Cholesterol

Cholesterol.
Cholesterol is found in every cell of the body and has important natural functions. It is manufactured by body but also can be taken in from food. It is waxy and fax t like in appearance.
Cholesterol is oil based and do does not mix with the blood, which is water based . It is therefore carried around the body by lipoproteins.
The parcels of cholesterol are carried by two types of lipoproteins.
Low density lipoproteins( LDL bad cholesterol)
High density lipoproteins( HDL known as good cholesterol) .
Cholesterol has main four functions, without which we can not live .
1 Contributes to the structure of cell walls
2 Makes up digestive bile acids in the intestine.
3 Enables the body to make certain hormones.
4 Allows the body to produce vitamin D .
If there is too much cholesterol, it starts to build up in arteries.( Arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.) This is called hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis. It is starting point for some heart and blood flow problems. The build up can narrow the arteries and makes it harder for blood to flow through them . The build up can lead dangerous blood clots and inflammation that can cause heart attcks and strokes.
Causes of high cholesterol
Genetic conditions  There is condition passed through gense that causes high cholesterol called familiar hypercholesterolemia.People with this condition have cholesterol level of 300 mg/ dl or higher They may experience xanthoma, which can appear as a yellow patch above the skin or  lump underneath the skin.
Diet and lifestyle.
Over weight
Sex male or female: males are more likely to have heart attack than females.
Age In old age there is greater chance of narrowing of arteries.
Medical history
High blood pressure.
Symptoms of high cholesterol
It is called the silent killer because for most people there are no obvious signs and symptoms to look out for .The first sign that have high cholesterol could be :
Angina: Caused by the narrowing of one or more arteries that feed the heart.
Heart attack: Caused by blockage in one of the arteries that feed the heart.
Stroke Caused by blockage in one of the arteries in the neck or brain.
Pain on walking Caused by blockage to an artery that feeds the leg muscles.
These symptoms point To the presence of established heart and circulatory disease.
Other signs
Being a type 2 diabetic
Having a diet Hugh in animal/ saturated fat.
Being physically inactive.
Fatty deposit on eyelids or a white ring around the iris of the eye.
Cholesterol tests and diagnosis
High Cholesterol can only be be diagnosed by blood testing.Ut us recommended to everyone over the age of 25: years should have their cholesterol levels checked every five years.
The cholesterol test is done after a period of fasting no food drink or pills for 9 to 12 hrs to enable ab accurate reading of LDL cholesterol from the blood test. The screening also gives information about total cholesterol , HDL cholesterol and triglycerides levels.
LDL cholesterol
Optimal less than 100 mg/ dl
Near optimal 100 to 129 mg/ dl
Borderline high 130 to 159 mg/ dl
High 160 to 189 mg / dl
V high 19o mg/ dl and above
HDL cholesterol
Low below 40 mg/ dl .
Hugh 60 mg/ dl or above
Total cholesterol
Desirable less than 200 mg/ dl
Borderline high between 200--239 mg/ dl
High 240 mg/ dl or above.