Cholesterol and strokes
Cholesterol plays an important part in the body, but too much is not good for us. Having a high cholesterol level increases the chance of having a stroke. All men over 35 and women over 45 should have their cholesterol checked. This factsheet provides information about what cholesterol is, what having high cholesterol means, which foods contain high levels of cholesterol and what steps you can take to lower your cholesterol.What is cholesterol?
The liver makes cholesterol from saturated fat in the food we eat and is an essential component of all body cells; it is then distributed where it is needed in the body. If there is a surplus, most of this is stored in the liver and some remains circulating in the blood.Fats
The term saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated refer to the make up of fats and oils. The body handles saturated and unsaturated fats differently. Saturated fats raise cholesterol more than unsaturated fats. A diet containing more unsaturated fat then saturated is thought to be healthier.Fats are usually solid at room temperature while oils are usually liquid. They both have a mixture of saturated and unsaturated fat, but in different proportion. Saturates are mostly from animal fats whereas unsaturates come mostly from vegetable and plant origins. Vegetable oils such as corn or sunflower oil are high in polyunsaturates and oil such as olive oil is high in monounsaturates.
While some cholesterol is needed by the body, extra cholesterol may get stored in your arteries (blood vessels) and cause them to narrow over time, leaving deposits or patches on the blood vessel walls called atheroma.
Patches of atheroma, also called plaque, are like small fatty lumps, which develop on the linings of arteries. The tendency to have narrowed blood vessels throughout the body is called atherosclerosis. Large deposits can block an artery, so the blood cannot flow through. This can affect any blood vessel and if it is an artery to the brain, then a stroke can happen.
Cholesterol travels through the blood in different types of “packages” called lipoproteins. LDL (low density lipoprotein) and VLDL (very low density lipoprotein) are so called “bad” cholesterol, the source of waxy plaque on the artery walls. HDL (high density lipoprotein) is “good” cholesterol.
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL) removes cholesterol from the blood stream.
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) delivers cholesterol to the body. Eating a low fat diet can help lower the LDL cholesterol. Stopping smoking, getting regular exercise and losing weight are also beneficial.
- Triglycerides are another major fat found in the blood.
How is cholesterol level measured?
Cholesterol is measured in a blood test after the person being tested has fasted (usually overnight)- An ideal cholesterol level is below 5.2mmols per litre.
- A level between 5.2 and 6.5 represents a modest risk.
- A level between 6.5 and 7.8 is a higher risk.
- Over 7.8 is a very high cholesterol risk.
