An ounce of prevention for cholesterol

Each year, more than a million Americans suffer from heart attacks and about half a million people die from heart disease. Locally, health experts, including the Council of Coronary Artery Disease of the Philippine Heart Association, report that the incidence of heart disease is increasing and that heart attack victims are getting younger and younger.

Hence, heart experts from the Philippine Heart Association are emphasizing preventive measures in the form of a healthy lifestyle as the best strategy to stem the alarming cardiovascular epidemic.

The experts also agree that the cholesterol factor, especially in the presence of other risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension and smoking, is a major culprit in the causation of heart disease.

Getting diagnosed with high blood cholesterol can bring about drastic changes in one’s lifestyle. Managing cholesterol can cause you to cut back on fat, start exercising, lose weight and quit smoking. It would also cost you a high price buying cholesterol-lowering drugs that have to be taken religiously for a minimum of three years before clinical benefits can be achieved.

The way to proper cholesterol management can be a big challenge, especially in our culture where we find a thousand and one reasons to have celebrations and thus, indulge in fat-laden "foods." The cost of cholesterol-lowering drugs is also one major obstacle to cholesterol management since most average workers cannot afford to sustain treatment because of its cost.

The need to keep cholesterol levels at bay is essential because the level of bad cholesterol in the body has a lot to do with one’s chances of getting heart disease. The higher the level of the bad cholesterol – known as low-density lipoprotein or LDL – the greater the risk of developing heart disease or having a heart attack.

Hence, experts recommend that not only the total cholesterol is checked during routine blood examination, but the specific levels of LDL and the good type of cholesterol which is high-density lipoprotein or HDL.

The doctor does not only analyze the individual levels of HDL and LDL, but also the cholesterol-HDL ratio to determine whether the individual is at risk or not.

There are different LDL normal levels or target goals for those who are normal with no risk factors, those who have risk factors but have no heart disease yet, and those who already have heart disease or diabetes. So, what may still be an acceptable LDL level for one, may already be too high for another. It is best to consult a doctor for an accurate risk-assessment and an advice on one’s ideal cholesterol, LDL and HDL levels.

Individuals with risk factors, particularly diabetics, should always remind themselves of the complications of abnormal cholesterol levels. Bearing these serious consequences in mind may help you during the times when you cannot say no to temptation of foods with high saturated fat.

When you give in to the temptation of fat-laden foods, the cholesterol will go in the blood and cause a build-up in the walls of your arteries. Over time, this build-up will cause your arteries to harden. When this happens, arteries become narrowed and blood flow to the heart, brain, kidneys and other vital organs is compromised. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. The blood carries oxygen to the vital organs, and if enough blood and oxygen cannot reach your heart or brain, you may suffer from chest pains or dizziness. If the blood supply is completely cut off, the result is a heart attack or stroke.

There are several factors which can affect an individual’s cholesterol level. Together with your food intake, age, gender and heredity can affect your cholesterol level. Your cholesterol level tends to rise as you get older.

Although women have a lower total cholesterol level than men, their cholesterol level has a tendency to rise more dramatically after the menopausal stage. Heredity also takes part in your cholesterol level since your genes partly determine how much cholesterol your body produces.

Fortunately though, there are several types of drugs available for lowering cholesterol. Statins are the most effective class of cholesterol-lowering drugs. Their major effect is to lower the LDL-cholesterol levels. Statins work by slowing down the production of cholesterol and increasing the liver’s ability to remove the LDL cholesterol already in the blood.

One of the most scientifically documented statins is simvastatin, which has been shown in a big landmark study as beneficial across all population groups and even in patients with just average cholesterol levels.

These life-extending statins, however, come at a high cost which has been blamed as a big factor for the patient’s poor compliance with this class of drugs. Therapharma, a division of Unilab, has introduced an affordable brand of simvastatin which is hoped to improve the compliance problem.

Lowering elevated cholesterol levels is important for everyone. It could lessen the risk of developing heart disease and reduce the chance of a heart attack or dying of heart disease, even if you already have it. More than anything else, managing your cholesterol level can help you lead a healthier and longer life despite your risk factors. After all, as the old saying advises, it is always better to choose an ounce of prevention over a pound of cure.