What is cholesterol?

You've probably heard about cholesterol somewhere, right? Maybe your doctor told you about it , or you've seen it in the newspaper or on TV. Many people think that cholesterol is something bad for our bodies. But is that really true?

What happens to cholesterol in our bodies?

Simply put, cholesterol is a type of fat in our bodies. Scientifically speaking, it is a ``lipid''. Since these lipids do not dissolve in water, they do not dissolve in our blood, but travel through the bloodstream to each part of the body. Just think, cholesterol is essential for our body to function properly. It has several services for our body:

• Cholesterol helps to build a protective wall around the smallest cells in our body, called cell membranes . These cell membranes control what goes into a cell and what goes out of a cell. Like a gate.
• Cholesterol helps our liver make bile . As you know, this bile is essential for the proper digestion of the food we eat.
• Also, cholesterol is needed to make some of the hormones our bodies produce, especially sex hormones and vitamin D.

See? Cholesterol isn't just a bad thing. It helps our bodies do a lot of important things.

So if cholesterol is necessary, why are we so worried about it?

Yes, our bodies actually need a certain amount of cholesterol to function. However, the problem is when we have too much cholesterol in our bodies. Just like when we eat food, if we eat more than we need, we get sick. Similarly, when cholesterol is high, that is, when the cholesterol level in the blood is higher than the required amount (hyperlipidemia) or when the types of fats in the body are unbalanced (dyslipidemia), we can have serious health problems. In particular, the risk of developing heart disease , that is, coronary artery disease, is very high.

In fact, about 80% of the cholesterol our body needs is made by our liver. The rest comes from the foods we eat. Normally, our bodies can filter out the excess cholesterol from these foods. But sometimes, this process doesn't work properly, or the amount of cholesterol we consume from the foods we eat becomes too much to handle.

So how does this excess cholesterol get into the body?

There may be several reasons for this.

• Genetic causes:Some people have a genetic condition called `` Familial Hypercholesterolemia ''. A person with this condition has difficulty properly removing unwanted cholesterol from the blood. Over time, cholesterol builds up in the blood and levels rise.
• Our diet: Another important factor is the food we eat . Some of the foods we eat can raise our cholesterol levels. This problem can occur when we eat too much saturated fat from animal products (for example, meat, milk, cheese, butter) and trans fat (often found in processed foods, packaged foods, and fast foods). So, it is important to be careful about what we eat.

How does cholesterol travel in our blood?

Cholesterol is found in almost every cell in our body. But we mostly talk about and hear about cholesterol in the blood. Because of its chemical nature, cholesterol cannot travel through the bloodstream on its own. Therefore, it must be combined with other particles. So, cholesterol combines with proteins and another type of fat called triglycerides . We call this special particle formed by the combination of cholesterol, proteins, and triglycerides a lipoprotein .

What are these lipoproteins?

Think of lipoproteins as little vehicles made up of lipids and proteins. These vehicles can travel throughout the body through the bloodstream. In other words, they are like boats that carry goods from one city to another. Some boats carry food and other necessities to the city. There is another type of boat that carries away the garbage from the city.

It's the same inside our bodies. There are certain lipoproteins that carry cholesterol to various tissues and cells in the body. This cholesterol is essential for the body. But if it increases too much, it's bad. That's why we need other types of lipoproteins that pick up that excess cholesterol and remove it.

You've probably heard of these lipoproteins by their nicknames. They're often called LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. These are the two main types of cholesterol. But there are other types. So let's take a closer look at what these types of cholesterol are and what they do in the body.

What are these different types of cholesterol we ask about?

There are several types of cholesterol in our bodies. A test that looks at cholesterol in your blood is called a lipid profile.If you do one, you'll see that several types of cholesterol are listed in that report. Once you know what each type means, it will be much easier for you to talk to your doctor about cholesterol.

LDL cholesterol – is this the so-called “bad” cholesterol?

LDL cholesterol stands for Low-Density Lipoproteins . These particles are mainly made up of cholesterol. The job of these LDLs is to carry cholesterol to the body's cells. LDLs have been nicknamed "bad" cholesterol . Why is that?

LDL is really important for our body. But the problem is when there is too much of it circulating in the blood. Then this LDL cholesterol, along with other substances, starts to accumulate in our blood vessels, that is, in the walls of our arteries. We call the thick layer of fat that forms in this way 'plaque' . Over time, this plaque gradually grows larger, reducing the space inside the arteries. The accumulation of plaque in the walls of the arteries in this way is called atherosclerosis . This condition greatly increases the risk of developing dangerous diseases such as heart attack and stroke.

So it's important to keep your LDL cholesterol level low . For an average adult, it's best to keep it below 100 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter). If you have a condition like atherosclerosis, which is a buildup of fat in your arteries, doctors recommend keeping your LDL cholesterol level below 70 mg/dL.

HDL cholesterol – so is this the “good” cholesterol?

HDL cholesterol stands for High-Density Lipoproteins . These lipoproteins are mainly made up of proteins. HDL is known as the “good” cholesterol . This is because HDL picks up excess cholesterol in the blood and carries it back to the liver. The liver then breaks down the cholesterol and removes it from the body. This important process is also called reverse cholesterol transport.

Your HDL cholesterol level is something you want to keep high . If you're a man, you should aim to keep your HDL level at least 40 mg/dL. If you're a woman, you should aim to keep it at least 50 mg/dL.

For all adults, an HDL level of more than 60 mg/dL is considered very good. It also helps reduce the risk of heart disease.

Is there such a thing as VLDL cholesterol?

Yes, VLDL cholesterol stands for Very Low-Density Lipoproteins.VLDL mainly carries triglycerides (another type of fat) and cholesterol. It has less protein than the other types. Like LDL, VLDL is considered “bad” because it can contribute to the buildup of plaque in our arteries.

Simply put, good cholesterol (HDL) helps remove bad cholesterol (the harmful stuff from LDL and VLDL) from the blood. LDL cholesterol is the main contributor to plaque buildup in the arteries.

What things can affect my cholesterol levels?

There are several factors that affect our cholesterol levels. Let's take a look at what they are:

• Age: As we age, our cholesterol levels can usually gradually increase.
• Diet: As we've discussed before, saturated fat and trans fat in the foods we eat can increase your LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels. Eating less of these types of fats can go a long way in lowering cholesterol.
• Exercise: Regular, moderate exercise can help raise your HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels. Try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity most days of the week.
• Heredity: Your genes also play a role in how much cholesterol your body makes. In some families, high cholesterol can run in families.
• Gender and hormones: Before menopause, women tend to have lower total cholesterol levels than men. However, after menopause, women may have higher LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels and lower HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels.

Should I get my cholesterol checked? What should I do if it's high?

Yes, of course! It's important for everyone to be aware of their cholesterol levels. How often you should have a cholesterol test, or the aforementioned lipid panel, depends on your age and other risk factors for heart disease (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking). So, it's best to talk to your family doctor and ask how often you should have this checked. Knowing your cholesterol levels is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself from heart disease in the future.

Imagine, if the report says that your cholesterol level is high, don't panic. The doctor will prescribe the necessary treatment for you. The main treatment options for this are:

• Dietary changes: This means adopting a healthy diet that is low in cholesterol, low in fat, high in fiber, and high in fruits and vegetables.
• Lifestyle changes:Things like exercising regularly, controlling your weight, and quitting smoking completely.
• Medications: Some people may have difficulty controlling their cholesterol with diet and exercise alone. In such cases, your doctor may prescribe cholesterol-lowering medications, such as statins.

For many people, a combination of these methods is the most effective way to control cholesterol. But to find out which method is best for you, you should check your cholesterol levels and talk to a doctor.

So, if you haven't seen a doctor in a while, definitely go and check on your health. Go for checkups as per your doctor's schedule. Stay informed about your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels, which are indicators of the health of your heart and blood vessels. Remember, it's never too early to think about the health of your heart. It's worth starting to think about what you can do to keep it healthy today.

So, what is the message we should remember from all of this?

Cholesterol is a type of fat that plays a very important role in our bodies and is essential for us. In order to live healthy, we need to have the right amount of cholesterol in our bodies. However, having too much cholesterol in the blood can definitely be dangerous for your health. That's why it's so important to check your cholesterol levels regularly and talk to your doctor about what those values ​​mean.

Remember, by maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and following your doctor's advice, you can definitely control your cholesterol levels and live a healthy, fulfilling life. Got it? So, let's take care of this starting today!