Keeping track of cholesterol levels is especially important for you who are part of a risk group, for example you who already have cardiovascular disease or diabetes. New lower target values for the risk groups are now beginning to be used in more and more county councils. If you do not reach the target value with the usual drug treatment, you may need to increase the dose of statins or add a cholesterol-lowering inhibitor.
Necessary for your body
The cholesterol in your body comes partly from what you eat and partly it is formed in the body, mainly in the liver. All cells in the body need cholesterol, which is a fat substance (a lipid). Above all, your brain needs cholesterol to function. Cholesterol is also a raw material for the production of female and male sex hormones and necessary for your body to be able to produce vitamin D.
Most of the cholesterol in the body is produced in the liver, from there it is transported into the body via the blood. It is also the liver that takes care of the excess that is left and converts it into bile acids. Although cholesterol is necessary, it can also be harmful to us.
"Bad" and "good" cholesterol
In order for cholesterol to be transported out into your body, it needs some form of packaging as it is not water-soluble. These packages are called lipoproteins and are available in several different varieties.VLDL (very low density lipoprotein) is the largest lipoprotein and also carries fat in the body. When VLDL enters your bloodstream, it is eventually converted to LDL (low density lipoprotein). That lipoprotein has a low density and is what is sometimes called "bad" cholesterol. It is excess LDL that can get stuck in the vessel walls and in the long run can cause cardiovascular disease.
HDL (high density lipoprotein) is the "good cholesterol". HDL acts as a "cleanser" and takes cholesterol back to the liver. In order for you to feel good, you should have a balance between these two, it is just as unhealthy to have too little useful cholesterol as too much unhealthy.
cholesterol
Elevated cholesterol levels in most people are due to heredity and lifestyle. It can also occur for a few due to the hereditary disease familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). People with this particular disease are at great risk of developing cardiovascular disease. So the most common are inheritance and lifestyle. Smoking, obesity and stress are all risk factors for developing high blood fats (hyperlipidemia). Elevated levels of your blood fats, especially of LDL cholesterol, can cause atherosclerosis with clogged blood vessels as a result.
High cholesterol levels slowly affect your blood vessels and make them stiffer and narrower - often there are no early symptoms and therefore it can be good to keep track of your cholesterol level. The cholesterol value is measured in mmol per liter of blood.
- LDL should be below 3.0 mmol / l
- HDL should be above 1.0 mmol / l (men)
- HDL should be above 1.2 mmol / l (women)
- Total cholesterol (HDL + LDL) should be below 5.0 mmol / l
Cholesterol levels are measured with a blood test and can be done at a health center. The doctor also forms an overall picture of your health situation because you should also take into account other diseases, for example, when assessing cholesterol levels. The doctor makes an estimate of the total risk where you weigh together several different risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Risk groups
People who have diabetes or already suffer from cardiovascular disease should pay extra attention to the cholesterol level (target value). You who have atherosclerosis and / or diabetes risk having too high cholesterol levels and this in turn increases the risk of suffering from a heart attack, for example. The LDL value for you who are part of a risk group therefore differs and should be lower than for the normal group.
LDL should be below 2.5 mmol / l (some county councils have already started using the target value 1.8 mmol / l which is recommended in Europe)
If you are not sure if you belong to a risk group, talk to your doctor.
Drug treatment for high cholesterol
It is important that the body's cholesterol levels are in balance, therefore you work with both raising and lowering the cholesterol level depending on what you need. If it is a disease picture that is behind it, you primarily treat the disease itself.Depending on the type of lipid disorder you are suffering from, the drug treatment varies.
What drugs are used for high blood fats?
There are several different groups of drugs used to regulate blood fats:- statin
- resins
- fibrates
- cholesterol uptake inhibitor
These are used because they can provide a protective effect against cardiovascular disease. In addition to these, herbal remedies that contain lipid-lowering omega 3 fatty acids are sometimes used.
statins
Statins help to inhibit the formation of cholesterol in the liver and above all lead to a reduction in the level of LDL cholesterol. Statins are certainly the first choice for the treatment of elevated blood fats today, but can also lead to side effects from the gastrointestinal tract and in some cases also muscle side effects. Tenderness, pain or weakness in the muscles is therefore something that one should be aware of. The side effects occur to a greater extent when using high doses.
resins
Resins bind bile acids in the intestine. By preventing their reuptake into the bloodstream, they can help increase the breakdown of cholesterol in the liver. Here, too, it in turn reduces the amount of LDL cholesterol. Generally, resins are used in combination with other drugs. Studies have also shown that resins affect atherosclerosis in a beneficial way. Resins can cause problems such as constipation and nausea.
fibrates
Fibrates can help lower your overall cholesterol levels and increase the amount of healthy HDL cholesterol. This can be done because fibrates have beneficial effects on the turnover of blood fats. Here, too, there is a risk of side effects in the form of, for example, nausea and diarrhea. It is in combination with fibrates that statins in some cases cause muscle pain.
Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors
Cholesterol uptake inhibitors work by blocking intestinal cholesterol uptake. It is sometimes used alone, sometimes in combination with statins. As with other medicines that are supposed to counteract elevated blood fats, cholesterol absorption inhibitors can also cause stomach upset.Combine treatment with lifestyle change
It is individual which drugs are used for elevated blood fats. It is known that certain drugs such as statins and fibrates can cause muscle pain and then it may be relevant to choose another drug. What the treatment looks like is based on how high the blood fats are, but also on your overall situation and what risk factors there are for possibly developing cardiovascular disease.It is important to combine drug treatment with lifestyle changes.
When you do not reach the target value
Sometimes it can be difficult to reach your cholesterol level despite changing lifestyles and medications. When you as a risk patient notice that you do not reach down to 2.5 mmol / l (or 1.8 mmol / l in some county councils), you should discuss further measures with your doctor. There are different options:Increase the dose of statins, which gives a further 10% reduction in LDL cholesterol. However, the risk of muscle side effects increases.
Add a cholesterol uptake inhibitor to the previous statin treatment. It provides a 25% reduction in LDL cholesterol. The side effects of cholesterol uptake inhibitors are usually mild.
Your life, your opportunities
In addition to heredity, lifestyle factors are the most common cause of high blood fats. Alcohol consumption, stress and smoking not only affect cholesterol levels but increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. You have the opportunity to both prevent and influence your cholesterol value by partly keeping track of the value itself but also opening up the possibility of lifestyle change. For example, excessive alcohol consumption often leads to obesity and it has been seen that among those who have too high blood fats, alcohol consumption is high.Smoking affects your cholesterol level directly and indirectly and not only increases the risk of LDL cholesterol getting into the vessel walls but also lowers the good cholesterol, HDL. Smoking cessation is one of the most important measures in connection with elevated blood fats.
Give yourself opportunities!
In general, lifestyle changes are the basis for you to feel good and therefore the first step in combination with any drug treatment.
Eat better and better food - choose vegetables, beans, root vegetables, fruits, berries and high-fiber foods along with fish and lean meats. A better "menu" in combination with exercise can contribute to weight loss, which further lowers the risks of high blood fats.
Fimpa - let your body feel really good, fimpa! There is help available and do not be afraid to ask at your care clinic or search via the internet.
Exercise - exercise helps to increase the good cholesterol and exercising regularly not only prevents cardiovascular disease but also improves general health.
This is how you keep track of your cholesterol levels
A study shows that almost 40 percent of the reduced mortality in cardiovascular disease is due to lower cholesterol levels. It is therefore worth keeping track of your value, not least if you belong to one of the risk groups. Talk to your doctor about your goal value and what you can do to influence it. Also look at your life situation, you can reduce alcohol intake, quit smoking, exercise more or influence what you eat, it is the beginning of a healthier life situation.
With the help of lifestyle changes and in combination with any drug treatment, you can create balance in your cholesterol levels and feel better. One thing is for sure, cholesterol is vital!
