The health focus in February is heart health. A couple of weeks ago, we reviewed blood pressure and the risks of high blood pressure. Along with blood pressure, it is important to know your cholesterol numbers. The important numbers associated with cholesterol levels are known as the total lipid profile. The total lipid profile includes total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglyceride levels and the total cholesterol/HDL ratio.

Most people know that elevated cholesterol levels contribute to the risk of heart attack or stroke. However, most people do not know that cholesterol is necessary for the body to function properly. Cholesterol is used as a building block molecule to make new cell membranes and hormones that regulate body functions. Because cholesterol is needed for such important functions, you cannot depend entirely on diet to fulfill cholesterol needs; as a result, your body produces most of the cholesterol in circulation. The liver is the primary organ involved in cholesterol production. Unfortunately, many people produce more cholesterol than they need, leading to elevated levels. Excessive cholesterol production coupled with unhealthy lifestyle choices are major contributing factors to heart disease.

Because cholesterol is a solid fat, it does not enter the bloodstream easily. A fat-carrying protein called LDL is produced to carry cholesterol produced in the liver into the bloodstream. LDL is referred to as the "bad cholesterol" because it contributes to cholesterol deposits in the blood vessels known as atherosclerosis. Another fat-carrying protein called HDL is produced to help carry excess cholesterol out of the bloodstream back to the liver and intestine where it can be eliminated, helping to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. Because of this "cleaning" effect, HDL is referred to as the "good cholesterol."

Desired levels for each fraction are: total cholesterol (TC) less than 200 mg/dL, HDL higher than 40 mg/dL, LDL less than 100 mg/dL, triglycerides less than 150 mg/dL, and TC/HDL ratio less than 4.5. It is recommended that adults over 20 years old have a fasting total lipid profile done every 5 years. Because elevated LDL levels are most strongly linked with heart disease, lowering LDL is the focus of current therapy.

Other major risk factors (besides elevated LDL levels) for heart disease include cigarette smoking, untreated blood pressure of 140/90 or higher, HDL cholesterol less than 40 mg/dL, family history of heart disease in first-degree male relatives (father or brother) at younger than 55 years old or first-degree female relatives (mother or sister) at younger than 65 years old and age (older than 45 years old for men or older than 55 for women).

Because heart disease remains the number one cause of death for both men and women in the US, it is very important that you know your cholesterol numbers. Because the health focus for February is heart health, this is a good time to have your total lipid profile done. Call Taos Pharmacy today, 505-758-3342, to schedule your lipid profile for only $34.97.

Reference: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/cholesterol/atp3xsum.pdf.

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