Important facts to know about cholesterol & bull; hello healthy

Many people think that cholesterol is a bad substance. In fact, these fatty substances are naturally owned by the body. This means that cholesterol is not a dangerous substance. What exactly is cholesterol and what does it do for the body? Check out the complete explanation about cholesterol and the importance of maintaining normal cholesterol in the body below.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a type of fatty substance found in all cells in the body. According to an article published in the Family Doctor, this substance produced by the liver functions to protect the nervous system and to make cell tissues and certain hormones.

Apart from being produced naturally by the body, these fatty substances can also be obtained from the foods you consume, including eggs, meat, and various dairy products. However, too many levels in the body can cause various health problems.

These fatty substances circulate in the body through the bloodstream in the form of lipoproteins. There are two types of lipoproteins that carry these fatty substances throughout the body, namely HDL or High Density Lipoprotein which is known as good cholesterol and LDL or Low Density Lipoprotein which is known as bad cholesterol.

Know the type of cholesterol in the body

After understanding the meaning of cholesterol, now is the time to get to know the various types in the body. Maybe all this time you have thought that this one fatty substance is a substance that cannot be found in the body and must be avoided. In fact, the body still needs it in the blood, as long as it is at normal levels.

The reason is, the body needs HDL to carry out its functions. As long as you can maintain normal levels, your body can function properly and avoid various health problems. Col.

HDL and LDL must always be in balance in the blood. This is because LDL levels that are too high or HDL levels are too low can have a negative impact on health.

These conditions can cause high cholesterol and increase the risk of various cholesterol complications including heart attacks, coronary heart disease, and heart failure.

Here are the two types that are in the blood and you need to know.

Good cholesterol (HDL)

High HDL levels in the blood are good for health. In fact, this may be a sign that the cholesterol level in the body as a whole is considered normal. No wonder many doctors or health professionals recommend that you increase HDL levels in the body.

HDL will take up excess LDL in the bloodstream to the liver, so that LDL can be broken down and excreted from the body. In other words, HDL helps your body maintain normal cholesterol levels.

This is why high levels of HDL in the bloodstream can keep you from heart disease or stroke. However, that does not mean that the presence of HDL can eliminate LDL as a whole. Only a small part of LDL can be carried by HDL.

Bad cholesterol (LDL)

If high HDL levels are a good sign for levels in the body as a whole, high LDL levels indicate a different thing. LDL is considered bad cholesterol because if it is in excess in the bloodstream it can cause buildup in the arteries.

The problem is, the buildup of these fatty substances can narrow arteries and block blood flow to the heart. That way, the risk of experiencing various heart diseases increases. In addition, excess LDL levels also cause blood clots that can trigger a heart attack at any time.

One way to keep cholesterol levels normal is to lower LDL levels. You can lower LDL levels in your blood by improving your eating habits, doing regular exercise, or taking cholesterol-lowering supplements if necessary.

Triglycerides

Although triglycerides are not a type of cholesterol, you can't just ignore these substances. The reason is, triglycerides are also one of the most abundant fatty substances in the body. In order not to confuse the concept of these two fatty substances in the blood, you need to know the difference between cholesterol and triglycerides.

Your blood levels of triglycerides will also be calculated if you take a lipoprotein panel test. Too much triglyceride levels in the blood, together with high LDL levels and too low HDL levels, have the potential to clog arteries and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Cholesterol levels are normal for children and adults

Since it is still needed by the body, you need to keep the levels at normal levels. However, note that the normal limits are different for children and adults.

The overall cholesterol level means that it consists of calculating LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. The total level in the blood cannot be calculated if none of the three components have been mentioned. So, what are normal cholesterol levels for children and adults?

Cholesterol levels are normal for children

Make no mistake, children also have the possibility of experiencing high cholesterol levels if they do not maintain a good diet. So, as a parent, you need to pay attention to normal cholesterol levels for children.

Total cholesterol levels include levels of LDL, HDL, and triglycerides and other lipids.

• Normal total cholesterol level for children aged 2-19 years: 170 milligrams (mg) per deciliter (dL).
• Normal LDL levels for children: 100 mg / dL.
• Normal HDL levels for children: 45 mg / dL.
• Fat content other than protein in the body: less than 120 mg / dL.

For children, the first cholesterol test should be done between the ages of 9 and 11. After that, the child can take the next test five years after the first test is done. However, there are also children who have had this test since they were two years old.

Usually, the test is done because the child has a family history of high cholesterol levels, heart attack, or stroke.

Normal cholesterol levels for adults

Meanwhile, cholesterol levels that are considered normal for adults are slightly different.

• Normal adult total cholesterol level: 125-200 mg / dL.
• Normal LDL levels: less than 100 mg / dL.
• Normal HDL levels are slightly different for women and men.
  • Women 20 years and over: 50 mg / dL or more.
  • Men age 20 years and over: 40 mg / dL or more.
• Normal triglyceride levels for adults: below 150 mg / dL.

Therefore, you may need to take medication if your triglyceride levels exceed 200 mg / dL. When entering adulthood, the test should be done every five years.

For men who have entered the age of 45-65 years and women who have entered the age of 55-65 years, they should have their levels of these fatty substances checked every 1-2 years.

Various benefits of cholesterol for the body

The existence of these fatty substances is really needed to support the body's metabolic processes. So, what are the functions of cholesterol in the body?

1. Protect cells

The body consists of collections of cells that form tissues and organs. Well, every cell in the body will have an outer layer as a protection. One of these cell protectors is made of cholesterol.

These substances include fats that are rigid, making it more ideal for maintaining cell integrity than other types of fat in the body. Strong cells will form tissues and organs that function optimally.

2. Helps produce vitamin D

Apart from food sources, your body can produce vitamin D automatically when exposed to sunlight. The trick is to convert cholesterol (7-dehydrocholesterol) in the skin to calcitriol. This compound is then directly distributed to the liver and kidneys to produce vitamin D needed by the body.

Vitamin D will later play a major role in maintaining healthy bones and teeth, as well as helping the immune system and nervous system function optimally.

3. Forming hormones

One of these types of fatty substances is the basic building block for hormones, particularly steroid hormones which include testosterone (male sex hormone) and estrogen and progesterone (female sex hormone). Each of these sex hormones plays a role in regulating the function of the human reproductive system.

In addition, this substance also plays a role in the formation of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. These two hormones play an important role in regulating blood pressure, responding to stress, and maintaining the body's electrolyte balance.

4. Forming bile acids

Bile acids are formed by the liver (liver) with the help of cholesterol in the blood. The bile acids themselves function to break down dietary fats to be absorbed by the body and used as energy.

5. Maintain brain function

The brain is an organ that contains the highest cholesterol compared to other organs. Reporting from the Harvard Medical School page, 25% of these body fat substances are contained in the brain.

In the brain, these fatty substances play a role in smoothing the connections between nerves, called synapses, which regulate various brain functions, especially for memory. Another function of these fatty substances for brain health is to maintain brain cells.

However, we can get all the benefits of these fatty substances by keeping levels within a healthy threshold. The reason is, excess cholesterol levels in the body are associated with an increased risk of various chronic diseases.

Take a cholesterol test

As mentioned earlier, both children and adults are advised to take a cholesterol test. The goal is to determine the level of cholesterol in the blood, whether it is in the normal range, too high, or too low. Moreover, there are often no symptoms of high cholesterol in the blood.

To check cholesterol levels, usually a blood test will be done. Before doing this test, your doctor may ask you to fast. This means that you are not allowed to consume food, drinks, and drugs. This fasting period is usually done for 9-12 hours before the test is done.

The blood sample taken at the time of the test is generally taken once. After successful sampling, the blood will be analyzed in a laboratory, where the HDL, LDL and triglyceride levels will be measured.

The test results of cholesterol levels in the body as a whole are determined by these three components, and will be expressed in units of milligrams per deciliter (mg / dL).

If you want the doctor to also measure the risk of heart disease that may occur from the results of a cholesterol test, he will also ask for additional data in the form of age, gender, and family medical history. In addition, the doctor may also seek additional information such as whether you have a smoking habit, have diabetes and also high blood pressure (hypertension).

Keep cholesterol levels normal

If after doing the test, the number that appears on the results states that your cholesterol level is within normal limits, you should keep that number. That is, adopt a healthy lifestyle to keep the levels from increasing. The following are things you can do to keep levels normal.

1. Determine a healthy diet

The first way to keep the levels of these fatty substances normal is to adopt a healthy diet. One of them is by avoiding foods that are high in cholesterol, such as foods rich in saturated fat, such as red meat, fat-rich dairy products, cakes, biscuits, and similar foods.

If you often eat foods that can increase LDL, then try limiting it from now on to keep your cholesterol levels normal.

Better to increase the intake of foods that are good for cholesterol, for example, foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. The reason is, this nutrient does not increase LDL levels in the blood. In addition, this nutrient can also help lower blood pressure.

In addition, in order to keep the levels of these fatty substances at normal levels, choose healthy fats for you to consume, such as olive oil, avocado, and nuts. The fat in these foods will not increase LDL levels in the blood.

Also increase your intake of nutrients such as soluble fiber, because fiber can lower cholesterol. You can find soluble fiber in foods like oatmeal, whole grains, and fruits like apples and pears.

2. Doing exercise regularly

You are also advised to increase physical activity in order to lower cholesterol levels. The reason is, one of the causes of high cholesterol is laziness to move. Routine exercise can help increase HDL levels in the blood. However, make sure that the sports activities you do have been approved by your doctor.

Some of the sports that you can do are walking, cycling, or doing other sports that might make you more excited when doing them. At least, do light exercise for 30 minutes five times a week. You can also do it together with your partner, friends, or family members to be more excited.

3. Maintain weight

You are also advised to maintain an ideal body weight. Having excess weight does increase your risk of developing high cholesterol. However, this does not mean that people who are ideal weight or underweight are unlikely to experience the condition.

Even so, it is better to maintain your body weight to prevent or reduce your risk of various types of diseases. Slowly change small habits that have the potential to increase body weight. For example, replace the habit of drinking sugary drinks by always drinking mineral water.

If you want to eat sweet foods, look for foods that are sweet but have low calories. Avoid high calorie foods such as jelly candy or the like. Apart from changing your food choices, you can also change other habits, for example, starting to walk more times instead of driving while traveling. Especially if the location is relatively close.

4. Quit smoking

One of the lifestyle that can increase LDL levels to exceed normal limits is smoking. Therefore, rather than taking cholesterol medication, it is certainly better to prevent it. If you want to keep your cholesterol levels at normal levels, stop smoking. In addition, the tobacco in cigarettes can increase triglyceride levels in the blood.

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