Cholesterol is found in cells or cell membranes, and whole organism uses to produce hormones, vitamin D, bile acids, which help to digest fat. The body can fill all these needs by producing cholesterol in the liver. What is the rate of cholesterol in the blood of women?

High cholesterol in the blood - a big issue of women's health. According to studies, one of the six adults (or 16, 3% of the population) have elevated cholesterol, 240 mg / dl or higher. In women, high cholesterol is more common than in men, which increases their risk of developing coronary heart disease about twice compared to those with normal cholesterol.

But do not think that high cholesterol - is the only problem of middle age or older. Obesity is increasingly common in children, adolescents and young adults, as well as high cholesterol.

Since there is increasing evidence that the death rate from heart disease can be reduced with intensive treatment of high cholesterol, the researchers now recommend:

• More intensive treatment and better diagnostics for those who have a risk of heart attack.
• Using a full lipoprotein profile in the first test on a high cholesterol.
• Refinement of the level at which high-density cholesterol becomes a major risk factor for heart disease.
• Clarification of the optimal level of LDL cholesterol for the population.
• More aggressive treatment of high cholesterol levels in patients with diabetes.
• More intensive treatment for patients with very high, high and moderately high risk for a heart attack.
• Better nutrition, increased physical activity and weight control to treat high cholesterol. Medicines are also recommended for those who have medium, high or very high risk of heart disease, based on the level of cholesterol in the blood.
• More attention to the risk factors of heart disease associated with insulin resistance, known as metabolic syndrome, which often occur together and significantly increase the risk of coronary events.
• Increased attention to the treatment of high triglycerides, lipoprotein complex that can also increase the risk of heart disease.
• The recommendations do not use menopausal hormone therapy to treat high cholesterol.

Know your numbers

What are the terms you need to know

While high cholesterol, viscous, fat-like substances, dangerous, however, the body needs a certain amount of cholesterol. Cholesterol is a group of chemical compounds called lipids, which also include the fat and triglycerides.

Some types of saturated fats, mainly contained in whole milk and meat products, and some trans fats in such products as kernel oil, palm oil and partially hydrogenated fats, often contained in processed foods increases the cholesterol level in blood. Over the years, cholesterol and blood fat deposited on the inner walls of the arteries that supply the heart with blood are called coronary arteries. These deposits narrow the arteries, causing atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis - when problems with blood vessels . This is the main cause of coronary heart disease. Dietary cholesterol, which is contained, for example, eggs, dairy products and other foods, may also slightly enhance the cholesterol in blood, but new studies show that consumption of dietary cholesterol unlikely to significantly increase the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke in healthy and most studies found no association between the consumption of eggs and the risk of coronary heart disease.

Research the different types of fat, and their effect on cholesterol continues, and more and more attention is paid to the substitution of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats in saturated fats. Researchers acknowledge that not all fats have the same effect on cholesterol. Even among the saturated fatty acids have different types, some of which are more harmful than others. For example, studies have found that stearic acid, saturated fatty acid which contains in dark chocolate, does not increase the level of LDL cholesterol.

Types of cholesterol. It moves in Cholesterol in blood lipoprotein which consist of lipids and proteins. Cholesterol, which is in the low density lipoproteins (LDL), often called the bad cholesterol, because too high content of cholesterol in the blood can lead to an accumulation of cholesterol and clogged arteries. LDL carries most of the cholesterol in the blood.

Another type of lipoprotein, cholesterol carrying - a high density lipoproteins (HDL), often called good cholesterol Cholesterin . HDL cholesterol helps to carry Ying different parts of the body to the liver, which helps to remove it from the body, preventing its accumulation in the arteries.

The third type of lipoprotein - very low density lipoprotein (VLDL). These triglycerides are transported in the blood. High levels of triglycerides, VLDL and is also associated with increased risk of heart disease. The specific way to measure cholesterol, VLDL is not, so it is usually not mentioned during routine blood tests for cholesterol. Normally, the level of VLDL is a percentage of the level of triglycerides, is the norm value of from 5 to 40 mg / dL.