What's your number? Why cholesterol levels are important to consider
Some people are more concerned with the number in their bank account than their cholesterol numbers, but at the end of the day, that cholesterol number might actually be more important than money in the bank.An area cardiologist, Dr. Kenneth Shafer, of the Wooster-based Cleveland Clinic, thinks knowing the exact numbers involved in cholesterol can help an individual compare and monitor what works best where diet and medication is concerned. This information can also be extremely valuable in treating high cholesterol.
“Cholesterol numbers are important for comparing your own value with normal levels for the population at large, and for comparing your own with other values you have had while on different diets, medications, exercise programs and so forth,” Shafer explained. “One value by itself, and without comparing to it to normal levels as a whole, has less meaning.”
In the past it seems, the magic number has always been 200 when it comes to cholesterol, however, that’s not always the case. Like other health aspects, cholesterol levels are somewhat individualized so 200 in one person may be fine, but 200 in another person could spell trouble. There are other factors that have to be considered. No one can take a number alone and assume it’s healthy.
“A level above 200 may be OK in someone with no other risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, smoking, family history, etc.),” Shafer said. “However, we like to see the levels much lower if an individual has other risks, particularly if they have already had a vascular event (heart attack, stroke, amputation, etc.). One should also keep in mind that the normal levels established for the American population are considerably higher than the ideal numbers which we would have if we didn’t all sit around playing video games, texting, and eating fast food.”
Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found among fats circulating in your bloodstream and in all of your body’s cells. You can get cholesterol in two ways. Your body makes some cholesterol and the rest comes from animal products you eat such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, butter, cheese, and whole and two percent milk. The main problem with cholesterol is that the body is already producing a certain amount of this fatty substance, therefore, any extra taken in through our diet can overload our systems.
“The body makes its own cholesterol, so any extra taken in through our diets has to be broken down and eliminated, or it will build up in the tissues and particularly in the blood vessels,” Shafer said. “Once this happens it causes inflammation and leads to narrowing and sometimes sudden closure of the circulation. The normal body can only eliminate so much and some people have a diminished ability to eliminate cholesterol to begin with, which can cause their bodies to retain more than necessary.”
Believe it or not, cholesterol isn’t all bad. In fact, healthy levels of cholesterol are an important part of a healthy body. Your body needs cholesterol to produce cell membranes and certain hormones. Cholesterol also plays an important role in other functions as well. It’s important to have blood work done on a regular basis, such as during your annual physical, to keep a close watch on cholesterol. If your physician expresses a concern regarding your cholesterol levels, there are several avenues you can take in reducing these levels. For many people, making changes to their lifestyle -- eating better, losing weight, and exercising -- will be enough to lower cholesterol. Others may benefit from medicines. Often, a combination of these approaches is the right choice.
When considering treatment options for high cholesterol, Shafer always begins with diet, exercise and lifestyle changes, because he believes those things must change regardless of whether or not medication comes into play.
“I always start with diet, exercise and a change in lifestyle since that will be necessary, regardless of whether you also take medication,” he said. “If my patients don’t achieve adequate control of the cholesterol with those changes, then I will add medication. For some patients, their risk is so high that I will start medication right away. Cholesterol accumulation doesn’t cause symptoms until irreversible damage to the body has already happened, so it is important to make lifestyle changes early in life (childhood) and try to avoid the years of exposure to unhealthy habits. We frequently start Statin medication after heart attacks, angioplasty, etc., as it helps to decrease inflammation in the vessels in addition to lowering the cholesterol.”
Some individuals don’t want to use cholesterol medications and, in many cases, a truly disciplined individual that’s willing to change their diet (for real) may be able to avoid medication. Shafer said that diet, however, must be concentrated largely on plant-based foods and must be almost free of most meat.
“Diet changes will frequently bring the cholesterol down significantly, especially a diet concentrated with plant-based (vegetable, fruits, whole grains) foods,” he said. “The problem with most of the meat available to consumers is that it is produced by force-feeding animals to bring on rapid weight gain, and has high levels of cholesterol (not to mention hormones, antibiotics, and other chemicals). Unless you have access to grass-fed, locally produced meat, it’s best to avoid meat products entirely. Individuals that need more strict control need more strict diets. The low cholesterol diet recommended by national dietary councils is not restrictive enough for patients with established vascular disease and is likely influenced by lobbying interests.”
The other side of the coin is exercise. Shafer said that Americans, for the most part, get very little exercise. He also said it’s “impossible to control weight and cholesterol without burning calories.”
Sometimes diet and exercise aren’t enough when it comes to keeping cholesterol at a safe level, but the first step is knowing your numbers. If it’s been a while since you had a physical or cholesterol screening, consider making an appointment today, then you can begin a new game plan of good health.