Always Bad For Health, Recognize 7 Mistakes In Understanding Cholesterol

Illustration of mistakes in understanding cholesterol that is always considered bad for health (Shutterstock)

YOGYAKARTA Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is important for life. However, many people think cholesterol is bad, because it causes health problems if the levels are too high in the blood. In addition, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, it is estimated that high cholesterol is responsible for 2.6 million deaths every year. Through this prevalence, it is not surprising that there is a lot of misinformation related to cholesterol. For that, do not assume that cholesterol is wrong and understand the following explanation.

It's not true if all cholesterol is bad. The reason is, cholesterol is a vital component of cell membranes. Apart from its structural role in membranes, cholesterol is also important in the production of steroid hormones, vitamin D, and bile acid. So even though high cholesterol is a risk factor for disease, without cholesterol we will not be able to survive.

"Cholesterol is not bad. Cholesterol is just an innocent observer who is not handled properly in our current modern lifestyle," explained doctor-certified cardiologist Robert Greenfield.

The human body is not designed to eat excessive food. Because when cholesterol is excessive, it will settle in the body and be buried in the blood vessels.

The balance of cholesterol levels depends on what we eat and genetics, explains doctor Greenfield. In addition, the function of thyroid, medicines, exercise, and sleep also affects. So, the factors that affect high cholesterol levels are not just food. Even if you weigh ideally, a person may have high cholesterol due to many factors.

Cardiologist Edo Paz reported by Medical News Today, Minggu, January 12, in most cases high cholesterol levels, does not feel symptoms. That is why it is necessary to routinely check cholesterol levels to detect if the levels are too high.

The only 'symptoms' that can be associated with cholesterol are advanced symptoms, when excessive cholesterol buildup causes damage and blockage of the heart and blood vessels. This causes chest pain (gina), heart attacks, or even sudden death, "said Dr. Greenfield.

In addition, non-invasive cardiologist doctor Alexandra Lajoie emphasized that high cholesterol causes plaque buildup in the arteries. This became so severe that there was a stroke or heart attack.

This understanding is quite complicated. According to Lajoie, cholesterol consumed by a person does not always correlate directly with cholesterol levels. Furthermore, consuming simple sugars and carbohydrates can result in high cholesterol levels even though it does not consume a lot of cholesterol.

People who exercise tend not to experience an increase in cholesterol due to consuming foods containing cholesterol rather than those who do not move much.

The target for cholesterol levels is based on how a person is healthy. If a person has a history of certain diseases, such as heart attacks and strokes, the risk of high cholesterol levels is greater.

For those of us who do not have cardiovascular problems, LDL cholesterol (bad' cholesterol) must be less than 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl). However, if you have heart disease or blood vessel history of heart attack, stroke, or other arterial blood vessel disease and especially if you are suffering from diabetes, the LDL cholesterol target must be less than 70 mg/dl, if not lower," Greenfield explained.

This understanding is actually a myth. Because according to the CDC, during 2015-2018, the prevalence of high total cholesterol in US adults was 11.4 percent. When considered by men and women, the total prevalence was 10.5 percent in men and 12.1 percent in women. Obviously Greenfield further, women after menopause, began to accelerate the risk of heart disease. Women are also noted to have more heart attacks than men every year.

When cholesterol levels are high, we can try to lower them. In addition to consuming cholesterol reduction drugs, it can also maintain healthy weight, consume healthy foods, exercise regularly, avoid smoking and drink alcohol.

In addition to the seven errors in understanding cholesterol in the above body, it is also important to routinely check cholesterol levels. This is because health must be monitored even though you are still young. Furthermore, related to high cholesterol levels, if left for too long it will be greater to risk developing cardiovascular disease in the future.