High Cholesterol

Keep it
Out of the Blood!!!
By: LANCY FERNANDES
HSEM
 Overview of Cholesterol

 Cholesterol is a type of FAT (LIPID), found in the

blood and body cells. It is carried in the blood
attached to a protein in the form of : LDL ,HDL &
VLDL.

 It is Essential for many VITAL body functions:

 Formation & Maintenance of cell membranes
 Formation of several Hormones
 Production of bile salts which help digest food.
 Conversion into Vitamin D in the skin when exposed to
sunlight.

 85% of cholesterol is ENDOGENOUS (Liver), 15%

from DIET (Dietary Cholesterol)
 LDH and HDL are forms in
which fat and cholesterol get
transported in the blood

Cholesterol
+
Triglycerides

Lipoproteins
HDL LDL
good bad
HDL LDL
VLDL
 Why is Cholesterol Control
important?

 It is ONE of the MAJOR RISK FACTORS for Heart

Disease.

 High Cholesterol & other fats in the blood can

lead to heart disease & Stroke.

 It causes a condition Called “Atherosclerosis” i.e.

Narrowing & Hardening of the arteries that supply
the: – Heart , Brain, & Other organs
 Too much Cholesterol
Results in !! ??

LDL

LDL

The problem with

cholesterol happens
when special cells catch
LDL and deposit the
cholesterol out of it in the
walls of the blood
vessels. This is called
ARTHEROSCLEROSIS.
 What a blessing!!

LDL

HDL usually collects the bad

HDL
cholesterol and takes it back
to the liver. That is why HDL is
LDL known as “good cholesterol.”
HELP An easy way to remember that
HDL HDL is good H=Help, since
HDL helps collect bad
cholesterol and, therefore,
helps prevent heart attack.
Overview of the Artery
How is high Cholesterol detected?

There are two types of Blood tests that determines

High Cholesterol:

1.Total Cholesterol (Non fasting)

Your total cholesterol level is the total amount of cholesterol in your blood.

2.Lipid profile (Lipoprotein Analysis):

i. Total cholesterol
ii. HDL Cholesterol
iii. LDL Cholesterol
iv. Triglycerides.

A lipid profile requires you to fast for 12 hours before the test.
This test, which most doctors use to help determine your risk for
problems
 What is HIGH Cholesterol

Total Cholesterol Levels LDL Cholesterol Levels

6.2 mmol/L or more is 4.1 mmol/L or more

High Cholesterol
you are at higher risk
& it means you are at increased
risk for heart disease. for heart disease
Recommended level of Total Cholesterol

High Risk Borderline Desirable

Total Cholesterol >6.2 5.2 – 6.2 <5.2

LDL - Chol >4.1 3.4 – 4.1 <3.4

HDL- Chol <0.9 0.9 – 1.55 >1.56

 Greater than Normal values
 Very high cholesterol and triglyceride levels may
mean you have
 An inherited form of high cholesterol
(hypercholesterolemia or hyperlipidemia).

 High cholesterol levels may also be related to other

conditions, such as
Diabetes
Hypothyroidism
Kidney or Liver disease.

 HDL cholesterol levels greater than 1.56 mmol/L

(100 mg/dL) can help protect a person from
developing coronary artery disease and Stroke.
(Negative Risk Factor)
 Lower than Normal values

Unusually low cholesterol levels may

indicate
 Liver disease (Cirrhosis or Hepatitis),
 Malnutrition
 Hyperthyroidism

HDL cholesterol levels lower than 1.04 mmol/L

(<40 mg/dL) increase a person's risk of developing
coronary artery disease, especially in people who
also have high total cholesterol levels.
 Three RISK Categories

Risk Category LDL- GOAL

Coronary
Heart Disease & < 2.6 mmol/L
Diabetes

Multiple (2+)
< 3.4 mmol/L
risk factors

Zero to one
< 4.1 mmol/L
risk factor
Risk Factors of High Cholesterol
 A Family History
 Age
 Gender
 Diet
 Cigarette Smoking
 Obesity
 Medical Conditions: Diabetes, High BP
 Stress
PDO Medical Laboratory
Cholesterol Estimations
Jan – Sept. 2003
 Total Cholesterol analysed
in PDO Lab

Total Cholesterol Estimations in PDO Clinics

Jan to Sep 2003

800

600

No. of Tests 400

200

0
MAF North South
 High Cholesterol in PDO

High Cholesterol detected - Jan to Sep 2003

6
5
4
Total No.

3
2
1
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep
 High Cholesterol by Age

12

10

0
30's 40's 50's
 High Cholesterol by Gender

High Cholesterol detected - Jan to Sep 2003

25

20

15

10

0
Male Female
 LDL Cholesterol Estimations

LDL Cholesterol in PDO clinics - Jan to Sep 2003

14%
8%

78%

MAF North South

High LDL Cholesterol Detected
– Jan to Aug 2003 -

High LDL estimations in 2003

35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug
High LDL Cholesterol Detected
– Jan to Aug 2003 -

LDL Cholesterol in 2003

35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug
Cases M F
High LDL Cholesterol Detected
– Jan to Aug 2003 -

High LDL Cholesterol Cases by Age

60
50
40
30
20
10
0
20-30 >30 - 40 >40 -50 >50
Years
High LDL Cholesterol by Ethnicity
– Jan to Aug 2003 -

High LDL Cholesterol Cases by Nationality

100

80

60

40

20

0
Omani Expatriates
Steps to Prevent High Cholesterol

 Quit Smoking
 Reduce Excess Weight
 Increase Physical Activity
 Maintain Normal Blood pressure
 Control Diabetes, Hypothyroidism
 Modify Diet
 Tips for Eating smart
 Limit saturated fats, like dairy fats (in ice cream and butter),
palm and coconut oil (in baked goods) and Red meat and meat
products.
 Limit high-cholesterol foods, like egg yolks, organ meats (such
as liver) and shellfish.
 Choose lean cuts when you eat beef and lamb. Also eat
smaller portions.
 Eat more fruits and vegetables.
 Eat a variety of fibre-rich foods, like oats, dark breads and
apples.
 Eat more boiled or grilled fish and skinless chicken breasts.
 Avoid fried foods.
 Choose low-fat or non-fat dairy products.
 Balancing the Equation

Food
intake

Physical
activity

Weight gain results from food intake -

being greater than physical activity
 Balancing the Equation

Physical
activity

+
-
Food
intake

Weight loss results from food intake

being less than physical activity
 Balancing the Equation

Food Physical
intake activity

Weight maintenance occurs from

food intake equaling physical activity
 Beware - LDL cholesterol !

 The main goal of checking your lipid profile is to determine your

LDL ("bad") cholesterol.

 Your LDL measurement is very important because:

 Your LDL level helps your doctor determine if you are at risk for
heart disease. Having a high LDL cholesterol level increases your
risk of having a heart attack.
 Lowering your LDL level reduces your risk for having a heart attack.
 Elevated LDL cholesterol is the primary target of Treatment
(Cholesterol-lowering therapy).

 LDL value is also used to determine the most effective

treatment approach:
Lifestyle Changes.
Medication, or both.
Its time for you to enjoy your Lunch

“Cholesterol-Free”