High Cholesterol Levels: Prevention and Treatment

High cholesterol level is becoming an increasing threat to many people. This is because many changes have involved our daily lifestyle that had lead to a partial sedentary life. Exercising, which is an important factor in preventing high cholesterol level, is being practiced by less individuals. All of these events had caused an increase in the incidence of hypercholesterolemia.

Hypercholesterolemia refers to a blood cholesterol measurement > 200 mg/dl. The normal total cholesterol level is 150-199 mg/dl. Cholesterol is not a harmful substance. It is only harmful when it's level is higher than normal. Cholesterol has the following functions in the human body:

1. It enters in the structure of many important body hormones as sex hormones.

2. It is important for production of bile acids, which digests fats.

3. It is an important constituent of the cell membrane of each cell.

4. Cholesterol is a part of the myelin sheath which covers the nerves. This sheath insulates the axon, which helps transmission of nerve impulses efficiently.

Now let's talk about hypercholesterolemia.

The problem of high cholesterol lies in increased risk for arteriosclerosis and heart disease.

What causes hypercholesterolemia?

It can be primary due to:

1. Hereditary

2. Obesity

3. Dietary intake

Or it can occur secondarily due to:

1. Diabetes mellitus (if poorly controlled)

2. Hypothyroidism

3. Renal impairment

4. Drugs as oral contraceptive pills and steroids

Hypercholesterolemia is asymptomatic and is only detected by a blood test.

Is there a good cholesterol and a bad one?

Yes there is. HDL cholesterol is the good one because it removes excess cholesterol from the blood vessels and carries it to the liver where it is broken down. Thus high level of HDL reduces the risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease.

VLDL, LDL and IDL are called bad cholesterol because they can deposit on the walls of blood vessels and form a plaque which can block arteries.

What can we do to prevent high cholesterol?

A well-balanced low-fat diet and maintenance of healthy body weight are the best ways to prevent high cholesterol. Saturated (animal) fats, including egg yolks and whole-milk dairy products, increase LDL. Monounsaturated fats-such as olive, canola, or peanut oils-and fiber can lower cholesterol levels. Besides exercising daily for 30 minutes will increase the level of HDL and lower LDL and triglycerides.

What is the treatment of hypercholesterolemia?

Lines of management includes the change of lifestyle and diet (as explained above). Drugs used are:

1. Statins (most common)

2. Bile acid sequestering resins

3. Cholesterol absorption inhibitors

4. Fibrates

5. Niacin

Important values:

Total cholesterol (normal): 150-199 mg/dl

Total cholesterol (borderline elevated): 200- 239 mg/dl

Total cholesterol (elevated) > 240 mg/dl

HDL (normal) > 40 mg/dl

HDL (borderline depressed): 35- 39 mg/dl

HDL (depressed) < 35 mg/dl

LDL (normal)<130 mg/dl

LDL (borderline elevated): 131- 159 mg/dl

LDL (elevated) > 160 mg/dl

Triglycerides (normal) < 160 mg/dl

Bottom-line, a fasting lipoprotein profile is recommended every five years.

I hope this article was beneficial and that it included the enough information to get the best awareness to you.

Burning the Candle at Both Ends - Why Chronic Disease Prevention and Wellness Need to Be Job 1

I recently attended a conference where, like many conferences around the United States, Healthcare Reform was the key topic. I was most impressed by Mika Brzezinski, from MSNBC's Morning Joe show, and her passion regarding America's Obesity issue. Our self indulgent lifestyle in the US has created many behavioral and lifestyle induced chronic conditions that dramatically affect the cost of healthcare and insurance in this country. As I listened to Mika speak, it made me think of many conversations that I have had with friends and peers regarding wellness and prevention. How does one define wellness and prevention? How does one create expectations for behaviors? How do you build a wellness program that rewards and creates incentives for individuals the take care of themselves? Since there are many opinions, it makes it difficult to establish a true definition of wellness, let alone define rewards, incentives and penalties required to make Wellness a clearly defined strategy to reduce Healthcare costs.

A McKinsey Quarterly report from June 2009 titled Why Understanding Medical Risk is Key to US Health Reform outlined several important points. These points included the shift in medical risk from random catastrophic events driven by things out our control, the misalignment of our current supply side fee-for-service incentives and the "lack of incentives for healthy behavior and overall long term health management".

The four most common causes of chronic disease are: lack of physical activity, poor eating habits, smoking and alcohol consumption. Statistics show these are the main causes of death and poor health. These causes are preventable and can be modified through lifestyle changes. Obesity alone costs the nation a total of $139 billion in direct and indirect cost per year. These stats alone are staggering but when coupled with the projected and uncontrollable end-of-life costs of the current baby boom generation, it tells us that dramatic change needs to occur in how we incent Wellness and individuals who refrain from these damaging lifestyle choices. This change will not happen without an "intervention" from all segments of our society, including healthcare, education, churches, government, and business. I am often amazed at the transformation of people's lives on the show "The Biggest Loser" - the goal is clearly defined, the "weigh-ins" include incentives and penalties - the expectations are clear to all. Wellness, to be successful in this country, will need the same model: well-defined outcomes, measurements of success, rewards and penalties, and clear expectations.

The rising costs of healthcare, even with current reform measures, are NOT sustainable. With the aging of America, we cannot afford to have the uncontrollable end-of-life medical expense, coupled with chronic disease lifestyle conditions of younger Americans, adding to the burden that will soon face our overwhelmed healthcare system.

Brian Hudson serves as Senior Vice President for Avant Healthcare Professionals, the nation's premier specialist for internationally educated nursing and allied health professionals. Six-Sigma trained, SHRM and ASTD certified, Hudson is a present and past member of numerous Healthcare Associations & organizations, such as, the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE - Board Member 2010) and the American Association of International Healthcare Recruitment (AAIHR) and the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).

Hudson brings extensive operational, human capital, marketing, and business development expertise. Previous experience includes diverse executive operational and human capital leadership roles; including Regional Vice President of Operations and Director of Training and Development for Fortune 50 companies, along with entrepreneurial experience as Co-founder and President of a small boutique healthcare firm. Hudson speaks and moderates discussions regarding various Healthcare Human Capital Recruitment and Retention issues across the country. Brian Hudson can be reached at bhudson@avanthealthcare.com.

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Article Submitted On: October 29, 2010