The cardiovascular system, commonly known as the circulatory system, consists of the heart and closed system of vessels called veins, arteries, and capillaries. Your heart is a muscular pump not bigger than your fists. The left side of the heart pumps out oxygen rich blood to the whole body by way of the arteries. As blood circulates, it takes oxygen and nutrients to all organs and tissues, picks up waste products from body cells, and then eliminates them through the kidneys, liver, and lungs. The right side of the heart receives blood from the veins and pumps it into the lungs where carbon dioxide is removed and oxygen is picked up. Tiny capillaries connect arteries and veins. A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle is severely reduced or stopped.
It is believed that high cholesterol contributes to heart disease by causing a fatty plaque to build up in coronary arteries. There are two types of cholesterol in the body: low density lipoprotein (LDL), which is considered "bad cholesterol," and high density lipoprotein (HDL), which is "good cholesterol." Lipoproteins consists of lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides, protein, and phospholipids (basically they are the building blocks of cellular membranes). Lipoproteins are produced mainly in the liver.
Research has shown that diets high in saturated fat and cholesterol tend to produce an increase in blood LDL concentration. LDL carries cholesterol through the body in the blood stream and deposits it in the arteries. High amounts of LDL tend to cause narrowing and blockage of the arteries, leading to coronary artery disease.
HDL picks up cholesterol and carries it to the liver to be broken down. Cholesterol
levels can be affected by what you eat, but the body makes most of it. Exercise tends to elevate HDL concentration.
Your liver will produce cholesterol and use it to make bile. Your digestive tract absorbs the cholesterol from food and bile made in the liver. When the body makes more cholesterol than it can utilize, you get a buildup in the arteries. Even if you do go on medication to lower your cholesterol, you still must make diet and lifestyle changes.
Drugs taken to lower cholesterol levels may have many side effects. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of the side effects listed on the information pamphlet. Do not stop taking the medication until you consult with your doctor first. If you experience any muscle pain or weakness for no obvious reason, tell your doctor. Some lipid-lowering drugs increase the risk of muscle pain. Avoid statins (cholesterol lowering drugs) if you have liver disease, are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have kidney problems. If you take a statin, you should probably not eat grapefruit.
Foods that may help with cholesterol levels include oats, whole grain cereals and breads, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, dried beans, garbanzo beans, soybeans, garlic, onions, leeks, avocado, and lean meats, chicken, and fish. Always use olive oil, low-or no-fat foods, and rice bran. Reduce the amount of fat consumed in your diet, especially saturated fats.
A large portion of the fatty substances in the blood, i.e., lipids , are triglycerides. Because these lipids are insoluble (incapable of being dissolved in water), they are transported in combination with proteins (lipoprotein). When your triglycerides and LDL cholesterol are high, your risk increases for a heart attack and fatty liver. Cholesterol and triglycerides are different kinds of fat, but they are natural substances always found together in the bloodstream. They come from the food you eat and from the liver. A common reason, among many reasons, for elevated blood triglycerides is poorly controlled diabetes.
Lipids are extremely important to cell function. They circulate in the blood carring fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, aid in the synthesis of some hormones, and protect cell membranes. Lipids are hi-energy fatty acids that provide fuel for body cells. We need lipids for the body to function properly, but they must come from the right type of fat. Learn the difference between the types of fat: do not consume saturated fat.
To reduce your risks:
- Quit smoking and try to avoid secondhand smoke
- Eat a healthy diet that's low in saturated fat, trans fat, and salt, but rich in fruits and vegetables, fish, and whole grains. Try not to eat so much refined carbohydrates (simple carbs. - or empty calories) such as: white flour, white bread, white rice, pastries, regular soda pop, snacks, pasta, sweets, breakfast cereals, and sugars)
- Be physically active, sit less and exercise more. Try to keep the weight girth less than 40 inches in men and less than 35 inches in women.
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