Good and Bad Side of Cholesterol

–Ibrahim Suleiman Ph.D

For most people, the term cholesterol is synonymous with bad health conditions, especially heart-related problems. But, it will interest you to know that cholesterol is not always bad as commonly perceived. It is a waxy, fat-like substance that is produced by your body. It is also consumed in the diet, especially foods such as eggs, meat, and cheese. Interestingly, your body has all it takes to produce and meet its cholesterol needs.

The human body uses cholesterol to synthesize Vitamin D, which is very essential in child development. It helps with bone (and teeth) growth and development. Lack of Vitamin D could lead to softening of your bones. When your bones soften, they will no longer withstand your body weight, this will result in the bending of bones especially the bones of the leg (as in rickets, colloquially termed “bow” and/or “K” leg.

Cholesterol also serves as a precursor for the synthesis of certain hormones in the body. Hormones that help prevent your blood pressure from becoming very low and hormones that enhance your ability to withstand physical and emotional stress. Without these hormones, you risk becoming hypotensive (low blood pressure) and will not be able to respond well to little stress. Too little of one of these hormones (synthesized from cholesterol) could result in cardiac failure.

Cholesterol plays important role in the synthesis of bile (a green, bitter fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder) which helps in the digestion and absorption of certain nutrients. Cholesterol is also important in the formation of new cells by contributing to the structure of the cell coverings/walls.

These important hormones (and vitamin) produced from cholesterol imply that it is very essential to life. However, you will want to maintain your cholesterol level within healthy limits (<200 mg/dl). Having too much cholesterol in the blood is a recipe for conditions such as hypertension and the hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).

The higher your blood cholesterol level, the higher your risk of developing health complications such as heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and stroke. Monitoring your blood cholesterol level is very important. A transient rise in blood cholesterol does not show any sign or symptom. You only develop signs and symptoms when it begins to cause health risks. Early Identification of high blood cholesterol will allow you to take the necessary steps toward preventing the occurrence of these health risks.

Cholesterol in the blood exists in different forms. The most common forms are high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL). Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) is caused by the accumulation and build-up of the LDL which sticks to the arteries and obstructs blood flow. That is why LDL is described as the “bad cholesterol”. This could result in a myriad of heart-related problems.

For example, when this cholesterol-induced obstruction occurs in an artery that provides blood to the muscles of the heart, this could lead to a reduction in blood supply to the heart, thereby causing chest pain (angina) and heart attack. If the artery that supplies blood to the brain is obstructed, this will reduce the oxygen supply to the brain tissue, thereby causing a stroke (death of brain cells).

Your body has a way of reducing excess cholesterol from your blood. To do that, the HDL captures as many cholesterols as possible, and moves them to your liver, from where the cholesterol will be excreted through the bile. Thus, HDL helps to reduce your blood cholesterol level by increasing its excretion in the feces. That is why it is termed “good cholesterol”.

The most common cause of high cholesterol is an unhealthy lifestyle such as eating lots of certain meats, fried foods, full-fat dairy products, margarine, and processed foods that are rich in bad fat (saturated and trans fats). A sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and alcoholism could also raise your blood cholesterol. Sometimes, even after maintaining a healthy lifestyle, some people still exhibit high blood cholesterol possibly due to genetic reasons (hereditary high blood cholesterol). High blood cholesterol is more common among older adults, people with kidney or liver diseases, diabetic patients, and overweight (or obese) people.

If you wish to lower your cholesterol level, you may have to adopt a heart-friendly eating plan, perform regular physical activity and manage your body weight. Eat foods naturally high in fiber, such as oats, wheat meal, garden egg, banana, vegetables, and beans. Use unsaturated fats, such as vegetable oils. These foods may help prevent and manage high levels of LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol while increasing HDL (or “good”) cholesterol levels.

If lifestyle modifications are not helping, you will want to visit your physician, so that you will be placed on cholesterol-lowering agents (e.g. a class of statins). Nonetheless, for you to achieve optimum results, medication should be accompanied by these lifestyle modifications.

In conclusion, cholesterol is not always bad for the body as it helps in the synthesis of essential vitamins and hormones. However, too much cholesterol is bad for your health. It is safe to say when it comes to cholesterol, ensure you stick to three “C”s, which are Check, Change, and Control.

Check your blood cholesterol regularly to assess your risks, Change your lifestyle by adopting best practices that keep your cholesterol within healthy limits, and Control your blood cholesterol level with the help of your physician if needed. Remember, high cholesterol has no sign and symptoms, the only way you can know if your cholesterol level is high is by checking its level before it leads to diseases.

Ibrahim Suleiman Ph.D is a Senior Lecturer of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of The West Indies, Barbados

ibrahim.sulaiman@cavehill.uwi.edu