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There are two main types of fat:
- Saturated
- Unsaturated
- Cholesterol is produced by the liver. It
is a waxy fat (lipid) carried through the
blood by lipoproteins. The two main
types of lipoproteins are high density
lipoproteins (HDLs) and low density
lipoproteins (LDLs).
- LDL carries cholesterol from your
liver to the cells that need it. If there
is too much cholesterol for the cells to
use, it can build up in the artery walls,
leading to disease of the arteries. For
this reason, LDL cholesterol is known
as 'bad cholesterol'.
- HDL carries cholesterol away from
the cells and back to the liver, where
it is either broken down or passed out
Healthy
Cholesterol
High cholesterol is a common health problem. Having high
cholesterol puts you at risk of developing heart disease.
People of all ages can have high cholesterol…so don’t be
fooled. Sawalef looks at ways to help lower your cholesterol
with Hala Najib, resident doctor at Emirates International
Schools.
A healthy diet and regular exercise can help lower the level of cholesterol in your
blood.
Adopting healthy habits – such as eating a healthy balanced diet and exercising
– will also help to prevent your cholesterol levels from becoming too high in the
first place. It is important to keep your cholesterol in check to prevent your risk
of heart disease and stroke.
of the body as a waste product. For
this reason, it is referred to as 'good
cholesterol' and higher levels are
better.
The main causes of high
cholesterol
There are many factors that can
increase your risk of having heart
problems or a stroke if you have high
cholesterol. They include the following:
- An unhealthy diet
- Smoking: The chemical found in
cigarettes (acrolein) stops HDL from
transporting LDL to the liver, leading to
narrowing of the arteries.
- Having diabetes or high blood
pressure (hypertension)
-Family history of stroke or heart
disease
The risks of high cholesterol
Evidence strongly indicates that high
cholesterol can increase the risk of:
- Narrowing the arteries
(atherosclerosis)
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Mini-stroke (TIA)
TYPES OF FAT & CHOLESTEROL
Health Tips
Cholesterol
the good
and the bad!
