Cholesterol: a numbers game?

Sumitra is a little bewildered. She had blood tests done recently on the advice of her family doctor. At 45, Sumitra thought that she was healthy. She was surprised to find that her lipid profile was abnormal. Her cholesterol was ‘borderline high’ and her triglyceride level was very high. What are the implications to her health?

What is the ‘lipid profile’?

The lipid profile is best is done after a 12-hour fast. It is a blood test that measures the following levels in you body:

• Total cholesterol
• LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol
• HDL (‘good’) cholesterol
• Triglyceride, which is another form of fat in the blood

Why is the lipid profile important?

The level of cholesterol in your blood has an impact on your risk fordeveloping heart disease. High blood cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for heart disease. The higher the blood cholesterol level, the greater is your risk for developing heart disease or having a heart attack. Women are not exempt from developing heart disease and after 50, they are at equalrisk for getting a heart attack as men.

Triglycerides can also raise the risk of heart disease. Levels that are borderline high (150-199 mg/dL) or high (200 mg/dL or more) need treatment.

When these abnormal lipid levels are associated with obesity, hypertension or diabetes, the risk increases exponentially. 

Why should you know your values?

High blood cholesterol itself does not cause symptoms. Many people are unaware that their cholesterol levels are high. Vegetarians, in particular, feel that they are immune from having high levels. It is important to find out what your cholesterol numbers are because lowering cholesterol levels that are too high, lessens the risk of developing heart disease. This also reduces the chance of a heart attack or dying of heart disease. Keeping cholesterol at optimal levels is essential for everyone: young or old, man or woman and with or without heart disease.

High triglyceride levels also contribute to heart disease. A diet rich in carbohydrates, and a genetic predisposition, makes high triglyceride levels a problem for Indians.