What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy substance from a group called sterols, found in food and produced by the liver because it's vital for making hormones and metabolic compounds. While it's long been known that blood cholesterol levels affect our risk of chronic diseases like heart attack, stroke, and diabetes, there's more to the story than just the numbers.
Is all cholesterol bad?
It’s a common misconception that all cholesterol is bad for our health, but this isn’t true.
We typically think of “bad” cholesterol as being called low-density lipoprotein (LDL) which are found in foods containing saturated and trans fats. The role of LDL is to transport fats and cholesterol to our tissues. It deposits them in the lining of the arterial walls to form plaque. Plaque restricts blood flow which in small amounts can be beneficial, however the higher the level of LDL, the more plaque build-up occurs over time increasing our risk of chronic disease.
High-density lipoproteins (HDL) or “good” cholesterol, by contrast, helps keep our artery walls clean and clear. HDL’s role is to transports fats and both HDL and LDL cholesterol to the liver where it can be processed and removed from the body, thereby reversing the effects of lifestyle factors over time. Foods classified as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (Omega 3 & 6) are high in HDL cholesterol.
What are the signs of high cholesterol?
Often, high cholesterol won’t present with any noticeable symptoms. This is why getting your cholesterol checked is so important. Here at Reed Wellbeing, we deliver the NHS Health Check programme and the One You Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster service which helps people prevent conditions such as high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia). You can book an NHS Health Check if you are aged between 40 and 74 years old and have not already been diagnosed with a long-term condition such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke or dementia. To book your health check today simply contact your registered GP.
Getting your cholesterol tested
To check your cholesterol, your healthcare provider will run a routine blood test. This test shows the amount of fats in your blood, using a measurement called millimoles per litre of blood (mmol/L).
As cholesterol cannot travel through the bloodstream independently our bodies parcel these up into packages called lipoproteins. Within these lipoproteins we have the LDL and HDL cholesterol as well as a blood fat called triglycerides.
The NHS app is a great way to see test results, upcoming appointments etc and when searching for your cholesterol results or when speaking with your healthcare provider you will be given several results, which make up your lipid profile.
So how do we interpret these results?
What to do if you have high cholesterol levels
If your total cholesterol levels come back as high, try not to worry. Speak to your healthcare provider. They can guide you through the options available based on your overall health and family history.
Simple steps and changes which we can make include:
Setting small realistic goals
Limiting your saturated and trans-fat food intake, see The Eatwell Guide - NHS
Eat more dietary fibre by swapping from white to brown carbohydrates - aim for more than 30 grams per day
Reduce your alcohol intake – your NHS BetterHealth App can assist you with reducing your alcohol to no more than 14 units per week
Try to include foods high in Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated fat to increase HDL cholesterol by including oily fish, olive oil, nuts and seeds
Stop smoking - your GP can refer you or you can ring the helpline on 0300 123 1044 (England only) for the NHS Stop Smoking Service
Moving more – aiming to hit the government guidelines for cardiovascular exercise per week, 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week
In summary, the impact of LDL cholesterol on our body as we age can have a negative effect leading to high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia). Not only this but some people make too much cholesterol regardless of age thanks to their genetics.
However, most people can significantly improve their cholesterol levels by making positive changes to their lifestyle. The most important lifestyle factors being diet and exercise. It is well documented as part of clinical trials that even a small change in our cholesterol levels can make a big improvement to our chances of avoiding cardiovascular disease. Experts know that each 1% reduction in blood cholesterol levels produces a 2% reduction in coronary heart disease, so why not start today!