FACTORS THAT AFFECT CHOLESTEROL LEVELS

Cholesterol has been described by Mayo Clinic as a “waxy molecule” which is present in the bloodstream. It is required by the human body to form cells which are healthy. However, high levels of cholesterol have been noted with the capacity to increase the risk of various heart diseases. The sterol kind of chemical is found in almost all body tissues. Cholesterol and its derivatives form major components of cell membranes and precursors for the formation of other steroid chemicals, however, note that a high proportion of low-density lipoprotein in the blood (and hence to the tissues) is linked to a higher risk of coronary heart disease. One can get fatty deposits in the arteries and veins if he/she have a high cholesterol. The deposits will eventually accumulate to a point where the flow of blood through the arteries is being impeded. These deposits can sometimes rupture and form clots, resulting in a heart attack or stroke (Mayo clinic family health book).

High cholesterol is genetic (i.e it can be passed down from parents to offspring through the genes), but it’s also majorly the result of poor lifestyles, making it to be avoidable and treatable. High cholesterol can be managed by eating low fat diet, frequent physical exercises, and in many cases, use of medication (such as clopidogrel).

Smoking is regarded as an important factor responsible for coronary heart disease, 17 percent of cancer deaths and 17.2 percent of potential life lost. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 13 percent of adults’ smoke. The habit of smoking has negative effect on the fat profile, including a high concentration of the LDL cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol levels (Anandha Lakshmi et al., 2014). The nicotine contained in cigarettes interferes with cholesterol metabolism in the body. Cigarette smokers display a significant increase in the total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels compared to non-smokers (He et al., 2013). Even after accounting for the smoking history and other cardiovascular disease risk factors, smokers tend to have less favourable lipid profiles (Armitage, 2019). Cholesterol is defined as a waxy substance that the body needs to build cell membranes. Cholesterol is made by the liver and can be measured in the blood. Since cholesterol cannot dissolve in blood, it is transported as lipoproteins. The two cholesterol types are; low density lipoprotein (LDL) also known as the bad fats and high density lipoprotein (HDL) regarded as the good cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is regarded as a better gauge of cardiovascular disease risk that total blood cholesterol (He et al., 2013).