Lo que necesita saber sobre Colesterol What You Need to Know About Cholesterol

Por Family Features

Comprender y mejorar el colesterol es importante para personas de todas las edades, incluidos niños y adolescentes. Mantener niveles saludables de colesterol puede ayudar a mantener su corazón saludable y reducir sus posibilidades de contraer una enfermedad cardíaca o sufrir un derrame cerebral.

El colesterol alto generalmente no presenta síntomas. De hecho, alrededor del 38% de los adultos en los Estados Unidos son diagnosticados con colesterol alto, según la Asociación Estadounidense del Corazón. Comprender qué es el colesterol, el papel que desempeña, cuándo hacerse la prueba y cómo controlarlo son aspectos importantes para proteger su salud en general y prevenir un ataque cardíaco o un derrame cerebral.

Comprender el colesterol

Una sustancia cerosa similar a la grasa creada por el hígado y consumida a partir de carnes, aves y productos lácteos, el colesterol no es intrínsecamente malo para usted. De hecho, su cuerpo lo necesita para construir células y producir vitaminas y otras hormonas. Sin embargo, demasiado colesterol circulando en la sangre puede plantear un problema.

Los dos tipos de colesterol son la lipoproteína de baja densidad (LDL), que se considera "malo", y la lipoproteína de alta densidad (HDL), que se puede considerar como colesterol "bueno". Demasiado del tipo "malo", o poco del "bueno", aumenta el riesgo de que el colesterol se acumule lentamente en las paredes internas de las arterias que alimentan el corazón y el cerebro.

El colesterol puede unirse a otras sustancias para formar un depósito grueso y duro en el interior de las arterias llamado placa. Esto puede estrechar las arterias y hacerlas menos flexibles, una condición conocida como aterosclerosis. Si se forma un coágulo de sangre, es más probable que se atasque en una de estas arterias estrechadas y provoque un ataque cardíaco o un derrame cerebral.

Comprender el riesgo

Su cuerpo produce naturalmente todo el LDL que necesita. Un estilo de vida poco saludable puede hacer que su cuerpo produzca más LDL de lo necesario. Los comportamientos que pueden afectar negativamente sus niveles de colesterol incluyen la falta de actividad física, la obesidad, una dieta poco saludable y el tabaquismo o la exposición al humo del tabaco.

Además de los hábitos poco saludables, que son la causa del colesterol LDL alto en la mayoría de las personas, algunas personas heredan genes de sus padres o abuelos, llamados hipercolesterolemia familiar (FH), que hacen que tengan demasiado colesterol y pueden provocar cardiopatía aterosclerótica prematura. enfermedad. Si tiene antecedentes familiares de HF o problemas relacionados con el colesterol alto, es importante que controle sus niveles.

Controlar el colesterol

Los adultos mayores de 20 años deben controlar su colesterol y otros factores de riesgo tradicionales cada 4 a 6 años, siempre que su riesgo permanezca bajo. Después de los 40 años, su profesional de la salud utilizará una ecuación para calcular su riesgo de sufrir un ataque cardíaco o un derrame cerebral a 10 años. Las personas con enfermedades cardiovasculares y las que tienen un riesgo elevado pueden necesitar que se evalúen su colesterol y otros factores de riesgo con más frecuencia.

Manejo del colesterol

Si tiene colesterol alto, comprender su riesgo de enfermedad cardíaca y accidente cerebrovascular es una de las cosas más importantes que puede hacer, junto con tomar medidas para reducir su colesterol.

A menudo, simplemente cambiar ciertos comportamientos puede ayudar a alinear sus números. Consumir una dieta saludable para el corazón que haga hincapié en las frutas, las verduras, los cereales integrales, las proteínas magras o de origen vegetal, el pescado y los frutos secos y, al mismo tiempo, limite las carnes rojas y procesadas, el sodio y los alimentos y bebidas azucarados es una de las mejores formas de reducir el colesterol. . Cuando vaya de compras al supermercado, busque la marca Heart-Check de la American Heart Association para ayudar a identificar los alimentos que pueden ser parte de un patrón general de alimentación saludable.

Otros cambios en el estilo de vida incluyen perder peso, dejar de fumar y volverse más activo físicamente, ya que un estilo de vida sedentario puede reducir el HDL. Para ayudar a reducir tanto el colesterol como la presión arterial alta, los expertos recomiendan al menos 150 minutos de ejercicio aeróbico de intensidad moderada a la semana, como caminar, andar en bicicleta o nadar.

Para algunas personas, los cambios en el estilo de vida pueden prevenir o controlar los niveles de colesterol no saludables. Para otros, también se pueden necesitar medicamentos. Trabaje con su médico para desarrollar un plan de tratamiento adecuado para usted. Si se requiere medicación, asegúrese de tomarla según lo prescrito.

Controlar su colesterol puede ser más fácil de lo que piensa. Obtenga más información sobre cómo controlar su colesterol en heart.org/cholesterol.

Understanding and improving cholesterol is important for people of all ages, including children and teens. Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels can help keep your heart healthy and lower your chances of getting heart disease or having a stroke.

High cholesterol usually has no symptoms. In fact, about 38% of adults in the United States are diagnosed with high cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association. Understanding what cholesterol is, the role it plays, when to get screened and how to manage it are important aspects of protecting your overall health and prevent a heart attack or stroke.

Understanding Cholesterol

A waxy, fat-like substance created by the liver and consumed from meat, poultry and dairy products, cholesterol isn’t inherently bad for you. In fact, your body needs it to build cells and make vitamins and other hormones. However, too much cholesterol circulating in the blood can pose a problem.

The two types of cholesterol are low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is considered “bad,” and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which can be thought of as “good” cholesterol. Too much of the “bad” kind, or not enough of the “good,” increases the risk of cholesterol slowly building up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain.

Cholesterol can join with other substances to form a thick, hard deposit on the inside of the arteries called plaque. This can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible – a condition known as atherosclerosis. If a blood clot forms, it may be more likely to get stuck in one of these narrowed arteries, resulting in a heart attack or stroke.

Understanding Risk

Your body naturally produces all the LDL it needs. An unhealthy lifestyle can make your body produce more LDL than required. Behaviors that may negatively affect your cholesterol levels include lack of physical activity, obesity, eating an unhealthy diet and smoking or exposure to tobacco smoke.

In addition to unhealthy habits, which are the cause of high LDL cholesterol for most people, some people inherit genes from their parents or grandparents – called familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) – that cause them to have too much cholesterol and can lead to premature atherosclerotic heart disease. If you have a family history of FH or problems related to high cholesterol, it’s important to get your levels checked.

Getting Cholesterol Checked

Adults age 20 and older should have their cholesterol and other traditional risk factors checked every 4-6 years as long as their risk remains low. After age 40, your health care professional will use an equation to calculate your 10-year risk of heart attack or stroke. People with cardiovascular disease, and those at elevated risk, may need their cholesterol and other risk factors assessed more often.

Managing Cholesterol

If you have high cholesterol, understanding your risk for heart disease and stroke is one of the most important things you can do, along with taking steps to lower your cholesterol.

Often, simply changing certain behaviors can help bring your numbers into line. Eating a heart-healthy diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean or plant-based protein, fish and nuts while limiting red and processed meats, sodium and sugar-sweetened foods and beverages is one of the best ways to lower your cholesterol. While grocery shopping, look for the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check mark to help identify foods that can be part of an overall healthy eating pattern.

Other lifestyle changes include losing weight, quitting smoking and becoming more physically active, as a sedentary lifestyle can lower HDL. To help lower both cholesterol and high blood pressure, experts recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise a week, such as walking, biking or swimming.

For some people, lifestyle changes may prevent or manage unhealthy cholesterol levels. For others, medication may also be needed. Work with your doctor to develop a treatment plan that’s right for you. If medication is required, be sure to take it as prescribed.

Controlling your cholesterol may be easier than you think. Learn more about managing your cholesterol at heart.org/cholesterol.

By Family Features

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