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A WORD ABOUT ELEVATED CHOLESTEROL LEVELS: DEFINITIONS AND FACTORS
Here ate some more definitions. HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein, LDL stands for low-density lipoprotein. A lipoprotein is a molecule that catties cholesterol in the blood. High-density lipoproteins carry cholesterol in a fashion the body can utilize; they allow the cholesterol to break off when it is needed. Low-density lipoproteins carry cholesterol into the bloodstream but do not allow the body to use it. Therefore, much of the low-density lipoproteins end up as cholesterol plaque deposits on the walls of arteries. The good news is that HDLs are stimulated into action by regular exercise.
And then there are triglycerides. When the body digests either saturated and unsaturated fat, it breaks it down into molecular chains. These chains then bind together in a triplet form called triglycerides. Triglycerides flow from the intestines through the lymphatic system and then into the bloodstream. The greater the amount of triglycerides in the bloodstream, the thicker the blood. This causes a strain on the heart, since it has to pump a thicker liquid through the blood vessels. If this condition is compounded by a narrowing blood vessel system due to arteriosclerosis, the thickened blood may have a difficult time getting through the smaller vessels and some of the body may be deprived of oxygen and nutrients. This is not a healthy scenario for the heart or any other body part. High triglycerides in the blood can usually be brought down by cutting concentrated sweets from the diet.
Then there’s the genetic factor. Maybe we can control outside factors to improve our health, but some of us are simply genetically predisposed to heart disease. Surprisingly, some people who have low blood cholesterol levels still have heart attacks. No one knows why. Researchers are attempting to determine which genes are responsible for preventing or delaying heart disease, either on their own or in combination with diet and/or drugs.
Until they know the answers, however, my best advice is to follow the advice of the American Heart Association, which says the best thing to do is to control your blood cholesterol levels through diet, exercise, and weight control.
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