Silent killer
Atherosclerosis can lead to unexpected death
It's always a shock when we hear of someone in our neighborhood, our workplace or a nationally known figure who has suddenly died in the prime of life. We wonder what happened, often thinking that they looked so healthy.
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Understanding cholesterol
Cholesterol, also called lipid, is a fatty substance in the blood that is naturally produced by the body. Whether it comes from the foods you eat or from your body, healthy amounts of cholesterol in your blood are OK. The problem: When there is too much cholesterol in your blood, it can build up on the walls of your arteries and form plaque.
Over time, plaque can clog and narrow your arteries, which may slow blood flow and reduce the supply of oxygen to vital organs.
LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides are the three components important to managing your lipid profile.
•LDL is called "bad” cholesterol because it plays a role in the development of plaque in your arteries.
•HDL is considered "good” cholesterol because it helps return cholesterol to the liver, where it can be removed from the body.
•Triglycerides are another type of fat in your blood. As with LDL, it's important to keep triglycerides low.
You can't feel it or see it, and the only way you will know for sure if you have high cholesterol is to have a cholesterol screening test.
Cholesterol is just one risk factor that can contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis.
Source: www.athero.com.
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