{"id":1860,"date":"2021-08-01T10:00:09","date_gmt":"2021-08-01T16:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/?p=1860"},"modified":"2021-08-01T10:24:11","modified_gmt":"2021-08-01T16:24:11","slug":"8-myths-and-facts-about-high-cholesterol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/?p=1860","title":{"rendered":"8 Myths and Facts About High Cholesterol"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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8 Myths and Facts About High Cholesterol<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\tHigh cholesterol affects as many as 93 million. U.S. adults over the age of 20. As common as the condition may be, many people have misconceptions about what it is and how to manage it.

\n\nThe following myths and clarifications offer insight into what cholesterol is and how it\u2019s linked to cardiovascular health.<\/b><\/i>

\n Myth #1: You\u2019d know if you had high cholesterol<\/b>

\nMost people with high cholesterol don\u2019t have any symptoms. While some develop yellowish growths of cholesterol deposits on the skin called xanthomas, these growths usually don\u2019t occur unless cholesterol levels are extremely high.

\n\nMany people only experience symptoms when they have complications from atherosclerosis, or narrowing of the arteries. High cholesterol commonly causes it.

\n\nIn people with atherosclerosis, plaque made up of cholesterol, fatty substances, and other materials builds up in the arteries. As the plaque builds up, inflammation can occur.

\n\nAs the arteries narrow from the plaque, blood flow decreases to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body. This can cause complications such as:

\n\n
  • angina (chest pain) <\/li>
  • \ngangrene (tissue death) <\/li>
  • \nheart attack<\/li>
  • \nstroke<\/li>
  • \nkidney dysfunction<\/li><\/ul>\nclaudication, or pain in legs with walking

    \nIt\u2019s a good idea to learn whether you have high cholesterol early on to reduce your risk for these complications. You can screen for high cholesterol easily with a simple blood test.

    \n\n Myth #2: All types of cholesterol are bad<\/b>

    \nCholesterol is a vital substance that helps the body function properly. The liver makes cholesterol to produce cell membranes, vitamin D, and important hormones.

    \n\nCholesterol moves through the body on lipoproteins (a combination of the lipid and its protein carrier), hence the names for the two main types of cholesterol:

    \n\n LDL (low-density lipoprotein) <\/b>is the \u201cbad\u201d cholesterol. It raises the risk of heart attack or stroke. Too much LDL can build up in the arteries, creating plaque and restricting blood flow. Lowering LDL reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.

    \n HDL (high-density lipoprotein) <\/b>is the \u201cgood\u201d cholesterol. It carries cholesterol back to the liver, which removes it from the body. High HDL levels can reduce the risk of stroke.

    \n A cholesterol test reports: <\/b>

    \n\n
    • total cholesterol<\/li>
    • \nLDL<\/li>
    • \nHDL\nVLDL (very low-density lipoprotein) <\/li>
    • \nTriglycerides

      <\/li><\/ul>\nWhen it comes to cardiovascular risk, your doctor is most concerned with LDL and VLDL, then with triglycerides, and finally with HDL.

      \n\n Myth #3: Everyone should aim for the same cholesterol targets<\/b>

      \nThere\u2019s no universal target for blood cholesterol levels. Your doctor will look at your cholesterol numbers in the context of your other risk factors that indicate you may be at greater risk for heart disease.

      \n\nDoctors typically consider above-optimal cholesterol levels to be:

      \n\n
      • total cholesterol of 200 mg\/dL or more, or<\/li>
      • \nLDL cholesterol of 100 mg\/dL or more<\/li><\/ul>\nThese targets change if a person has higher risk for heart disease due to family history or other factors and hasn\u2019t had a previous heart attack or stroke.

        \n\nDoctors may not recommend the same treatment for two people with the exact same cholesterol levels. They instead create a personalized plan using a person\u2019s:

        \n\n
        • cholesterol measurements<\/li>
        • \nblood pressure<\/li>
        • \nweight<\/li>
        • \nblood sugar levels<\/li>
        • \nprior history of atherosclerosis, heart attack, or stroke <\/li><\/ul >

          \nThese and other factors help your doctor determine what your cholesterol \u201ctargets\u201d should be.

          \n\n Myth #4: Women don\u2019t have to worry about high cholesterol<\/b>

          \nHigh cholesterol is a leading cause of heart disease. And heart disease is the number one cause of death among women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It affects women and men in about equal numbers.

          \n\nSome conditions can affect cholesterol levels specifically for women, such as:

          \n\n
          • pregnancy<\/li>
          • \nbreastfeeding<\/li>
          • \nhormonal changes<\/li>
          • \nmenopause<\/li><\/ul>

            \nCertain risk factors, like having low HDL, are worse for women compared to men.

            \n\n Myth #5: Cholesterol levels are all the result of exercise and diet<\/b>

            \nExercise and diet are important factors that contribute to cholesterol levels. But there are other factors at play, including:

            \n\n
            • smoking or being around secondhand smoke<\/li>
            • \nobesity or excessive weight<\/li>
            • \nheavy alcohol use<\/li>
            • \ngenetic factors that result in high cholesterol <\/li><\/ul>

              \n Myth #6: I take medication for high cholesterol, so I don\u2019t need to worry about diet<\/b>

              \nTwo sources affect your blood cholesterol level:

              \n\n
              • what you eat<\/li>
              • \nwhat your liver produces<\/li><\/ul>

                \nCommon cholesterol medications like statins reduce the amount of cholesterol your liver makes. But if you don\u2019t eat a well-balanced diet, your cholesterol level can still go up.

                \n\nCholesterol is just one factor in an assessment of heart health. Statins can provide a false sense of security.

                \n\nA 2014 study involving more than 27,800 people found that calorie and fat intake went up among people who used statins while it remained stable for those who did not use statins.

                \n\nBody mass index (BMI) also increased among statin users.

                \n\n Myth #7: Dietary cholesterol is the most important part of my diet<\/b>

                \nResearchers now know that eating foods high in cholesterol doesn\u2019t necessarily lead to high blood cholesterol levels.

                \n\nA more direct culprit may be saturated fat. Foods that are high in cholesterol are also often high in saturated fat.

                \n\nStill, dietary cholesterol can make a difference. A 2019 review of research found that each additional 300 milligrams of cholesterol or more per day was associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease and death.

                \n\nCounting any one nutrient isn\u2019t the solution. To improve cardiovascular health, the American Heart Association\u2019s 2019 science advisory suggests doctors focus on helping their patients improve their overall eating patterns.

                \n\nThat means eating more:

                \n\n
                • fresh fruits and vegetables<\/li>
                • \nwhole grains<\/li>
                • \nlegumes<\/li>
                • \nnuts and seeds<\/li>
                • \nlean meat <\/li><\/ul>

                  \nIt also means cutting back on:

                  \n\n
                  • processed foods<\/li>
                  • \npackaged foods<\/li>
                  • \nfatty cuts of meat<\/li>
                  • \nfull fat dairy <\/li><\/ul>

                    \n Myth #8: I don\u2019t need to get my cholesterol checked if I\u2019m under 40 and in good shape<\/b>

                    \nHigh cholesterol affects people of all body types and ages. Even fit people and those under 40 years old should get tested.

                    \n\nThe American Heart Association recommends checking cholesterol levels even if you\u2019re at low risk for heart disease.

                    \n\nThe American Heart Association advises the following test schedule for people who don\u2019t have a family history of heart disease or other risk factors for the condition:

                    \n\n
                    • one test between 9 and 11 years old<\/li>
                    • \none test between 17 and 21 years old <\/li>
                    • \none test every 4 to 6 years for people over 20, as long as risk remains low <\/li><\/ul>

                      \nThe CDC and Department of Health and Human Services recommend more frequent testing for people who:

                      \n\n
                      • have heart disease<\/li>
                      • \nhave a family history of high cholesterol or premature heart attacks or strokes<\/li>
                      • \nhave diabetes<\/li>
                      • \nsmoke

                        <\/li><\/ul>\n The takeaway <\/b>

                        \nHigh cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease and its complications, including stroke and heart attack.

                        \n\nYour cholesterol levels are just one factor your doctor will use to create a personalized risk assessment and management plan for cardiovascular disease.

                        \n\nRegular monitoring, proper use of medications, and a healthy lifestyle can all help keep your cholesterol levels in check.
                        Contributor: Healthline.com <\/i>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                        8 Myths and Facts About High Cholesterol High cholesterol affects as many as 93 million. U.S. adults over the age of 20. As common as the condition may be, many people have misconceptions about what it is and how to manage it. The following myths and clarifications offer insight into what cholesterol is and how […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,4,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health","category-lifestyle","category-nutrition"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1860","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1860"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1860\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1863,"href":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1860\/revisions\/1863"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1860"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}