Cholesterol is a waxy substance, which is mainly made in the body, it plays a vital role in how every cell in the body works. However, too much cholesterol in the blood can increase your risk of getting heart and circulatory disease.
What causes high Blood Cholesterol:
- Diet (especially too much fat and saturated fats)
- Too much alcohol
- Inherited Conditions
- Lack of exercise
Choosing Healthier Fats
To help reduce your cholesterol levels, you need to cut down on saturated fats and trans fats and replace them with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Omega-3 fats are good for your heart too and are found in oily fish and fish oil.
Please click here to find out the best and worse types of food for your cholesterol levels.
How is blood Cholesterol measured?
This involves a simple blood test, which analyses your blood. There are two main types of Cholesterol that are recorded these are-
- LDL is commonly known as ‘bad’ cholesterol. It carries cholesterol from the liver to the cells of the body. If there’s too much LDL cholesterol in the blood, this can cause blocking of the arteries over time.
- HDL is commonly known as ‘good’ cholesterol. It carries cholesterol away from the cells and back to the liver, where it is broken down. HDL cholesterol can help to protect against developing blocked arteries
Cholesterol level varies from person to person.
The cholesterol level in blood is measured in units called millimoles per litre of blood, often shortened to mmol/L.
The Department of Health advises that adults should have:
- Total cholesterol lower than 5mmol/L
- LDL cholesterol lower than 3mmol/L
