Cody Grames

Professor J. Widdison
Health 1020
November 6, 2016
Nutrition Related Chronic Disease

For my research topic I was asked to look at my family history and see
if there is any chronic disease related to nutrient input and genetics. I found
that many of the men in my family have high cholesterol and high blood
pressure which terrifies me. I know my dad has it and up until the last 5
years or so he used to be extremely skinny and really watched what he ate.
He was obsessed with running and very much in shape. Being that high
cholesterol runs in my family it only took several years of bad habits to for
him to develop his health problems. Several years ago after returning from a
doctors appointment I overheard my dad telling my mom that if he doesnt
get his blood pressure and cholesterol under control he wont live much
longer. So Im assuming if I dont keep tract of my health I am very likely to
develop high cholesterol as well.
So what is cholesterol and where does it come from? Cholesterol is a
waxy fat that is either produced by the liver or comes from food produced
from animals such as red meats, egg yolks, and dairy products. (American
Heart Association) There are two ways cholesterol travels throughout the
body: Low- density lipoprotein (LDLs, the bad cholesterol) and High-Density
lipoproteins (HDLs, or the good cholesterol). So whats the difference

between the two? Dr. Bethesda (Cleveland Clinic) describes LDLs as delivery
trucks and HDLs as garbage trucks. LDLs pick up the cholesterol from the
liver to distribute to the cells of the body and HDLs pick up the excess
cholesterol and deliver it back to the liver. When there becomes an excessive
amounts of LDLs in the blood stream this leads to high cholesterol. Dr.
Bethesda states that the body usually produces more than enough
cholesterol on its on to meet its needs. On top of this the general population
of the united states intakes excessive amounts of fat. Fat is essential to
human health but very little is required in our diet to maintain a healthy
body. In fact, the average human body can get the required essential fatty
acids from eating fatty fish such as salmon or tuna at least twice a week, or
daily consumption of two to four tablespoons of some form of plant oil
incorporated in the meals. (Wardlaw 159)

complications
High cholesterol takes a major toll on the body in many ways. Some of
the most common side effects from high cholesterol are cardiovascular
disease, cardiomyopathy, valvular disease, coronary artery disease, and
coronary heart disease. (Sinatra) All of these diseases are a combination of
inflammation of the heart, inflammation of the arteries, plaque buildup and
endothelial dysfunction brought on by excessive amounts of cholesterol
traveling through the blood stream. As the bodys immune system repairs

the damage done to the blood vessel walls a deadly process unfolds over
time as arteries begin to calcify. As inflammation increase, so does the
likelihood that plaque in the artery walls will become unstable and rupture.
When the plaque ruptures, blood clots may enter the bloodstream, and
become lodged in the blood vessels which restricts blood flow. Because of
the restricted blood flow, it causes a lack of oxygen being delivered around
the body. (Sinatra) As one can see not keeping cholesterol under control can
cause a cascade of events each more devastating than the last. Time is the
killer with this disease, what was once a simple issue resolved with a change
of diet and exercise turns into long term process to try and repair the vast
damage that has been done.
Prevention/Treatment
Every year in the united states approximately 600,000 people die of
coronary heart disease and 715,000 have a heart attack. 95% of the 715,000
heart attacks in the United States are cause by total blockage of the
coronary arteries due to the formation of blood clots in an area partially
blocked by plaque. (Wardlaw Ch. 5) What can be done to prevent or lower
the risk of heart complications from high cholesterol? The first step to
reduction/prevention in high cholesterol is a change of diet. Deepening on
the severity other treatments may be required but Ill begin with the diet
change. Im sure the majority of the public has heard Cheerios can help in
the reduction of cholesterol, this is true because Cheerios are made up of
oats (oatmeal, oat flour, and oat bran) and psyllium which are two fiber rich

ingredients that have been shown to reduce cholesterol levels. This of course
is only effective if the individual consuming the Cheerios is also eating a low
fat diet. (Wardlaw Ch. 5) People who are following the low fat diet for heart
disease prevention should limit their intake of saturated fat to 7% of their
daily RDA (recommended dietary allowance) and trans fats to 1% of their
total RDA. For example, say I am dieting to lower my risk of cardiovascular
disease and my RDA allowance is 2500 calories per day, I should consume no
more than 175 calories from saturated fats and no more than 25 calories
from trans fats, as well as consuming less than 300 mg of cholesterol a day.
This doesnt mean I should cut down on all fat consumption, just exclude the
saturated fats and trans fats as much as possible and replace them with
unsaturated fats. In fact, The American Heart Association recommends
eating between 25 and 35 percent of our total calories from fats that come
from foods such as nuts, vegetables, and fish for a low cholesterol diet. On
top of diet, exercise is the next step to preventing or lowering cholesterol
levels. Regular exercise with diet leads to weight loss which in turn lowers
triglyceride (a type of fat in the blood) levels in the blood. Exercise also
increase HDL levels in the body thus pulling excess cholesterol from around
the body and disposing of it in the liver. (Cleveland clinic) The American
Heart Association recommends anyone with high cholesterol to achieve 200
minutes of aerobic exercise per week. This includes but is not limited to
cycling, swimming, elliptical machines, jogging, and step machines. It should
be of moderate to high intensity so that you can still carry on a conversation

without being too breathless, however, you should not be able to sing
comfortably. (Cleveland clinic) Most people who are beginning to gain
control of their cholesterol wont be able to achieve 200 minutes of moderate
to high intensity exercise per week so the American Heart Association says
to start out doing what is within ones limits till the goal can be achieved.
For individuals who require extra help on top of diet changes and
exercise there are many other options as well. There are many different
categories of medication that help in controlling or lowering cholesterol and
within those categories even more options. Each person is different and
some work better than others with a particular person depending on the
circumstances so this is where its best to have a chat with a physician
however I will discuss the major types of medication and a brief synopsis
about each individual type.

Statins:

The most commonly used drugs for lowering cholesterol are called
statins (reductase inhibitors). They work by reducing the production of
cholesterol by the liver. Statins inhibit the enzyme in the liver
responsible for making cholesterol. (FDA)

Fibrates:

Fibrates are often prescribed for patients who cant take a statin.
Similar to statins they reduce the bodys production of cholesterol.
Unfortunately, they are less effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels.
Despite the bad they are actually more successful at boosting HDL
cholesterol levels. (Harvard)

Resins

Resins are not absorbed into the body like other cholesterol medication
and remain in the intestinal tract. They work by latching on to bile
acids, preventing them from being absorbed into the bloodstream. This
is effective because the liver uses bile acids to produce cholesterol.
(Harvard)

Niacin:

Unlike resins, statins, and fibrates, niacin (nicotinic acid) is a natural

vitamin therefore its available without a prescription. Its effective on
boosting HDL cholesterol as well as having an excellent ability to lower
triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels. To improve cholesterol levels
its needed in doses 20- 200 times the RDA (recommended dietary
allowance) of 15mg a day. At dosages that high niacin can serious side
effects. Although niacin can be purchased over the counter it shouldnt
be taken to treat cholesterol unless directed to by a physician.
(Harvard)

The first step to dealing which high cholesterol is making an appointment

with a physician. The best disease is the one that never happened so
prevention is key. Stop it before it even begins to be an issue. This is
addressed with a low fat/low cholesterol diet and exercise to lower
triglyceride levels and boost HDL levels. Focus on eliminating trans fats and
substituting unsaturated fats in place of saturated fats. Push for 200 minutes
a week of moderate to high intensity aerobic exercise. When cholesterol and
blood pressure becomes Sevier, medication is issued along with diet and
exercise. There are many options out there such as the statins, fibrates,
resin, and niacin. Discuss with your health care provider the best options for
lowering cholesterol.

Works Cited

"About Cholesterol." American Heart Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2016.
"Controlling Cholesterol with Statins." Federal Drug Administration. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov.
2016.
"Help for Your Cholesterol When the Statins Wont Do." Harvard Medical School. N.p., n.d.
Web. 6 Nov. 2016.
"High Cholesterol." Cleveland Clinic. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2016.
"Triglycerides: Why Do They Matter?" Mayo Clinic. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2016.
Sinartra, Drew S., ND, and Stephen T. Sinatra, MD. "Inflammation and Heart: A Commentary."
(n.d.): n. pag. Web. 6 Nov. 20116.
Wardlaw, Gordan, and Anne Smith. Contemporary Nutrition. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Mcgraw Hill. Web.
6 Nov. 2016.