High cholesterol a top health issue Published Sept. 30, 2010 72nd Medical Group TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Do you know your cholesterol level? High cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia ) is the leading health issue among Tinker Air Force Base beneficiaries. If you are between the ages of 40 and 65 and do not know your cholesterol levels, you should request a lipid panel (cholesterol test) from your health care provider at your first opportunity. Just because you may not feel the effects of high cholesterol doesn't mean you are not suffering harmful effects. High cholesterol is a silent but deadly health risk contributing to a variety of chronic diseases and anyone can be in danger. Hyperlipidemia is a broader name for the cholesterol disease process. It is a serious condition that increases the risk for heart disease, the No. 1 killer of American men and women. Fortunately, if you have high cholesterol, there are steps you can take to protect your health. Diet, physical activity, weight management and drug treatment are approaches that have been proven to work. Caught early, conservative therapy with diet, exercise and weight management may control cholesterol or at least delay drug therapy. Cholesterol is a waxy, fatty-like substance found in the cell walls of the body. Our body uses cholesterol to make hormones, bile acids, vitamin D and other substances. There are two main kinds of cholesterol in the blood: Low density lipoprotein, also called "bad" cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein, often referred to as good cholesterol. LDL carries cholesterol to tissues, including the arteries where build up can occur increasing your risk for heart disease. Most cholesterol in the blood is the LDL form. HDL takes cholesterol away from body tissues to the liver for disposal. Low levels of HDL cholesterol can also increase your risk for heart disease. If there is too much cholesterol in the blood, some of the excess can be trapped in artery walls. Over time, trapped cholesterol builds up and is called plaque. Plaque can narrow vessels and make them less flexible. Reduced vascular flexibility is called atherosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries." Cholesterol-induced hardening of the arteries can happen to blood vessels anywhere in the body, including those of the heart. If coronary arteries become partly blocked by plaque, blood may not be able to bring enough oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle. This can cause chest pain, called angina, which is often a warning sign for a potential heart attack. Left untreated, continuous build-up of coronary plaque may lead to a heart attack or stroke. Picture this analogy: View LDL as sludge build up in your sink pipes (arteries). HDL is the antidote, working like a pipe cleaning solution that removes the sludge. Lowering LDL levels is like lowering the amount of sludge blocking the pipes and maintaining a good HDL level increases the clean up efforts. Stay on top of your cholesterol numbers and take the necessary steps to maintain a healthy level. The medically desired cholesterol level is less than 200 mg/dL. Bad cholesterol level should be less than 100 mg/dL and good cholesterol level should be more than 40 mg/dL. Steps you can take to reduce lipid levels: · Control your diet · Maintain your recommended body weight · Decrease total amount of fat you eat · Exercise three to five times a week (check with your provider prior to starting any exercise program) · Give up smoking · Test cholesterol levels regularly (yearly) You especially need to pay attention to your cholesterol levels if you have one of the following risk factors for hyperlipedemia: Risk factors beyond your control: · Age: 45 or older for men; 55 or older for women · Family history of early heart disease Risk factors you can change: · Smoking · High blood pressure · High blood cholesterol · Overweight/obesity · Physical inactivity · DiabetesTotal Cholesterol The 72nd Medical Group has free informational items available in the Family Medicine waiting area for those who want more information on cholesterol. If you have additional questions, make an appointment to see your primary care doctor or call Lt. Col. Holly Ginn or Lt. Col. Todd Miller, 72nd MDG health care integrators, at 736-2799 or 736-2259.