Cholesterol … good or bad? – Alghad

Berlin – Cholesterol is a bad name in heart attacks and strokes, but in reality, cholesterol is not "bad" in the absolute, there is another type of "well".
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that the body needs to build cells, vitamin D and estrogen. The body produces much of the cholesterol and can absorb it from fat-rich foods, said Dr. Johans Fiksler.
High or low density?
Cholesterol is divided into two types: a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) called "good" cholesterol.
The other is the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) harmful, called "bad" or "bad" cholesterol.
The higher the level of HDL cholesterol in the blood, the more it is beneficial for health: it protects the blood vessels.
Standard values
There are standard values ​​for cholesterol: the total cholesterol level should not exceed 200 mg / dL, while the values ​​of each type are related to the presence of chronic diseases such as diabetes or hypertension.
LDL cholesterol should not exceed 150 mg / dL if there is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, or 100 mg / dL if there is more than one risk factor, or 70 mg / dL dL in case of diabetes or Heart crisis by. HDL cholesterol should be greater than 40 mg / dL in men and 45 mg / dL in women.
For its part, German pharmaceuticals Ursula Zellerberg have recommended that cholesterol values ​​be reviewed once a year, taking into account the opinion of the physician in case of differences from standard values ​​to avoid serious diseases. If LDL cholesterol levels persist, the risk of atherosclerosis increases, as well as the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Modified plan
To avoid this risk, the patient must first change their lifestyle and adjust their diet. Edible oils, nuts, oily fish and unsaturated fatty acids should be taken, while saturated fatty acids, for example, should be reduced in animal feed.
It is also important to pay attention to the hidden fat in processed foods, the fat hiding in the pizza and tartar.
In addition to changing the diet, exercise, motor activities, stopping smoking and alcohol should also be used to lower cholesterol.
If the cholesterol level does not decrease after the application of this diet for 8 weeks, the drug treatment used from the beginning should be used if the high cholesterol is due to hereditary factors: a lifestyle change and a change in the diet can not reduce it at that time. (AFP)