Most people know that high levels of cholesterol can be unhealthy and, in some cases, may lead to serious illness or even death.
But our body actually also produces a “good” kind of cholesterol, which helps the body process fats and “bad” cholesterol. Increased physical activity and proper diet can improve cholesterol levels in our system, too.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a wax-like substance (lipoprotein) that circulates through the bloodstream to bring fats to cells that need them. Most or 80% of cholesterol is produced by our liver and cells, while 20% is from the food with saturated and trans fat that we consume.
“It’s a natural part of the human body and in fact, we all need it. We need cholesterol in order to survive. Each of our cells has cholesterol as part of its structure,” endocrinologist Nemecio Nicodemus Jr. told Rappler.
Cholesterol helps with the production of cell membranes, hormones (such as testosterone, cortisol, and estrogen), and vitamin D.
Our livers usually adjust if we consume food that goes beyond the usual 20%. “But some people’s livers don’t do this well, because of their genes,” Columbia University Irving Medical Center said in a handout.
Kinds of cholesterol
These are the different types of cholesterol found in the human body:
- Chylomicrons: Large particles that mainly carry triglycerides (fatty acids from food consumed)
- Very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL): Made by the liver, also carries triglycerides
- Intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL): Forms when fatty acids are extracted from VLDLs
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL): Composed mostly of fat and a small amount of protein from the liver
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL): Made up mostly of protein and takes extra cholesterol out of our bloodstream
“Among the different kinds of fat in our body, only one is really considered as good and that is the HDL — the high-density lipoprotein — and everything else is relatively bad,” Nicodemus said.
HDL is considered the “good cholesterol” because it is the only type of cholesterol that can help the body remove extra fat and cholesterol from a person’s blood vessels and other organs. HDL brings excess cholesterol back to our liver, and the excess then exits our bodies through excretion.
It also helps prevent blood clots and helps the body with inflammation and oxidants.
“On the other hand, the other cholesterols…all of them can actually lead to deposition or deposits of cholesterol in our blood, vessels, in our muscles, in our liver,” Nicodemus said.
While cholesterol is needed by our bodies, too much of the “bad” can be fatal.
High levels of bad cholesterol can block up blood vessels, which would then affect major organs.
“If it is to the heart, it’s a heart attack. If it is to the brain, it’s a stroke,” Nicodemus said.
The problem for Filipinos
Nicodemus, citing studies done by the Department of Science and Technology, pointed out that the “common abnormality” among Filipinos is that most of us have low levels of good cholesterol.
“One-third of the population has high bad cholesterol,” he said. “But when you talk of the low good cholesterol, almost 70% of Filipinos have low good cholesterol levels and that is mainly genetic.”
However, since the condition affects the bloodstream, most people don’t realize there’s something wrong until it’s a bit too late.
“If your parents have heart diseases, have diabetes, then part of what they should be checking, even as a young adult, should be their cholesterol as well.”
Among misconceptions about cholesterol, for instance, is that it only affects the senior population.
A government survey from 2008, however, showed that Filipinos aged 20 to 29 years old have concerning levels of cholesterol.
Lifestyle diseases — which include heart diseases, stroke, and diabetes — also account for nearly 9 out of 10 deaths in the Western Pacific, a World Health Organization study showed. The Philippines is one of the four countries that saw an increase in deaths among people younger than 70 years old because of these diseases.
In the first half of 2023, ischemic heart disease was ranked as the top killer of Filipinos. This is caused by narrowed heart arteries, which may be caused by high levels of bad cholesterol, among others.
Individuals can keep their health in check by remembering “ACT NOW”:
- A – ASCVD (atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease) is a top killer in the Philippines
- C – Cholesterol is a key risk but can be managed
- T – Take action to lower it fast
- NOW – The next heart attack or stroke could be worse — act now to stay protected.
Controlling cholesterol levels
To control cholesterol levels, people are encouraged to follow a healthy diet, observe weight management, and get regular exercise. Among food that should be avoided are those with saturated or trans fats.
“A low-fat diet will be important to bring the bad cholesterol down, and aside from diet, of course, weight management is very important because studies have consistently shown that people who are overweight and who have obesity are the ones who also have a lot of the circulating bad cholesterol,” Nicodemus said.
Meanwhile, to boost good cholesterol, people should increase their level of physical activity. The effect won’t be instant, although Nicodemus said “good cholesterol will already be improving slowly.” – Rappler.com
This article is part of the Unblock Your Heart Health Reporting initiative, supported by the Philippine Press Institute and Novartis, to improve health literacy on cardiovascular diseases. Know your numbers, understand your risks, and consult your doctor — so no Filipino heart is lost too soon.
Take control of your heart health today. Visit unblockedmovement.ph for more information.