The doctor is in
A Silent Killer
By Tariq M. Vora, DO

Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States. More than a million Americans suffer from heart attack every year. Your blood cholesterol level has a lot to do with your chances of getting heart disease.

Cholesterol is an essential part of human body and is made by the liver naturally.

However, it becomes a problem in excess, usually through improper diet, as it starts to deposit in the blood vessels. Over time, these deposits make it difficult for blood to flow through the arteries and carry oxygen to the important organs. Lack of adequate oxygen supply to the heart and the brain can cause heart attack and stroke, respectively.

High cholesterol (or Hyperlipidemia) does not cause symptoms by itself, so many people are unaware that their cholesterol level is abnormal. It is important to know your cholesterol number, as high levels of it can potentially result in irreversible damage to the essential body organs and as a consequence, impose a huge impact on the quality of one's life.

Cholesterol screening is recommended for everyone age 20 and older, at least once every 5 years. This test, also called the Lipid profile, is usually performed in the morning, after fasting for 8-10 hours. It includes the following:

-Total Cholesterol: includes LDL and HDL

-LDL (bad Cholesterol): the main source of cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries.

-HDL (good Cholesterol): helps keep cholesterol from building up in the arteries.

-Triglycerides: another form of fat in your body.

LDL is also referred to as the bad cholesterol because it aids in fat deposition in the blood vessels. Therefore, lowering LDL is important, especially in people with chronic medical conditions such as Diabetes and Coronary Artery Disease. On the contrary, HDL is often called the good cholesterol as it protects against heart disease, so for HDL, higher numbers are better. In fact, a low HDL level is a risk factor for developing various health problems.

In summary, I would like to emphasize the importance of good quality lifestyle with the mindset of prevention of health problems. I have seen many patients that suffered from a heart attack or a stroke, and life is just not the same for them after such tragedies. It is important to find out your cholesterol numbers before it silently leads to major medical illnesses. My aim is to continue this topic in the next article and discuss causes and treatment of high cholesterol in depth.

(source: National Institute of Health)