Cholesterol in the blood: meaning, analysis and deviations from the norm, what to do if it is elevated. What's good and bad about it? Instability of the thyroid gland

Many people believe that cholesterol is harmful to the body, since its accumulation on the walls of blood vessels can cause coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis. This is not entirely true, because only high cholesterol levels in the blood can cause unpleasant consequences.

There are two types of cholesterol - good and bad. In this article we will look at what types of cholesterol there are, what the normal level of cholesterol in the blood is and how to achieve it.

Cholesterol: general information

Cholesterol (complex fat) is found in all cell walls of living organisms, taking a direct part in the synthesis of vital important substances. A person gets a lot of cholesterol from food, but most of it is synthesized in the liver.

Elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood are not accompanied by symptoms, and pathology can only be detected with the help of a special examination.

Contrary to public opinion, complex fat in small doses is not harmful, but rather beneficial. Good cholesterol is considered to be a combination of fatty acids with particles of complex protein compounds HDL (lipoproteins).

Bad cholesterol is found in the blood in the form of large LDL particles (low-density lipoproteins).

They are prone to clogging of blood vessels due to the precipitation of particles. The normal level of cholesterol in the blood is determined by the total concentration of various fats in the body.

When conducting a blood lipid profile study, cholesterol indicators are separated - this allows you to check their quantity and the required balance.

Factors determining normal cholesterol levels

The level of cholesterol in the human body is determined purely individually, depending on your gender, weight, age, height and characteristics of the body. In children, this norm will always be lower than in adults. It is almost impossible to derive a single formula.

In men, the normal indicator will be higher than in women of the same age, but after menopause in women there is an increase in this indicator.

Blood cholesterol levels may increase slightly in women during pregnancy and this will be normal.

In people suffering cardiac diseases and diabetes mellitus, the normal value should be less than that of people of the same age, gender and characteristics, but not susceptible to these diseases.

Everything is purely individual and data on what cholesterol is normal should be obtained in medical institution as a result of the necessary scientific research of your body.

You can view approximate blood cholesterol levels on a table by age, but this is not accurate data and can only be used as a guide, not followed. Let's look at what your cholesterol should be healthy person.

If we evaluate the general indicators provided in the table, then the safe and normal limit for health will be 3.5-5 mmol/l. Increased limits of this indicator will be considered a deviation from the norm, but here it is necessary to take into account your own characteristics of the body.

For people who have heart disease or diabetes, a normal blood cholesterol level of 4-5 mmol/l is applicable. It is this indicator that will not contribute to the occurrence of relapses and deterioration of the condition.

There are several factors due to which general norm cholesterol may change. That is why, when determining what a person’s cholesterol level is, it is necessary to pay attention not only to height and gender, but also to other factors.

Let's look at several features in which normal cholesterol may be elevated:

1. Cold weather outside not only affects our mood, but can also increase or decrease the level of complex fat in the blood;
2. The menstrual cycle also has an impact on a person's cholesterol levels;
3. Pregnancy can increase cholesterol levels by up to 12-15%;
4. Malignant formations reduce the amount of cholesterol and this can subsequently lead to the growth of pathological tissues;
5. The level of cholesterol in the blood, the norm of which also depends on diseases, may be different. If you have diabetes, angina pectoris, acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, cardiovascular diseases or an enlarged thyroid gland, then the normal readings may decrease by up to 15%.

Not only high cholesterol is dangerous for the body, but low cholesterol can also lead to bad consequences. Therefore, it is necessary that there be a level of cholesterol in a person’s blood that will not significantly decrease or increase.

Normal cholesterol level in women

What should be the normal cholesterol level for women? certain ages we learn from the following table:

The increase in normal limits with age is due to hormonal processes associated with the onset of the menstrual pause.

Normal cholesterol level in men

Blood cholesterol levels for men can be viewed in this table:

It is worth paying attention to normal level cholesterol in the blood of adult men - its indicator plays a very important role important role. The male body is more prone to accumulation bad cholesterol due to its hormonal characteristics.

Children are already born with a cholesterol level of 3 mmol/l. What is the normal level of cholesterol in children is a controversial issue; it is believed that it is 2.5-5.2 mmol/l.

It is necessary to monitor the child’s diet so that he does not consume large quantities of unhealthy and fatty foods. Good sources of saturated fat include dairy products, lean red meat, and poultry.

Risk groups for high cholesterol

The normal level of cholesterol in the blood should concern not only people who already have certain deviations from the norm. Many people who do not currently have health problems should pay attention to the following factors that provoke an increase in cholesterol levels:

At risk are people who have diseases of the cardiovascular system and various pathological disorders work of the heart.

Ways to normalize cholesterol

Minor changes are brought back to normal very quickly and easily, the main thing is to identify them in time. You can “earn” a normal cholesterol level thanks to proper nutrition, playing sports and complying with other standard requirements of a healthy lifestyle.

You need to limit your diet, eat only healthy and healthy foods, walk more in the fresh air, healthy sleep and moderate physical activity. It would seem nothing complicated, but if you properly and timely maintain the body in order, the result will not keep you waiting.

We have prepared a list of products that are most preferable for people with hypercholesterolemia and will help quickly bring cholesterol back to normal:

If your cholesterol level is too high, then these rules will not help you bring the cholesterol level in your blood back to normal. This means the need for drug treatment from a doctor who can tell you about all the necessary medications.

To get the fastest and most effective results, combine the use of medications with a healthy lifestyle.

conclusions

We should not be afraid of cholesterol-containing foods as they are beneficial for our body. Complex fatty alcohol is vital for our body, but only when cholesterol levels are normal.

After reading this article, you learned what cholesterol should be, what its norm is and how to prevent the risk of increasing it. It is necessary to use this knowledge, but you also need to check with your doctor on time and follow his recommendations.

Cholesterol modern man is considered the main enemy, although several decades ago it was not given such great importance. Being carried away by new, not so long ago invented products, often in their composition very far from those that our ancestors used, ignoring the diet, a person often does not understand that the main share of the blame for the excessive accumulation of cholesterol and its harmful fractions lies with himself. Does not help fight cholesterol and the "crazy" rhythm of life, predisposing to violation metabolic processes and the deposition of excess fat-like substances on the walls of arterial vessels.

What's good and bad about it?

Constantly "scoldling" this substance, the people forget that it is necessary for a person, since it brings a lot of benefits. What's good about cholesterol and why shouldn't it be eliminated from our lives? So, its best aspects:

• A secondary monohydric alcohol, a fat-like substance called cholesterol, in a free state, together with phospholipids, is part of the lipid structure cell membranes and ensures their stability.
• Cholesterol in the human body, breaking down, serves as a source of formation of adrenal hormones (corticosteroids), vitamin D3 and bile acids, which play the role of fat emulsifiers, that is, it is a precursor of highly active biological substances.

But on the other hand, cholesterol can cause various troubles:

1. Cholesterol is the culprit cholelithiasis, if its concentration in the gallbladder exceeds the permissible limits, it is poorly soluble in water and, having reached the deposition point, forms hard balls - gallstones, which can clog the bile duct and prevent the passage of bile. An attack of unbearable pain in the right hypochondrium ( acute cholecystitis) is provided for, you can’t do without a hospital.

One of the main negative features of cholesterol is its direct participation in the formation atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of arterial vessels (development of the atherosclerotic process). This task is performed by the so-called atherogenic cholesterols or low and very low density lipoproteins (LDL and VLDL), which account for 2/3 of the total amount of cholesterol in the blood plasma. True, anti-atherogenic high-density lipoproteins (HDL), which protect the vascular wall, try to counteract “bad” cholesterol, but there are 2 times less of them (1/3 of the total).

Patients often discuss the bad properties of cholesterol among themselves, share experiences and recipes on how to lower it, but this can be useless if everything is done at random. Diet, folk remedies and a new lifestyle aimed at improving health will help to somewhat reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood (again, what kind?). For successful solution question, it is necessary not only to take total cholesterol as a basis in order to change its values, it is necessary to figure out which of the fractions should be lowered so that the others themselves return to normal.

How to decipher the analysis?

The level of cholesterol in the blood should not exceed 5.2 mmol/l, however, even a concentration value approaching 5.0 cannot give full confidence is that everything is fine in a person, since the total cholesterol content is not absolutely reliable sign well-being. Normal cholesterol levels in a certain proportion are made up of different indicators, which are impossible to determine without a special analysis called a lipid spectrum.

The composition of LDL cholesterol (atherogenic lipoprotein), in addition to LDL, includes very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) and “remnants” (the so-called remnants from the reaction of transition of VLDL to LDL). All this may seem very complicated, however, if you figure it out, decoding the lipid spectrum can be mastered by anyone interested.

Typically, when conducting biochemical tests for cholesterol and its fractions, the following are isolated:

• Total cholesterol (normal up to 5.2 mmol/l or less than 200 mg/dl).
• The main “vehicle” of cholesterol esters is low-density lipoproteins (LDL). In a healthy person, they have their 60-65% of the total amount (or the level of LDL cholesterol (LDL + VLDL) does not exceed 3.37 mmol/l). In those patients who have already been affected by atherosclerosis, LDL-C values ​​may increase markedly, which occurs due to a decrease in the content of anti-atherogenic lipoproteins, that is, this indicator is more informative regarding atherosclerosis than the level of total cholesterol in the blood.
• High-density lipoproteins (HDL cholesterol or HDL cholesterol), which normally should be greater in women than 1.68 mmol/l (in men the lower limit is different - above 1.3 mmol/l). In other sources you can find slightly different figures (in women - above 1.9 mmol/l or 500-600 mg/l, in men - above 1.6 or 400-500 mg/l), this depends on the characteristics of the reagents and the methodology carrying out the reaction. If the level of HDL cholesterol becomes less than acceptable values, they cannot fully protect the blood vessels.
• An indicator such as the atherogenicity coefficient, which indicates the degree of development of the atherosclerotic process, but is not the main one diagnostic criterion, is calculated by the formula: KA = (TC – HDL-C): HDL-C, its normal values ​​range from 2-3.

Cholesterol tests do not necessarily require the isolation of all fractions separately. For example, VLDL can be easily calculated from the triglyceride concentration using the formula (VLDL-C = TG: 2.2) or the sum of high-density and very low-density lipoproteins can be subtracted from total cholesterol to obtain LDL-C. Perhaps these calculations will not seem interesting to the reader, because they are presented only for informational purposes (to have an idea of ​​the components of the lipid spectrum). In any case, the doctor is responsible for decoding, and he also makes the necessary calculations for the positions of interest to him.

And more about the normal level of cholesterol in the blood

Readers may have come across information that the normal level of cholesterol in the blood is up to 7.8 mmol/l. Then they can imagine what the cardiologist will say when they see such an analysis. Definitely - he will appoint all lipid spectrum. Therefore, once again: a normal cholesterol level is considered to be up to 5.2 mmol/l (recommended values), borderline up to 6.5 mmol/l (risk development of ischemic heart disease!), and everything higher is correspondingly elevated (cholesterol is dangerous in high numbers and, probably, the atherosclerotic process is in full swing).

Thus, the concentration of total cholesterol in the range of 5.2 – 6.5 mmol/l is the basis for conducting a test that determines the level of antiatherogenic lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Cholesterol analysis should be carried out after 2 - 4 weeks without abandoning the diet or taking medications, testing is repeated every 3 months.

About the lower bound

Everyone knows and talks about high cholesterol, they try to reduce it by all available means, but almost never take into account the lower limit of the norm. It's as if she doesn't exist. Meanwhile, low cholesterol may be present in the blood and accompany quite serious conditions:

1. Prolonged fasting to the point of exhaustion.
2. Neoplastic processes (depletion of a person and absorption of cholesterol from his blood by a malignant neoplasm).
3. Severe liver damage ( last stage cirrhosis, dystrophic changes and infectious lesions of the parenchyma).
4. Lung diseases (tuberculosis, sarcoidosis).
5. Hyperfunction thyroid gland.
6. Anemia (megaloblastic, thalassemia).
7. Lesions of the central nervous system (CNS).
8. Prolonged fever.
9. Typhus.
10. Burns with significant damage to the skin.
11. Inflammatory processes in soft tissues with suppuration.
12. Sepsis.

As for cholesterol fractions, they also have lower limits. For example, a decrease in the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol beyond 0.9 mmol/l (anti-atherogenic) is accompanied by risk factors for coronary artery disease (physical inactivity, bad habits, excess weight, arterial hypertension), that is, it is clear that people develop a tendency because their blood vessels are not protected, because PAP becomes unaffordably small.

Low cholesterol in the blood, representing low-density lipoproteins (LDL), is observed in the same pathological conditions as total cholesterol (depletion, tumors, serious illnesses liver, lungs, anemia, etc.).

Cholesterol in the blood is increased

First, about the causes of high cholesterol, although, probably, they have long been known to everyone:

• Our food is primarily animal products (meat, whole full fat milk, eggs, cheeses of all kinds) containing saturated fatty acids and cholesterol. The craze for chips and all sorts of quick, tasty, filling fast foods saturated with various trans fats also does not bode well. Conclusion: such cholesterol is dangerous and its consumption should be avoided.
• Body weight – excess increases the level of triglycerides and reduces the concentration of high-density lipoproteins (anti-atherogenic).
• Physical activity. Physical inactivity is a risk factor.
• Age after 50 years and male gender.
• Heredity. Sometimes high cholesterol runs in families.
• Smoking does not greatly increase total cholesterol, but it does reduce the level of the protective fraction (CH - HDL).
• Taking certain medications (hormones, diuretics, beta blockers).

Thus, it is not difficult to guess who is primarily prescribed a cholesterol test.

Diseases with high cholesterol

Since so much has been said about the dangers of high cholesterol and the origin similar phenomenon, then it would probably be useful to note under what circumstances this figure will increase, since they can also, to some extent, be the cause of high cholesterol in the blood:

1. Hereditary metabolic disorders (familial variants caused by metabolic disorders). Typically this is severe forms, characterized by early manifestation and particular resistance to therapeutic measures;
2. Cardiac ischemia;
3. Various liver pathologies (hepatitis, jaundice of non-hepatic origin, obstructive jaundice, primary biliary cirrhosis);
4. Severe kidney disease with renal failure and swelling:
5. Hypofunction of the thyroid gland (hypothyroidism);
6. Inflammatory and tumor diseases of the pancreas (pancreatitis, cancer);
7. Diabetes mellitus (it is difficult to imagine a diabetic without high cholesterol - this is, in general, rare);
8. Pathological conditions of the pituitary gland with decreased production of somatotropin;
9. Obesity;
10. Alcoholism (alcoholics who drink but do not eat have high cholesterol, but atherosclerosis does not develop often);
11. Pregnancy (the condition is temporary, the body will adjust everything after the end of the period, but diet and other prescriptions will not interfere with a pregnant woman).

Of course, in such situations, patients no longer think about how to lower cholesterol; all efforts are aimed at combating the underlying disease. Well, those for whom everything is not so bad still have a chance to preserve their blood vessels, but it will no longer be possible to return them to their original state.

Fight cholesterol

As soon as a person learned about his problems in the lipid spectrum, studied the literature on the topic, listened to the recommendations of doctors and simply knowledgeable people, his first desire is to lower the level of this harmful substance, that is, to begin treating high cholesterol.

The most impatient people ask to immediately assign them medicines, others prefer to do without “chemistry”. It should be noted that opponents of drugs are right in many respects - you need to change yourself. To do this, patients switch to a low-cholesterol diet and become a little vegetarian in order to free their blood from “bad” components and prevent new ones from entering with fatty foods.

Food and cholesterol:

A person changes his way of thinking, he tries to move more, goes to the pool, prefers active recreation in the fresh air, and removes bad habits. For some people, the desire to reduce cholesterol becomes the meaning of life, and they begin to actively take care of their health. And it is right!

What does it take to be successful?

Among other things, in search of the most effective remedy against cholesterol problems, many people are keen on cleaning blood vessels from those formations that have already settled on the walls of the arteries and damage them in some places. Cholesterol is dangerous in a certain form (cholesterol - LDL, cholesterol - VLDL) and its harmfulness lies in the fact that it contributes to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of arterial vessels. Such activities (fighting plaques) undoubtedly have positive effect in terms of general cleansing, preventing excessive accumulation of harmful substances, stopping the development of the atherosclerotic process. However, as regards the removal of cholesterol plaques, the reader will have to be somewhat disappointed here. Once formed, they never go away. The main thing is to prevent the formation of new ones, and this will already be a success.

When things go too far, folk remedies stop working, and the diet no longer helps, the doctor prescribes cholesterol-lowering drugs (most likely, these will be statins).

Difficult treatment

Statins (lovastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin, etc.), reducing the level of cholesterol produced by the patient’s liver, reduce the risk of developing cerebral infarction ( ischemic stroke) and myocardium, and thereby help the patient avoid fatal outcome from this pathology. In addition, there are combined statins (Vytorin, Advicor, Kaduet), which not only reduce the amount of cholesterol produced in the body, but also perform other functions, for example, lower blood pressure, affect the ratio of “bad” and “good” cholesterol.

Probability of getting drug therapy immediately after determining the lipid spectrum, it increases in patients with diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, problems with coronary vessels, since their risk of myocardial infarction is much higher.

Under no circumstances should you follow the advice of friends, the World Wide Web, or other dubious sources. Medicines in this group can only be prescribed by a doctor! Statins are not always combined with others medicines, which the patient is forced to constantly take in the presence of chronic diseases, so his independence will be absolutely inappropriate. In addition, during the treatment of high cholesterol, the doctor continues to monitor the patient’s condition, monitors lipid levels, and supplements or discontinues therapy.

Who's first in line for analysis?

One can hardly expect the lipid spectrum to be on the list of priority biochemical research used in pediatrics. Cholesterol testing is usually performed by people with some life experience, often male and plump, burdened with the presence of risk factors and early manifestations atherosclerotic process. Reasons for conducting appropriate tests include:

• Cardiovascular diseases, and primarily coronary heart disease (patients with coronary artery disease are more aware of their lipid profile than others);
• Arterial hypertension;
• Xanthomas and xanthelasmas;
• Increased content uric acid in blood serum; (hyperuricemia);
• Having bad habits such as smoking;
• Obesity;
• The use of corticosteroid hormones, diuretics, beta blockers.
• Treatment with cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins).

A cholesterol test is taken from a vein on an empty stomach. On the eve of the study, the patient must adhere to a low-cholesterol diet and extend the overnight fast to 14 - 16 hours, however, the doctor will definitely inform him about this.

Total cholesterol is determined in the blood serum after centrifugation, triglycerides too, but you will have to work on the sedimentation of fractions; this is a more labor-intensive study, but in any case the patient will learn about its results by the end of the day. The numbers and the doctor will tell you what to do next.

Video: what the tests say. Cholesterol

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What foods remove bad cholesterol from the body?

To learn more…

Lack of cholesterol provokes disruptions in the functioning of organs and systems of the entire body. But no matter how useful it is, excess can harm a person. Statistics show elevated levels of the substance in most people.

This process is provoked by an incorrect lifestyle and diet. You should also give up alcohol. Alcoholic drinks, such as vodka, harm blood vessels and reduce their elasticity.

High levels of this substance in the blood are harmful for both a healthy person and a patient. Cholesterol-reducing foods are consumed daily, but they are not given due attention. Homemade food tends to have fewer harmful substances than store-bought food.

For example, vegetable broths help reduce cholesterol levels. Food is the basis of human health, providing correct work all organs. Daily intake bad food is fraught with complications in different body systems.

In order to understand this issue, you should determine the general harmfulness of excess cholesterol and foods that help reduce its level.

The substance contains low and high density lipoproteins. It is low-density lipoproteins that pose a potential danger. They appear due to poor lifestyle, bad habits and excess weight. If there is a high level of cholesterol in the blood, an atherosclerotic plaque forms. The longer cholesterol is contained in the body, the more intense plaque formation.

This process is extremely dangerous due to the occurrence of various diseases related to the cardiovascular system. A person may later have many serious diseases. In addition, they simply interfere with the work of other organs. Approximately 20 percent of these particles enter the body through food, so it would be easiest to follow special diet. Sometimes it is recommended to lower cholesterol levels special drugs. They have side effects, so it would be best to eat the right foods to lower your cholesterol. Nutrition adjustment is one of the most the right ways remove excess cholesterol from the body.

Cholesterol-reducing foods

In order for cholesterol to return to normal with the help of food, you definitely need to know what food and in what quantity you should eat.

Include the necessary foods in your diet, and exclude foods that help increase levels altogether.

All means are good in the fight for normal cholesterol levels, but diet deservedly comes first.

To maintain normal cholesterol levels, you need to know about the list of foods that increase cholesterol:

• Meat products, meat. These products are the most important source of bad cholesterol; in order to normalize its level, you need to stop eating pork, lard, beef, lamb, poultry skin, offal, smoked meats, and minced meat.
• Trans fats are consumed daily. Trans fats are chemically modified vegetable oils. On this moment they are the main source of bad cholesterol for humans. They can be found in many products. They increase the risk of stroke and heart attack.
• Flour products, confectionery products. Larger amounts of coconut and palm oil are found in confectionery products. Therefore, you should be wary of using them.
• Dairy products. You need to take milk and cream in in moderation because these foods may raise your cholesterol levels.

Not many people know the answer to the question of what foods remove cholesterol, since they have never encountered this before. The first thing you need to do is introduce separate meals into your life.

You need to eat often, but in small portions.

So that the diet gives quick results, you should know which foods in your daily diet will help reduce cholesterol.

For example, it is important to remember that vegetables and fruits also need to be given attention.

Any fruit that contains little sugar will be extremely beneficial.

Eating apples, plums, kiwis, pears, apricots and citrus fruits will help get rid of excess cholesterol.

1. Fatty fish. This definition has nothing harmful behind it. Fish contains a whole table of microelements. The fat in it is different from the fat in sausage and sour cream. It is the best source of unsaturated fatty acids. They also help remove harmful cholesterol from the body. Also, eating fish eliminates the risk of cholesterol plaques. In total, you need 200 grams of this product per week and your cholesterol levels will return to normal.
2. Vegetable oil and nuts are also considered products that will help remove bad cholesterol from the body. You don’t have to be limited in your choice of nuts – any will do. You need to eat about 30 grams of nuts per day for cholesterol to return to normal. Within a month, the blood will be cleared of harmful substances. You need to be careful with some nuts; an allergic reaction is possible.
3. IN legume products pectin is present. Pectin is a fiber that breaks down and enters the bloodstream in a short time. All products in this group can not only remove excess cholesterol from the body, but also prevent the appearance of plaques and weakening of the walls of blood vessels. In addition, such products quickly fill you up thanks to protein. Soybeans in the best possible way removes harmful substances from the body. Its presence in the diet will have a better effect on your health.

Bran and cereals are given a separate place in the diet. Until recently, bran was considered waste and was not eaten. Today they are simply necessary for healthy eating. They can be found in bread products and can be added to salads. Some people simply eat them with a spoon with water. They help in regulating food digestion processes. Cereals will also help remove cholesterol. For example, oatmeal helps remove bad cholesterol. It makes them elastic and tones them.

It is worth noting that rolled oats are a very high-calorie porridge. Therefore, you need to use it in moderation.

Traditional methods of getting rid of cholesterol

There are a lot of traditional methods that will help get rid of bad cholesterol. Many fruits and herbs will cope with this in a short time.

These products include linden color. It helps get rid of harmful substances and improves the health of all organs.

Crushed flowers should be taken one small spoon three times a day. The dose is repeated throughout the month. Then you should take a break of two weeks, after which you should continue this therapy. This method, in addition to lowering cholesterol, helps improve the functions of the liver and gall bladder. The product can be mixed with some choleretic plants to obtain better effect. These include tansy, milk thistle, corn silk, immortelle.

It is also recommended to use dandelion root, ground into powder. A teaspoon of powder is consumed before meals. This treatment can last up to six months. After a month of use, you can observe an improvement in your health.

A vegetable such as celery can also become a reliable assistant in reducing cholesterol. The stems of the plant should be immersed in boiling water for a few minutes. Then take it out, pour in olive oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds. This dish will be very tasty. You can eat it at any time. This dish is not recommended for people with low blood pressure.

To improve the condition, you need to take fruit juices, teas, compotes. This will significantly improve the human condition. Grapefruit, pineapple, orange juice will bring the greatest benefit.

If not liver failure, it is recommended to drink juice from beets and carrots. If there are problems with the liver, you should take the juice one teaspoon at a time, increasing the volume over time. The health benefits of green tea in small quantities will be invaluable.

Cholesterol removal occurs in parallel with weight loss. You need to drink it without sugar. If your doctor allows it, you can take mineral supplements. healing waters with vitamins. It is important to remember that any therapy should be carried out exclusively under the supervision of a doctor.

How to eat with hypertension and atherosclerosis is described in the video in this article.

• Stabilizes sugar levels for a long time
• Restores insulin production by the pancreas

To learn more…

1. Cholesterol: myths and reality
2. Why do we need cholesterol?
3. Reasons for the increase in “bad” cholesterol – who is at risk?
4. Blood cholesterol level
5. Symptoms of High Cholesterol
6. What are the dangers of high cholesterol?
7. 10 simple rules for maintaining normal cholesterol
8. Drug cholesterol lowering
9. Cholesterol and pregnancy
10. Folk remedies

About a quarter of Russians are overweight. More than 18 million people worldwide die from cardiovascular diseases. At least 2 million people have diabetes. The common cause of all these ailments is high cholesterol, which affects about 147 million people around the world.

In Russia, the USA, Canada and Australia, more than 60% of the population faces this. The problem has already been called a “national catastrophe”, but, unfortunately, not everyone takes it seriously. How to prevent severe vascular disorders?

Cholesterol: myths and reality

Most uninitiated people imagine this substance as fat, but doctors say that cholesterol is a natural alcohol. When frozen, it looks like salt crystals. A fat-soluble substance of organic origin accumulates in the cells of organs and systems.

The body really needs cholesterol, since the membrane of our cells consists of it. Therefore, no matter what we eat, the body will produce it and distribute it to create new cells and restore the membrane of old ones.

The main purpose of cholesterol compounds is to insulate nerve tissue and protect the cell membrane. Cholesterol promotes the production of hormones by the adrenal glands and sex glands. 80% of the substance is produced by it itself, the rest enters the body with the products we eat.

There are two types of cholesterol; in everyday life they are called “good” and “bad”. The substance itself is homogeneous and has neutral characteristics.

And the usefulness of the substance depends on how cholesterol is transported, what substances pick it up, and which lipoproteins it interacts with. It contains about 200 g in organs, mainly in nerve tissues and the brain.

The first type is represented by high-density lipoproteins, which prevent contamination of blood vessels with foreign deposits. “Bad cholesterol” refers to low-density lipoproteins that can settle in the vascular bed and create health problems.

There is also a type of very low density lipoprotein. Increased bad cholesterol in the blood, what does this mean? Once formed, a plaque does not disappear from the body. By clogging the arteries, it prevents the passage of blood and oxygen to the internal organs.

Gradually, the lumens of blood vessels narrow, atherosclerosis is often diagnosed in at a young age.

A life-threatening plaque is caused by a plaque that turns into a paste of calcium and clogs vascular bed by 75%. Only “bad” cholesterol creates these problems, although its properties are often attributed to cholesterol in general.

Why do we need cholesterol?

If cholesterol is within normal limits, it only has a positive effect on the body. In addition to creating a cell membrane that protects it from an aggressive environment, it also performs many other functions:

1. Plays the role of a filter that recognizes molecules that need to be allowed into the cell and those whose access needs to be blocked;
2. Controls the level of carbon crystallization;
3. Serves as a stimulating substance in the production of bile acids;
4. Helps synthesize vitamin D, which is essential for normal skin condition, using solar energy;
5. Its optimal level improves metabolism, including fat-soluble vitamins;
6. As part of the myelin sheath, it covers nerve endings;
7. Normalizes hormonal background(testosterone contains 50% cholesterol);
8. Responsible for the degree of membrane survival;
9. Protects red blood cells from the aggressive effects of hemolytic toxins;
10. Helps the liver synthesize fatty acids necessary for processing fats;
11. Activates serotonin receptors, eliminating depression.

Reasons for the increase in “bad” cholesterol – who is at risk?

The main prerequisite contributing to the accumulation of excess cholesterol is unbalanced diet when excess fat (margarine (spread), mayonnaise, butter, fatty meat, crabs, shrimp, baked goods, high-fat fermented milk products).

By the way, the amount of cholesterol in pork lard lower than in butter. According to nutritionists, you should consume 1g of fat per 1 kg of body weight per day.

Provoke an increase in “bad” cholesterol:

Men with large bellies are also at risk. Fat envelops internal organs, disrupting their work, increases intra-abdominal pressure, negatively affects the function of the liver, which synthesizes cholesterol. This list also includes women during menopause, who have reduced reproductive function and the synthesis of female sex hormones.

Fans of low-fat diets are also at risk. Why do people need cholesterol when losing weight, and why should it come from food? When 20% of the required cholesterol does not come from food, the body begins to produce more of it.

Concentration camp prisoners had constantly high levels of cholesterol in their blood. Except stressful situation, the cause was constant malnutrition with a complete lack of fat in the diet.

Other causes also influence the production of high cholesterol: hormonal medications, oral contraceptives, diuretics and beta-blockers. Age will also be a risk factor, since over time the normal functioning of the body becomes more difficult.

It is believed that women over fifty and men over thirty-five years old often have high cholesterol. What to do? Watch the video: an expert's opinion on risk factors for high cholesterol and preventive measures.

Blood cholesterol level

In healthy people, the concentration of “good” cholesterol is quite high: the normal level does not exceed 1.0 mmol/l. A deficiency will create additional problems for the body.

In hypertensive patients and diabetics, this figure should be less than 2 mmol/l. Exceeding this norm can provoke the development of atherosclerosis. For total cholesterol, normal values ​​should not exceed 5.2 mmol/l.

In addition to quantitative parameters, it is also estimated high-quality composition cholesterol: proportions of its different fractions - LDL, HDL, TG. In healthy people, atherogenic cholesterol (LDL) is in the range of 100 - 130 mg/l (in hypertensive patients - 70 - 90 mg/l).

The most accessible way to determine your concentration of all types of cholesterol, which can be done in any clinic, is a blood test called a “lipid profile.”

Healthy people over 35 years old need to monitor whether their indicators are within the normal range at least once every 2 years. Patients at risk, as well as those who have (or have had) patients with vascular pathologies in their family, should be examined annually.

Why is it also recommended to consult a doctor if the readings are below 3.5 mmol/l? See the answer in the program “Quality of Life: About the Most Important Thing”

Symptoms of High Cholesterol

Doctors call cholesterol “the gentle killer” because the desire to eat a cake or ham does not provoke pain, like a bad tooth. The accumulation of harmful substances is often asymptomatic.

When cholesterol concentrations increase, atherosclerotic plaques form in the body, which lead to cardiovascular and other health problems.

A number of nonspecific signs indicate elevated cholesterol in the blood:

These are just the main signs, if identified, you need to undergo an examination. Signs of the disease often appear only when cholesterol levels have already reached critical levels.

What are the dangers of high cholesterol?

High cholesterol concentrations over a long period of time create conditions for the formation of severe pathologies:

Excessive cholesterol content provokes the development of hypertension. Damage to the walls of blood vessels creates the preconditions for leg diseases - varicose veins, thrombophlebitis.

Diabetes mellitus is accompanied by dyslipidemia - a change in the proportions of different types of lipoproteins. As a result, diabetics have an increased chance of developing heart and vascular diseases.

Patients often find out about high cholesterol only after some complication occurs - coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke. In men, a strict cholesterol-free diet reduces sexual activity; in women, amenorrhea may develop.

As you can see, high cholesterol significantly increases the chances of serious vascular diseases; it can literally kill a person, so our main task is to prevent its significant fluctuations.

10 simple rules for maintaining normal cholesterol

Atherosclerosis in the first stages can be stopped, and nutrition in this matter is powerful prophylactic. If high cholesterol is detected, the doctor must give his recommendations.

An experienced doctor will not rush to prescribe medications, but will try to reduce the level of the problematic substance through nutritional correction.

Nutritional Features

With high cholesterol, modifying your diet for the rest of your life is one of the main factors in the fight against such disorders. Main principle healthy diet - fats in the menu should not exceed 30%.

Moreover, these should mainly be unsaturated types - those that contain fish or nuts. If you adhere to these rules, you can not only reduce the concentration of unwanted cholesterol, but also increase the percentage of useful cholesterol.

A healthy diet involves avoiding the use of trans fats, from which margarine or spread is made. Freak molecules are also present in confectionery products made on its basis.

Liver - good source vitamin A, but there is also a lot of cholesterol in it, as in fish caviar. If you limit these foods in your diet, “bad” cholesterol can be reduced by half. The ban also applies to red meat, instead of which lean chicken is recommended.

Boiling foods, as opposed to frying them, reduces cholesterol levels by 20%.

You should also avoid fatty dairy products, in particular cream. Reliable prevention A glass of dry red wine serves as a remedy for atherosclerosis. It contains a small amount of alcohol and many antioxidants.

The opinion of a general practitioner on methods of solving the problem is in this video

Drug cholesterol lowering

Modifying dietary habits is not enough to normalize high cholesterol levels, because it depends not only on what we eat: it is produced to a large extent by the liver.

If its levels are very high or there is a serious cardiovascular risk, doctors recommend taking medications that lower high cholesterol for life.

How to treat the disorder? Most often, statins are prescribed, which block the synthesis of a substance in the liver. True, they have a fairly solid list of contraindications. Drugs in this group (Crestor, Lipitor, Mevacor), as well as medications with nicotinic acid (Niacin), help balance the level of good and bad cholesterol.

When side effects Transverol is prescribed. Bile acid sequestrants prevent the absorption of dangerous substances in the intestine: Questran, Colestipol. If tests reveal elevated cholesterol, the choice of medications and treatment regimen should only be made by a doctor. He will also recommend vitamins: B3, B6, B12, E, folic acid.

Cholesterol and pregnancy

The lipid profile during pregnancy changes significantly in the 2nd and 3rd trimester. In this case, the content of lipoproteins can increase by one and a half to two times. But such indicators should not be a cause for concern, since the intensive work of the liver is aimed at the needs of the developing fetus.

Moderate hypercholesterolemia does not provoke the occurrence of heart failure.

If an increase in cholesterol was detected in the first trimester, and in the 2nd-3rd it exceeded 12 mmol/l, you need to adjust your diet. The doctor will prescribe a special diet that limits certain types of foods and ways of eating them. heat treatment. If the readings are high, repeat tests are prescribed.

If lifestyle changes do not lead to the desired result, medications are prescribed. If all examinations are done on time, the risk of developing atherosclerosis is significantly reduced.

Folk remedies

Herbal mixtures that slow down the absorption of cholesterol include: viburnum, linden, quince, dandelion roots, eggplant, burnet. Ginseng and Chinese lemongrass. Rosehip and fennel will quickly remove excess from the body.

A complex collection of eleutherococcus root, rose hips, birch leaves, burdock rhizome, mint, carrots, and marsh grass is also effective:

• Combine the components in equal proportions (15g of each type of raw material), chop and mix;
• Pour boiling water (1 liter) over one tablespoon of the mixture;
• Simmer covered for at least 5 hours;
• Drink the strained infusion 1/3 cup 3 times a day.

It has long been established that residents of high mountain areas have very low cholesterol levels. There is little oxygen in the air there, and the body must adapt: ​​improve blood circulation and vascular elasticity, which leads to a decrease in glucose levels.

At home, the level of oxygen in the blood can be reduced by breathing into a paper bag, inflating it and breathing the same air back.

Dosed regular physical activity improves performance very quickly. Long, exhausting workouts can lead to the opposite result.

And last little secret: Rejoice more. Endorphins (hormones of happiness), which the body produces at this moment, help reduce the level of “bad” cholesterol and related health problems.

Total cholesterol is considered elevated if its level exceeds 6.21 mmol/L (240 mg/dL). However, there is no consensus on what level of cholesterol is considered moderately elevated, high or normal - different studies cite numbers from 5.1 to 6.95 mmol/L as cut-off values ​​(for example, ). At least, a cholesterol level above 6.95 mmol/l is almost always considered elevated and requires (at least at a young age) correction by taking statins, with the exception of pregnancy, when it is extremely permissible norm is 12 – 15 mmol/l.

What level of “bad” cholesterol is considered high? The level of so-called “bad” or “harmful” cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, LDL), if its concentration reaches 3.3 mmol/l (130 mg/dl), is considered elevated. A reading of 3.3 to 4.1 mmol/L (130 to 159 mg/dL) is called an elevated LDL level, or a level close to elevated (depending on gender, age, and general condition health). An LDL concentration of 4.1 to 4.9 mmol/L (160 – 189 mg/dL) is high, and more than 4.9 mmol/L (189 mg/dL) is very high.

Elevated levels of total cholesterol (TC) are diagnosed when its concentration in the blood is from 5.2 to 6.2 mmol/l (200 – 239 mg/dl). Sometimes these values ​​are called borderline or moderately elevated. As a rule, with such indicators, correction of TC levels is carried out only through specialized diets, increasing the proportion of foods useful for reducing the amount of cholesterol in the diet (rich in fiber, omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids), more motor activity(to get rid of metabolic syndrome).

Undoubtedly elevated cholesterol levels - what is it, how much is it? The concentration of TC above 6.21 mmol/l (240 mg/dl) and (or) LDL above 4.1 mmol/l (160 mg/dl) is always considered elevated or high, except during pregnancy. In some cases, for older people, a total cholesterol level of no higher than 8.03 mmol/l is considered normal. In any case, a TC concentration above 6.95 mmol/l in adults is as much as may require taking (statins), which have side effects, but which are strictly necessary, for example, with the risk of recurrent heart attacks or strokes.

What is high cholesterol? High cholesterol levels are an unfavorable combination of two factors at once: first of all, the LDL concentration is above 4.1 mmol/l, then the TC level is above 6.2 mmol/l. The LDL/TC ratio can only be detected by performing a biochemical blood analysis into fractions (more details,). The LDL/TC ratio is a more meaningful indicator than TC alone, because high or elevated levels of TC can also be achieved due to high-density lipoproteins (HDL), the concentration of which is considered to be higher, the better.

What is high cholesterol? An elevated (or moderately elevated) LDL concentration will be from 3.3 to 4.1 mmol/l with a total cholesterol level below 6.2 mmol/l (and even below 5.1 - 5.17 mmol/l, which are taken " desirable" or normal value). The situation when the LDL level is about 4.1 mmol/l, and TC is no more than 5.17, indicates insufficient quantities HDL (this can happen, for example, with alcohol abuse) - and the risk of the formation of cholesterol (atherosclerotic) plaques, because It is HDL that is responsible for clearing blood vessels of excess LDL and fatty deposits on the inner walls of blood vessels.

What level of cholesterol in the blood is considered normal? A normal level of “bad” cholesterol is considered to be no higher than 3.3 mol/l and total cholesterol – no more than 5.17 mmol/l. However, an LDL level below 2.6 mmol/L (100 mg/dL) is considered desirable. Higher values ​​of LDL and TC in the blood are partially offset and are considered normal if the HDL value is high. The concentration of “good” cholesterol is considered normal in the range from 1.03 to 1.52 mmol/l (40 – 59 mg/dl) and excellent (high) - from 1.55 mmol/l (over 60 mg/dl).

With age, the rate of high cholesterol (total) in the blood shifts upward, reaching 6.86 for men and 7.25 mmol/l for women over the age of 70 years. LDL norm at this age ranges from 2.49 to 5.34 mmol/l. The highest level of cholesterol in the blood is observed during pregnancy - up to 12 - 15 mmol/l (and this is the norm!).

1. What happens?
2. We do the analysis correctly
3. What can you do on your own to lower cholesterol?
4. How to eat?
5. Let's break cholesterol with movement
6. Who is prone to high cholesterol?
7. Cholesterol 6: what to do?

There are two scales for measuring this substance in the blood - mg/dL and mmol/L. The first means milligrams per deciliter, and the second means millimoles per liter.

On the first scale:

• Less than 200 mg/dL is optimal;
• From 200 to 239 mg/dl – the maximum permissible norm;
• From 240 – this is already a high concentration.

On the second scale:

• Less than 5 mmol/l is an excellent indicator;
• Between 5 and 6.4 mmol/l – a slight excess;
• From 6.5 to 7.8 mmol/l – high, but not critical;
• Above 7.8 mmol/l – very high.

If you were told the number 6, then we are talking about mmol/l. Accordingly, you fall into the group with a slight excess.

Pay attention not to the word “insignificant”, but to “excess”. It’s worth thinking about it and starting to act, so that you don’t later regret the lost time and the harm caused to your health. Moreover, you are standing practically on the border.

Doctors in the UK are inclined to believe that cholesterol levels above 6 are high. And in most cases it will lead to atherosclerotic disease.

What happens?

Cholesterol is divided into two categories: “bad” and “good”. Medical terminology calls the former “low-density lipoproteins” (LDL), and the latter – “high-density lipoproteins” (HDL). The first tends to settle on the walls of blood vessels in the form of atherosclerotic plaques. The second protects our blood vessels from the formation of these plaques.

There is no need to panic at all when the overall level is significantly higher than normal. Here you need to take an additional test - a complete blood lipid profile. Based on it, you can see what kind of cholesterol you have above the norm, and whether you should worry too much. Perhaps in your case it is the “good” one that dominates, and there is no reason to panic.

We do the analysis correctly

Every person should check the presence of cholesterol in their blood. Only at the age of 20 can this be done once every five years. When a person crosses the 40-year mark, an annual check is definitely needed. For people over 60 – twice a year.

If you belong to a risk group, if the amount of cholesterol in your blood significantly exceeds the standard, then take this test seriously, and together with your doctor, determine a schedule for taking biochemistry tests.

Be sure to pay attention to the correct analysis. You should not eat for at least 12 hours before your test, and ideally 14 hours. But this is not an indicator that the test was done correctly, and your cholesterol really is 6 mmol/l.

For example, doctors note a dependence on the rise in cholesterol during the Easter period. When patients consume a significant amount of eggs, as in pure form, and in salads, baked goods, when they use a lot of mayonnaise salads in last week, That biochemical analysis will be untruthful.

Excessive consumption is not good. Even temporarily, excess cholesterol in the blood will lead to undesirable consequences. But on the other hand, such a temporary excess of indicators does not mean that we need to quickly take action. medical supplies.

Conclusion: go to a normal diet, lead familiar image life for a few weeks and take a biochemical test again. So you will see big picture, which will not be affected by irregular consumption of certain products.

If, however, the second result shows that your cholesterol is around 6 units, then take health measures.

What can you do on your own to lower cholesterol?

Reduce in your diet the amount of foods that themselves have large percentage cholesterol, consist of saturated fats and all kinds of trans fats. These products negatively affect not only our blood vessels, but also a large number of organs, skin condition, etc.

Such products themselves can lead to coronary heart disease or atherosclerosis.

Minimize or eliminate:

Review your diet in favor of foods rich in unsaturated fats:

• Vegetable oil from corn, flax, soybeans and, of course, sunflower;
• Salmon, herring, mackerel, tuna, halibut and other cold sea fish;
• Olive and rapeseed oil are a storehouse of monounsaturated fats. Be sure to add them to your diet.

You should definitely introduce foods that remove bad cholesterol from the body:

How to eat?

You have been found to have 6 mmol/l cholesterol in your blood. What to do and how to improve nutrition?

Start your day with porridge. It is ideal to consume buckwheat, barley or, better yet, oatmeal, which are cooked in water, in the morning. Do you like a sandwich in the morning? Replace your usual bread with varieties coarse. Apply low-fat cottage cheese and cheese with a fat content of no more than 20% on it.

You can diversify your breakfast with an omelet. But you shouldn’t take the whole egg, but it’s best to use the whites, from which you can make excellent steamed omelettes.

For lunch, try soup, but not a fatty, rich one, but a light, vegetable one. If you still cannot live without broths, then take poultry. In this case, after cooking the soup, you should cool it, skim off the fat that forms on top, and then just eat it for lunch.

For the second course, it is better to choose pasta varieties from group “A”. You can eat porridge again. To prepare it, use not only conventionally processed cereals, but, for example, try brown rice.

Be sure to include fish in your diet. It can be either river or sea fish.

With types of fatty sea ​​fish Better remove the skin. Organize such fish dinners at least twice a week. Or better yet, even more often: eat one fish dish every day.

In addition to fish, you can also eat lean meats for lunch. This means that you will not see fat on it. But do not overdo it with the amount of beef, veal, lamb. Let it be a piece of less than 90 grams. Poultry is the best meat for those who suffer from excess cholesterol. Let it be turkey, chicken. But remove the skin from the carcass before cooking.

Be sure to take vegetables and fruits for lunch (and not only for lunch). Let their volume per day be at least 400 grams.

It is advisable to have a snack between meals not with a bun or chocolate, but with nuts - almonds, walnuts.

Prepare food by boiling, stewing, baking, grilling. You can sometimes fry, but in vegetable oil, or better yet, just in a non-stick frying pan.

For dinner, you shouldn’t go crazy with the amount of food and its variety. Limit yourself to a few types of products. Again, do not forget to include vegetables and fruits, low-fat or completely low-fat dairy products - cottage cheese, cheeses.

This diet will help you not only minimize the amount bad cholesterol, but also losing excess weight will bring your entire body back to normal.

Let's break cholesterol with movement

We sorted out the food. But not only it affects the formation of cholesterol in the blood. Physical activity, sports, movement - this is what will help you cope with high cholesterol. This is not immediately perceived: how will walking help eliminate bad cholesterol? But in our body everything is natural.

Changing your usual sedentary lifestyle to a more active one (climbing stairs, walking a couple of bus stops, not driving a few times a week) will help you get rid of bad cholesterol and increase the amount of good cholesterol.

But everything should be in moderation. If you are already over 40 and have never played sports, then do not immediately take on maximum loads. Go towards your goal gradually. Start with walking, go to a slow jog, and then go to the gym.

In addition, remember that doctors say: lifting weights can lead to an increase in the amount of bad cholesterol and a decrease in good cholesterol.

Who is prone to high cholesterol?

1. First of all, these are people with extra pounds. If you are a man and your waist is larger than 94, then you need to lose those extra pounds. For a woman, the waist circumference should not exceed 80 cm.
2. Smoking is a reason not only to lose a significant part of your life due to an addiction, but also an opportunity to increase “bad” cholesterol in the blood.
3. Monitor your blood pressure. It should not exceed 140/90.
4. Healthy psycho-emotional state– this is the health of the whole organism. Don't swear, take time for relaxing procedures, relax emotionally.
5. Sleep at least 8 hours a day. If you spend significantly less or significantly more time sleeping, you will be more likely to develop “bad” cholesterol.

With age, the amount of cholesterol increases. If before menopause women have lower “bad” cholesterol than men, then everything changes.

Hereditary factors influence cholesterol levels. However, when making a diagnosis, exclude family habits that were instilled in childhood: fatty foods, sedentary lifestyle life. Only under this condition should you consider increased cholesterol as a hereditary factor.

Medicines play a bad role in the balance between the two types of cholesterol. Many over-the-counter medications increase lipid profiles. This means the level of “bad” cholesterol.

Be sure to control your cholesterol levels if you have:

• Liver diseases;
• Kidney failure.

This list in many cases contributes to increased cholesterol.

Cholesterol 6: what to do?

If your cholesterol level is not higher than 6 mmol/l, then for now you need to think about your health. But do not rush to make drastic decisions - to use medications.

If you are driving healthy image life, have excluded from your diet foods that contribute to the formation of cholesterol, and the level of the harmful substance in the blood does not fall or continues to increase, then you need to seek medical help.

The doctor will develop a regimen for using medications that you will have to take for a long time. And with their help you can control your blood cholesterol levels.

Everything you need to know about high-density lipoproteins

Lipoproteins (or lipoproteins) are a combination of lipids (fats) and proteins. Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found in all parts of the body.

It cannot dissolve on its own in the blood, so special “carriers” – lipoproteins – are required to transport it through the bloodstream.

There are three types of lipoproteins, the difference between which is the ratio of protein content to cholesterol volume.

• High-density lipoproteins (high-density lipoproteins), the volume of protein in such lipoproteins is quite large, and the cholesterol level is much lower. They are generally called "good" cholesterol because they extract it from artery walls and get rid of it in the liver. The higher the concentration of HDL compared to the concentration of LDL, the better for a person; these lipoproteins are a kind of protection of the body from various cardiac complications, for example, stroke, tachycardia, chronic arterial insufficiency, rheumatic carditis, deep vein thrombosis;
• Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) contain higher concentrations of cholesterol compared to protein and are called “bad” cholesterol. A large amount of LDL in the blood increases the likelihood of aortic disease, stroke, and blood vessel disease. They also trigger the formation of cholesterol plaques along the inner wall of the artery. When the number of these plaques increases, the excess volume narrows the arteries and reduces blood flow. As a result of the rupture of such a plaque, peculiar blood clots (thrombi) are formed, which also limit blood flow. This lump can lead to a heart attack or myocardial infarction (if it is in one of the coronary arteries);
• Very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) contain even less protein than LDL;
• Triglycerides are a type of fat that the body uses as a source of energy. The combination of high triglyceride concentrations and low HDL levels may also cause heart attack or stroke. When checking HDL and LDL levels, doctors often evaluate triglyceride levels.

Read more about lipoproteins and cholesterol

Normal indicators

*The conversion factor from mg/dL to mmol*/L is 18.1.

The levels are slightly different for women and men (but not much):

“Bad” cholesterol

High cholesterol values ​​in a blood test are one of the key causes of the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) (deformation of the heart structure, cerebrovascular disease). The mechanism of its involvement in all diseases is the same: the formation of clots (plaques) inside the arteries restricts blood flow, thereby impairing normal functions cells and organs.

Critical cholesterol levels provoke conditions such as:

• Atherosclerotic heart disease - can cause symptoms of angina when the heart muscle does not receive sufficient quantity oxygen for optimal functioning;
• Reduced blood supply to the brain - occurs due to narrowing of small arteries, and also because larger (for example, carotid) arteries are blocked. This usually results in a sudden decrease in blood flow to the brain or a transient ischemic attack (TIA);
• Diseases of the blood vessels. While performing any physical exercise this disease causes circulatory problems in the limbs, as a result of which severe pain and sometimes lameness develop in the limbs;
• Other arteries in the body are also affected by cholesterol clots, such as the mesenteric arteries or the renal arteries. Circulatory disorders in the renal arteries lead to serious complications (thrombosis, aneurysm, stenosis).

And once again about “bad” cholesterol

Reasons for deviations

HDL levels are often elevated due to causes and diseases such as:

• Myxedema;
• Heart diseases;
• Atherosclerosis;
• Chronic hepatitis;
• Alcoholism;
• Kidney or liver diseases;
• Recent stroke;
• High blood pressure;
• If there is a history of heart disease in the family.

Any of the above reasons requires a blood test for cholesterol

Men are recommended to take such a test from the age of 35, women - from 40. Some doctors advise starting to check cholesterol at the age of 25. A blood test for cholesterol is recommended every 5 years. This is a regular blood draw from a vein; the test is taken in the morning on an empty stomach. No special preparation is required.

Risk analysis

High-density lipoproteins are involved in cleaning and removing cholesterol and atherosclerotic plaques from the arteries, while low-density lipoproteins are directly involved in atherosclerotic processes, therefore, the higher the HDL level, the easier it is for the body.

Typically, the risk of developing CVD is assessed as the ratio of HDL concentration to total concentration cholesterol:

Critical levels of total cholesterol, HDL and LDL:

Deviations from the norm

There is an inverse correlation between HDL levels and the likelihood of developing heart disease.

Based on data from NICE (The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), the risk of stroke increases by approximately 25% for each decrease HDL level by 5 mg/dl.

HDL promotes the absorption of cholesterol from tissues (especially from vascular walls) and its return back to the liver, from where it is removed from the body. This process is often called “reverse cholesterol transport.” HDL is also responsible for the normal functioning of the endothelium, reduces inflammation, protects against the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins and has a positive effect on blood clotting.

• A high concentration of HDL (above 60 mg/dl) means that the risk of developing coronary heart disease is minimized (coronary disease most often develops in women over 50 years of age);
• If both indicators are high (HDL and LDL levels), apolipoprotein-B measurements should be taken (assesses the risk of developing atherosclerosis) to find out the cause;
• An HDL level of less than 40 mg/dL is considered too low and risks developing heart disease. In addition, the definition of metabolic syndrome includes low HDL concentration as one of five classification criteria;
• HDL in the range of 20-40 mg/dL is often associated with high triglyceride concentrations, a risk of developing diabetes mellitus (due to insulin resistance). Some medicines, such as beta blockers or anabolic steroid may lower HDL levels;
• An HDL level below 20 mg/dL (0.5 mmol/L) means there is a serious problem in the body. This abnormality is sometimes associated with very high triglyceride levels. Such low levels may indicate rare genetic mutations such as Tangier disease and fisheye disease.

Prevention

• Smoking is contraindicated. In addition, timely cessation of smoking will increase HDL concentrations by approximately 10%;
• Chronic exercise may slightly increase HDL concentrations. Aerobics, yoga and swimming 3-4 times a week for 30 minutes will be a good preventive measure;
• Obesity is always associated with low high-density lipoprotein levels and high triglyceride concentrations. There is an inverse relationship between HDL levels and body mass index. Losing extra pounds tends to increase the concentration of these lipoproteins. For every 3 pounds lost, HDL levels increase by approximately 1 mg/dL;
• Compliance with diet and proper nutrition. HDL and LDL levels fall when you eat less fat;
• Including saturated fat in the diet increases HDL levels, but low-density lipoprotein levels will also increase. In this case, they should be replaced with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats;
• It is useful to reduce the intake of simple carbohydrates if triglycerides are elevated (often in overweight patients with metabolic syndrome);
• It is important to reduce your total fat intake to 25-30% of total calories;
• Reduce your saturated fat intake to 7% ( daily diet);
• Consumption of trans fats should be reduced to 1%.

To correct high-density lipoprotein levels, your diet should include:

• Olive oil (as well as soybean, coconut, rapeseed);
• Nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts, walnuts, pecans);
• Fish (such as salmon) fish fat, lobsters and squids.

All of these foods are sources of omega-3.

Important: you should add simple carbohydrates to your diet (cereals, potatoes, white bread).

You can also include in your diet:

• Oatmeal;
• Oat bran;
• Whole grain products.
• HDL levels can be increased with certain medications, such as niacin, fibrates, and, to a lesser extent, statins:
  • Niacin. Niacin (Niaspan, vitamin B3, nicotinic acid) - the best drug to correct HDL levels. It has virtually no contraindications. Important! Dietary niacin supplements available without a prescription will not be effective in lowering triglyceride concentrations and may cause liver damage if taken without medical advice;
  • Fibrates. Bezalip, grofibrate, fenofibrate, trikor, lipantil, trilipix increase HDL levels;
  • Statins. A kind of blockers, they limit the production of substances that the liver produces to create cholesterol, which significantly reduces the concentration of the latter and also leads to its excretion from the liver. Statins are able to absorb cholesterol from stagnant deposits in artery walls. These are mainly drugs in tablets or capsules: rosuvastatin, simvastatin, atorvastatin, lovastatin; new generation statins: Crestor, Roxera, Rosucard. Important! Statins may cause significant side effects; consult your doctor before use.

Only professional specialist can help you make a choice and decide which drug should be preferred.

Of all the options offered, only statins have been shown to be effective in preventing heart attacks. Statin therapy may benefit patients with diabetes.

High density lipoprotein (HDL) - what is it?

Sometimes, when examining the lipid spectrum, it is discovered that the level of HDL is increased or decreased: what does that mean? In our review, we will analyze what differences exist between high- and low-density lipoproteins, what causes deviations in the analyzes of the former from the norm, and what methods of increasing it exist.

Good and bad cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance in the human body that is notorious. About the dangers of this organic compound there is a lot of medical research. All of them link high levels of cholesterol in the blood and such a terrible disease as atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis today is one of the most common diseases in women after 50 years and men after 40 years. In recent years, the pathology has occurred in young people and even in childhood.

Atherosclerosis is characterized by the formation of cholesterol deposits on the inner wall of blood vessels - atherosclerotic plaques, which significantly narrow the lumen of the arteries and cause disruption of blood supply. internal organs. The systems that suffer first are those that perform a large volume of work every minute and require a regular supply of oxygen and nutrients - the cardiovascular and nervous systems.

Common complications of atherosclerosis are:

• encephalopathy;
• ACVA of ischemic type – cerebral stroke;
• coronary heart disease, angina pain;
• acute myocardial infarction;
• circulatory disorders in the vessels of the kidneys, lower limbs.

It is known that elevated cholesterol levels play a major role in the formation of the disease. To understand how atherosclerosis develops, you need to learn more about the biochemistry of this organic compound in the body.

Cholesterol is a substance with a fat-like structure, chemical classification related to fatty alcohols. When you mention him harmful influence on the body, we should not forget about the important biological functions that this substance performs:

• strengthens cytoplasmic membrane every cell of the human body, makes it more elastic and durable;
• regulates the permeability of cell walls, prevents the penetration of certain toxic substances and lytic poisons into the cytoplasm;
• is part of the production of the adrenal glands - glucocorticosteroids, mineralocorticoids, sex hormones;
• participates in the synthesis of bile acids and vitamin D by liver cells.

Most of the cholesterol (about 80%) is produced in the body by hepatocytes, and only 20% comes from food.

Endogenous (own) cholesterol is synthesized in liver cells. It is insoluble in water, therefore it is transported to target cells by special carrier proteins - apolipoproteins. The biochemical compound of cholesterol and apolipoprotein is called lipoprotein (lipoprotein, LP). Depending on the size and functions, all drugs are divided into:

1. Very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL, VLDL) are the largest fraction of cholesterol, consisting primarily of triglycerides. Their diameter can reach 80 nm.
2. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL, LDL) is a protein-fat particle consisting of an apolipoprotein molecule and large quantity cholesterol. The average diameter is 18-26 nm.
3. High-density lipoproteins (HDL, HDL) are the smallest fraction of cholesterol, the particle diameter of which does not exceed 10-11 nm. The volume of the protein part in the composition significantly exceeds the volume of fat.

Very low and low density lipoproteins (LDL - especially) belong to the atherogenic fractions of cholesterol. These voluminous and large particles move with difficulty through peripheral vessels and can “lose” some of the fat molecules during transport to target organs. Such lipids settle on the surface of the inner wall of blood vessels and become stronger connective tissue, and then calcifications and form a mature atherosclerotic plaque. Due to their ability to provoke the development of atherosclerosis, LDL and VLDL are called “bad” cholesterol.

High-density lipoproteins, on the contrary, are able to clean blood vessels from fatty deposits that accumulate on their surface. Small and nimble, they capture lipid particles and transport them to hepatocytes for further processing into bile acids and excretion from the body through the gastrointestinal tract. For this ability, HDL cholesterol is called “good.”

So, not all cholesterol in the body is bad. The possibility of developing atherosclerosis in each individual patient is indicated not only by the TC (total cholesterol) indicator in a blood test, but also by the ratio between LDL and HDL. The higher the fraction of the former and the lower the fraction of the latter, the development is more likely dyslipidemia and the formation of atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of blood vessels. The inverse relationship is also true: an increased HDL level can be considered as a low risk of developing atherosclerosis.

How to prepare for analysis

A blood test can be performed as part of a lipid profile - a comprehensive examination fat metabolism in the body and independently. To ensure that the test result is as reliable as possible, patients should follow the following recommendations:

1. High-density lipoproteins are examined strictly on an empty stomach, in the morning (from approximately 8.00 to 10.00).
2. The last meal should be 10-12 hours before donating the biomaterial.
3. 2-3 days before the examination, eliminate all fatty fried foods from your diet.
4. If you are taking any medications (including vitamins and biological supplements), be sure to tell your doctor about this. He may advise you not to take pills for 2-3 days before the test. Taking antibiotics especially affects the test results, hormonal drugs, vitamins, omega-3, NSAIDs, glucocorticoids, etc.
5. Do not smoke at least 30 minutes before the test.
6. Before entering the blood collection room, sit for 5-10 minutes in a calm environment and try not to be nervous.

To determine the level of high-density lipoproteins, blood is usually taken from a vein. The procedure itself takes one to three minutes, and the analysis result will be ready the next day (sometimes after a few hours). Along with the obtained data, the reference (normal) values ​​​​accepted in a given laboratory are usually indicated on the analysis form. This is done for ease of deciphering the diagnostic test.

PAP norms

What should the high-density lipoprotein level be in a healthy person? The norm for women and men for this fraction of cholesterol may be different. Standard lipid profile values ​​are presented in the table below.

To assess the risk of developing atherosclerosis, as well as its acute and chronic complications, it is important to take into account the ratio of high-density lipoproteins to total cholesterol.

If HDL is lowered against a background of high levels atherogenic lipids The patient probably already has manifestations of atherosclerosis. The more pronounced the symptoms of dyslipidemia, the more active the formation of cholesterol plaques in the body.

What does increased value mean?

Elevation is not diagnosed very often. The fact is that there is no maximum concentration of this fraction of cholesterol: the more high-density lipoproteins in the body, the lower the risk of developing atherosclerosis.

In exceptional cases, severe disturbances in fat metabolism are observed, and HDL levels become significantly elevated. Possible reasons this state becomes:

• hereditary dyslipidemia;
• chronic hepatitis;
• cirrhotic changes in the liver;
• chronic intoxication;
• alcoholism.

In this case, it is important to begin treatment of the underlying disease. Specific measures designed to reduce HDL levels in medicine have not been developed. It is this fraction of cholesterol that can cleanse blood vessels of plaque and ensure the prevention of atherosclerosis.

What does reduced value mean?

Low level HDL is much more common in the body than high. Such a deviation from the norm in the analysis may be due to:

• diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism and other hormonal disorders;
• chronic liver diseases: hepatitis, cirrhosis, cancer;
• kidney pathology;
• hereditary (genetically determined) hyperlipoproteinemia type IV;
• acute infectious processes;
• excessive intake of atherogenic cholesterol fractions with food.

It is important to eliminate the existing causes and, if possible, increase the concentration of HDL cholesterol to the proper level. We'll look at how to do this in the section below.

How to increase HDL

Lifestyle Correction

Lifestyle is the first thing that patients with low HDL levels need to pay attention to. Follow the doctors' recommendations:

1. Eliminate bad habits from your life. Nicotine from cigarettes has a damaging effect on inner wall vessels, and promotes the deposition of cholesterol on its surface. Alcohol abuse negatively affects metabolism and destroys liver cells, where lipoproteins are normally formed. Quitting smoking and alcoholic beverages will increase HDL levels by 12-15% and reduce atherogenic lipoproteins by 10-20%.
2. Fight excess body weight. Obesity in medicine is usually called pathological condition, in which the BMI (a relative value reflecting the ratio of the patient’s weight and height) exceeds 30. Excess weight- This is not only an additional burden on the heart and blood vessels, but also one of the reasons for the increase in total cholesterol levels due to its atherogenic fractions. A decrease in LDL and VLDL compensatory leads to normalization of high-density lipoprotein levels. It has been proven that losing 3 kg of weight leads to an increase in HDL cholesterol by 1 mg/dl.
3. Engage in sports approved by your doctor. It’s better if it’s swimming, walking, Pilates, yoga, dancing. The type of physical activity should be approached with all responsibility. It should bring positive emotions to the patient and not increase the load on the heart and blood vessels. For severe somatic pathology The patient’s activity should be expanded gradually so that the body adapts to daily increasing loads.

And, of course, visit your doctor regularly. Collaboration with a therapist will help normalize the disturbed metabolism faster and more efficiently. Do not ignore appointments prescribed by the therapist for medical examination, take tests for the lipid spectrum once every 3-6 months and examine the vessels of the heart and brain if signs of insufficient blood supply to these organs occur.

Therapeutic diet

Nutrition is also important in dyslipidemia. The principles of a therapeutic diet to increase HDL levels include:

1. Meals are fractional (up to 6 times a day), in small portions.
2. The daily caloric intake of food should be sufficient to replenish energy costs, but not excessive. The average value is at the level of 2300-2500 kcal.
3. The total amount of fat entering the body throughout the day should not exceed 25-30% of total calories. Of these, it is recommended to allocate most of them to unsaturated fats (low cholesterol).
4. Exclusion of foods with the highest possible content of “bad” cholesterol: lard, beef fat; offal: brains, kidneys; aged varieties of cheese; margarine, cooking oil.
5. Limiting products containing LDL. For example, during a hypocholesterol diet, it is recommended to eat meat and poultry no more than 2-3 times a week. It is better to replace it with high-quality vegetable protein - soy, legumes.
6. Adequate fiber intake. Fruits and vegetables should be the basis for patients with atherosclerosis. They have a beneficial effect on work gastrointestinal tract and indirectly affect the increase in HDL production in the liver.
7. Inclusion in the daily diet of bran: oat, rye, etc.
8. Inclusion in the diet of foods that increase HDL levels: fatty sea fish, nuts, natural vegetable oils– olive, sunflower, pumpkin seeds, etc.

According to statistics, about 25% of the world's population over 40 years of age suffers from atherosclerosis. From year to year, the incidence is increasing among young people aged 25-30 years. Violation of fat metabolism in the body is a serious problem that requires integrated approach And timely treatment. And changes in HDL levels in tests should not go unnoticed by a specialist.

In the human body, cholesterol is presented in the form of several fractions: very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL). The total content of all these substances in a blood test is designated as total cholesterol.

Norm of total cholesterol

At a borderline level, a blood test for a lipid profile is required to establish the LDL content, since it is this that significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases (lipid profile or lipid profile includes determination of the level of lipoproteins of all types and triglycerides). At high level- in addition to the lipid profile, the doctor prescribes additional blood tests to determine the cause of the increase.

If a cholesterol test reveals an excess of the norm, it is advisable to repeat it after a few weeks. After all, the level of cholesterol in the blood fluctuates and a single measurement does not always reflect the actual content of this substance. The tables indicate the normal limits of cholesterol in human blood of different ages. The norms are indicated in different units of measurement - in the first column in mg/dL, in the second - in µmol/L.

Blood cholesterol levels in adults over 40 years of age

Blood cholesterol in adults under 40 years of age

Cholesterol in children and adolescents (up to 17 years of age)

Cholesterol is carried in the blood, attached to a protein called lipoprotein. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the main component of total cholesterol levels. Low-density lipoproteins deposit cholesterol on artery walls.

On cholesterol plaques blood clots form, which can break off and enter the bloodstream, causing blockage of blood vessels, which can lead to atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and other heart diseases. If LDL is higher than normal, further testing and treatment is required.

Blood LDL levels in adults over 40 years of age

LDL cholesterol in the blood in adults under 40 years of age

LDL levels in children and adolescents

HDL cholesterol levels in adults and children

High-density lipoproteins (HDL), on the contrary, remove cholesterol from the walls of blood vessels and reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Low HDL cholesterol levels significantly increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The optimal analysis indicator is average and elevated HDL levels. It reduces the risk of heart disease in men and women and is considered a protective factor, although not universal.

Blood LDL levels in adults over 40 years of age

HDL cholesterol in adults under 40, children and adolescents

Drugs are not usually used to raise low HDL levels, although some drugs that lower LDL cholesterol help increase HDL levels. The content of high-density lipoproteins in the blood increases lifestyle changes:

• smoking cessation (recommendations on how to quit smoking from WHO);
• active lifestyle with a sufficient level of physical activity.

How to take a blood test for cholesterol

The test should not be taken during or immediately after illness, surgery, or a stressful situation, since in this state it is temporarily lowered (after this you should wait about six weeks). The test results will not be reliable during pregnancy or immediately after the birth of the child.

A diet is not required before a cholesterol blood test. But it should be remembered that fasting and an abundance of animal fats in food increase the content of total cholesterol, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (for example, Omega-3) reduce it.

Before taking a cholesterol test, you should not:

• Eat food 10-12 hours before the test.
• Be exposed to emotional and physical stress, as well as smoke (at least 30 minutes before the analysis).

Read in detail about cholesterol above normal:

Read more about cholesterol below normal: