LDL-cholesterol levels are best decreased by eating less saturated fat (found mainly in animal products such as fatty meat, butter, high-fat milk, cream, and dripping).
Reducing high blood cholesterol levels typically involves decreasing the total cholesterol level by decreasing LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides, while maintaining or increasing HDL-cholesterol levels.
Testing for high cholesterolĪ simple blood test to assess cholesterol levels can be done by your family doctor or at a medical clinic. It is thought that elevated triglyceride levels may increase the risk of developing heart disease, particularly when associated with high LDL-cholesterol levels. When calories ingested in a meal are not used immediately by the body, they are converted to triglycerides and are transported to the fat cells to be stored. Triglycerides are the most common type of fat that exists in food and in the body. When blood cholesterol tests are done, the level of triglycerides in your blood is also measured. Any lifestyle changes or treatment for high blood cholesterol will aim to ensure HDL levels are increased or maintained at healthy levels. On the other hand, cholesterol carried by HDLs is considered “good” because it carries cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it is broken down and passed from the body. If you have high blood cholesterol your goal will be to reduce LDL levels in your blood. In simple terms, cholesterol carried by LDLs is considered “bad” because when there’s too much of it circulating in your blood it contributes to plaque build-up that clogs arteries and makes them less flexible (i.e. There's only one kind of cholesterol but it is carried around the body by different carriers called lipoproteins, notably: High blood cholesterol levels are known medically as hypercholesterolaemia or hyperlipidaemia. Medical conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease and underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).Genetic susceptibility to high cholesterol.Other factors that may influence your blood cholesterol levels include: cholesterol that is already present in animal foods you might consume (mainly in dairy products, meat, egg yolks, offal and shellfish). A diet high in saturated fat stimulates the liver to produce more cholesterol so the saturated fat content of the food you eat is likely to have a strong influence on your blood cholesterol levels.Ī small proportion of your blood cholesterol is derived from dietary cholesterol - i.e. Your liver produces most of the cholesterol circulating in your blood. This risk of a cardiovascular health event increases when high blood cholesterol is accompanied by other risk factors such as high blood pressure and a family history of heart disease. More than half of New Zealanders admitted to hospital with a heart attack have high cholesterol levels. This process is known as atherosclerosis and increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.
However, when there is more cholesterol circulating in the blood than the body needs, it can build up on your artery walls, eventually leading to narrowing and hardening of the arteries. It is essential for your good health as it helps to build cell walls and is used in the manufacture of some hormones. General information and causesĬholesterol is a white, waxy substance that is circulated in the blood. The condition doesn't have any obvious symptoms so blood tests are required to confirm if a person has high blood cholesterol.Ĭhanges to diet, regular exercise and other lifestyle changes can reduce cholesterol levels In some cases, people with persistent high blood cholesterol may be treated with cholesterol-lowering medication. Too much of it increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. Cholesterol is a type of fat that circulates in your blood.
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