heart attack within five years of quitting. Physical exercise can also halve the risk of a heart attack. For those who have high blood pressure, reducing blood pressure by 5mmHg can reduce the risk of having a heart attack by up to 16%. People who are overweight or obese who reduce their weight can reduce their cholesterol levels and this helps to also reduce the risk of a heart attack.

Altering your diet

Cholesterol levels can be reduced by cutting down on saturated fats and replacing them with unsaturated alternatives. Rather than eating a great deal of fat, eat more starchy food such as bread, pasta, rice and cereals. Oily fish is a great source of omega-3, which can also help to reduce cholesterol. Saturated fats are found in butter, hard cheeses, coconut oil and palm oil. It is best to cut these down and replace them with polyunsaturated fats such as cornflower oil, sunflower oil, and fish oil. Your aim should be to reduce your total cholesterol and raising your levels of HDL cholesterol. The effectiveness of changing your bad diet to a more healthy diet varies from person to person. But it is possible to reduce your cholesterol level between 5% and 10% just by eating a healthy diet.

The future

If you have a history of heart disease in your family and you are not exhibiting any symptoms, it is still wise to get yourself checked out. The absence of symptoms does not mean that you do not have high cholesterol or that you are not at risk of developing heart disease. Tests can also determine whether you have a hereditary factor that may contribute to heart disease. There is no denying that death is a very real possibility for anyone who develops heart disease. But you can help reduce your health risks now by taking action while you are young. Watch your diet, quit smoking and take regular exercise. These factors will greatly benefit you and may help reduce your blood cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease and death.

Source:

http://www.bhf.org.uk