The good, the bad and the ugly of cholesterol

You’ve had a stressful day at work so you decide to skip the gym, order a takeaway and pour yourself a large glass or two of red. We’ve all been there. And there’s nothing wrong with taking the night off and treating yourself once in a while. However, when it becomes a regular habit, it’s important you understand the health implications of not getting enough exercise, eating too much fatty food and drinking too much alcohol. One health issue associated with these habits is high cholesterol – something that affects around 60% of the UK population, yet a worrying amount of people don’t even know they have it. So as October is National Cholesterol Month, the health experts at YourGP are here to raise awareness and support you on your journey to better health.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a type of fat that is made in the liver and found in your blood. A healthy level of cholesterol is required to maintain cell membrane structure and it is also crucial in the production of hormones, vitamin D, aiding digestion and regulating metabolism. You may have heard of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol:

• ‘Good’ cholesterol – HDL cholesterol
  HDL cholesterol carries cholesterol away from your cells, back to your liver to be broken down.
• ‘Bad’ cholesterol – LDL cholesterol
  Too much of this can clog up your arteries, potentially leading to a range of serious health problems.

A simple blood test is available to determine your levels for both HDL and LDL cholesterol. High cholesterol does not usually have any telltale symptoms, so booking a blood test is the best way to find out for sure about your levels.

What causes high cholesterol?

There are several factors that can contribute to high cholesterol including:

• Having a diet high in saturated fats
• Not exercising regularly
• Smoking
• Genetic conditions that mean fats aren’t processed in the usual way
• Medical conditions such as kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and having an under-active thyroid
• Getting older

Associated problems

Too much cholesterol in your blood can lead to fatty areas called plaques forming in the walls of your arteries. As these areas harden over time, your arteries become stiffer and narrower – a process referred to as atherosclerosis.

As the arteries become narrower, it becomes harder for blood to flow through them, which in turn puts a strain on your heart as it has to work harder to pump blood around your body. This can lead to a series of serious health problems such as heart disease, angina, heart attack, stroke and vascular dementia.

Ways to lower your cholesterol

Given the seriousness of the health conditions listed above, it is important that we all take steps to maintain a healthy cholesterol level. Suggestions include:

• Exercise regularly: Aim for around 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity per week.
• Eat healthier: Aim for less saturated fat found in red meat and processed meat, fried foods, full fat dairy, sugary cakes and biscuits. Instead opt for more unsaturated fat such as oily fish and combine with plenty of fibre found in vegetables and wholegrains.
• Cut down or cut out alcohol: Limit yourself to no more than 14 units of alcohol per week. That equates to 6 pints of beer or 10 small glasses of wine.
• Stop smoking: It’s never too late to stub it out. Quitting smoking isn’t easy but there is a wide range of help and support available – from nicotine patches and gum, to smoking cessation sessions.

Book a thorough health assessment at YourGP for full peace of mind

To find out more about your cholesterol levels and to get a better picture of the true state of your health, book a health assessment at YourGP. This comprehensive package of tests focuses on the aspects of health, fitness and lifestyle that most frequently give cause for concern. Crucially, it can highlight some problems before they develop, giving you the chance take action and get back on course.

You can book a health assessment using our simple online booking system. Or you can email reception@your.gp, or call us on 0131 225 5656 and we’ll be happy to arrange an appointment at a time that suits you.