Facts about your Cholesterol Level
1. Lower blood cholesterol will lead to reduced rates of heart attack and death from coronary heart disease.2. In primary prevention trials where the short-term risk of coronary heart disease was low, the reduction in coronary death has often been offset by an increase in noncoronary death and an increase in a variety of conditions.
3. Some studies show higher mortality in people with lower total cholesterol levels — that is lower than 160 mg/dL. These deaths are from noncoronary causes (cancers, chronic respiratory disease, liver disease and trauma).
4. On the other hand, some evidence suggests that total cholesterol level below 160 mg/dL is not dangerous. In many countries, a major portion of the population has a cholesterol level in this range throughout life without serious health problems. Less than 6 % of the U.S. population has a total cholesterol level below 160 mg/dL.
5. A great deal of evidence suggests that reducing high total cholesterol level to 160 to 199 mg/dL in primary prevention (before a cardiac event) may reduce total mortality. In fact, that evidence is more consistent and reliable than evidence suggesting that lower blood cholesterol level may increase non-CHD deaths.
About HDL cholesterol level and triglyceride levels.
Women have a higher HDL cholesterol level than men. The female sex hormone estrogen tends to raise HDL cholesterol level, which may help explain why premenopausal women are usually protected from developing heart disease. Estrogen production is highest during the childbearing years. b. Triglyceride levels range from about 50 to 250 mg/dL and can be higher, depending on age and sex. As people get older, more overweight or both, their triglyceride and cholesterol level tend to rise. Women also tend to have higher triglyceride levels. An elevated blood triglyceride level and lower HDL cholesterol level are often found with higher LDL Cholesterol level and total cholesterol. c. Some clinical studies have shown that an large number of people with coronary heart disease also have high levels of triglycerides in their blood, called hypertriglyceridemia. Some people with this problem seem to be free from atherosclerosis (fatty build-ups of plaque in arteries). So elevated triglycerides, which are often measured along with HDL and LDL cholesterol, may not directly cause atherosclerosis. But they may be linked to other abnormalities that speed its development. High triglycerides may result from other disease, such as untreated diabetes mellitus.
The research about Cholesterol level
There is research to find ways to prevent or reverse atherosclerosis. One of the most promising areas of research is in finding ways to control the elevated level of cholesterol and other fats in the blood.1. The discovery of cell-surface receptors for LDL by 1985 Nobel laureates Drs. Joseph Goldstein and Michael Brown. These receptors bind LDL circulating through the bloodstream, allowing the LDL and its cholesterol to enter cells. Research has shown that when the amount of cholesterol within cells builds up, the number of these receptors on cell surfaces is reduced and blood levels of LDL increase. This can lead to more cholesterol being available for deposit in artery walls.
2. The Coronary Primary Prevention Trial shows that lowering a high level of blood cholesterol reduces deaths from heart attack. A recent advance has been the development of a new class of cholesterol-lowering drugs. These compounds block the synthesis of cholesterol by the body’s cells and force its elimination by preventing its absorption from the intestine.
3. Recent theories suggests that excess lipoproteins in the blood are trapped in the artery wall. When this happens and they accumulate, they become oxidized. That leads to "modified" lipoproteins that are rapidly taken up by smooth muscle cells. This leads to foam cells forming and deposits of connective tissue cells and other elements.
4. Much more work has to be done. Scientists have found some answers, they've found a definite relationship between the amount of cholesterol in the bloodstream and coronary artery. Scientific evidence shows that a diet high in saturated fats and cholesterol can raise blood cholesterol levels and contribute to atherosclerosis.
5. Millions of children also have an elevated level of cholesterol, and may be at higher risk of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease in later life.
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