{"id":149843,"date":"2025-06-10T21:15:55","date_gmt":"2025-06-10T21:15:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/the-bad-or-the-good-the-useful-cholesterol-should-not-be-confused-with-the-cholesterol-we-measure-during-a-blood-test\/"},"modified":"2025-06-10T21:15:55","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T21:15:55","slug":"the-bad-or-the-good-the-useful-cholesterol-should-not-be-confused-with-the-cholesterol-we-measure-during-a-blood-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/the-bad-or-the-good-the-useful-cholesterol-should-not-be-confused-with-the-cholesterol-we-measure-during-a-blood-test\/","title":{"rendered":"The bad or the good? ‘The useful cholesterol should not be confused with the cholesterol we measure during a blood test.’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\u00a0Cholesterol\u00a0 is a vital substance naturally found in our bodies. While it plays an essential role in various bodily functions, an imbalance can lead to significant health issues. \u00a0Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL)\u00a0 cholesterol, often referred to as \u00a0bad cholesterol\u00a0, can accumulate in the arteries, causing \u00a0atherosclerosis\u00a0, which is the leading cause of heart attacks and many strokes as well as mortality and disability. A crucial factor in reducing cardiovascular risk is proper adherence to treatment, even when patients experience no symptoms.<\/p>\n

Most cells in our bodies can produce cholesterol when necessary, indicating its importance. “However, the \u00a0beneficial cholesterol\u00a0 produced must not be confused with the cholesterol levels measured in a standard blood test,” explains Leopoldo P\u00e9rez de Isla, a cardiology specialist and section chief at Hospital Cl\u00ednico San Carlos in Madrid.<\/p>\n

The Risks of Atherosclerosis<\/h2>\n

A standard blood analysis can measure a person’s cholesterol levels and categorize this into two types: \u00a0High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL)\u00a0 known as \u00a0good cholesterol\u00a0, and LDL. “When \u00a0LDL cholesterol levels\u00a0 in the blood remain elevated over time, it starts to deposit in the arteries, leading to \u00a0atherosclerosis\u00a0, which is a primary factor for myocardial infarctions and many strokes, as well as conditions related to the aorta and iliac arteries,” Dr. P\u00e9rez de Isla explains.<\/p>\n

The Challenge of Asymptomatic Conditions<\/h2>\n

One of the challenges in tackling \u00a0hypercholesterolemia\u00a0 is that elevated cholesterol usually does not manifest clear symptoms, making a blood test the only reliable way to identify its levels. It’s even recommended that \u00a0children undergo cholesterol testing between ages 9 and 11\u00a0, especially if they have a family history of high cholesterol or cardiac diseases, notes Dr. P\u00e9rez de Isla. \u00a0Adults should check their levels every 4 to 6 years\u00a0, and more frequently if they have health issues like diabetes or hypertension. “It\u2019s especially crucial for women to monitortheir cholesterol levels as they enter menopause.”<\/p>\n

Controllable Factors: Diet and Exercise<\/h2>\n

High cholesterol levels are often linked to genetic predispositions, but they can also be positively or negatively influenced by controllable factors, such as \u00a0diet\u00a0 and \u00a0physical activity\u00a0. “A diet high in saturated and trans fats contributes to this issue. In severe cases, such as familial hypercholesterolemia, individuals may experience significantly elevated cholesterol levels from birth,” explains Dr. P\u00e9rez de Isla.<\/p>\n

Different Profiles Based on Risk Factors<\/h2>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s essential to understand that alongside \u00a0LDL cholesterol levels\u00a0, several other risk factors can accelerate the formation of atherosclerosis,\u201d the cardiology specialist emphasizes. Therefore, having a certain level of LDL cholesterol in a patient who has multiple other risk factors, such as obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, diabetes, or hypertension, poses different risks compared to someone with the same LDL level but fewer risk factors.<\/p>\n

An elevated LDL cholesterol level leads to \u00a0atherosclerosis\u00a0, which can result in life-threatening and quality-of-life-reducing conditions such as acute myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, stroke, and acute or chronic obstruction of the leg arteries, warns Dr. P\u00e9rez de Isla.<\/p>\n

Prevention<\/h2>\n

To prevent and manage high cholesterol, the first crucial step is to adopt a balanced diet rich in \u00a0fruits\u00a0, \u00a0vegetables\u00a0, \u00a0fish\u00a0, and \u00a0whole grains\u00a0, while limiting saturated and trans fats. Maintaining a healthy weight and engaging in at least 30 minutes of exercise daily are significant contributors to your overall cardiovascular health. Additionally, avoiding smoking and minimizing alcohol consumption are vital elements for preventing cardiovascular disease.<\/p>\n

For those individuals in whom these measures are insufficient, or where a doctor assesses that dietary and lifestyle changes alone won\u2019t suffice, the use of \u00a0medications\u00a0 to lower cholesterol becomes necessary. “It’s important to manage cholesterol levels not just based on whether they are too high or low, but to consider the presence of other factors that might necessitate or dictate how aggressively to pursue cholesterol reduction,” emphasizes Dr. P\u00e9rez de Isla.<\/p>\n

Adherence to Therapy is Key<\/h2>\n

Another critical aspect of cholesterol management is ensuring proper adherence to prescribed therapy. This expert underscores that “it is especially important to remember that treatments should be used exactly as directed by the physician and that drugs to lower \u00a0lipid levels\u00a0 should generally be taken daily unless the physician indicates otherwise.” Maintaining this regimen has been shown in various studies to reduce the likelihood of cardiovascular problems.<\/p>\n

“I Am a Chronic Patient”<\/h2>\n

Tom\u00e1s Fajardo, a patient and president of Cardioalianza, recognizes the reality of living with cholesterol-related issues. “One of cholesterol’s problems is that it’s a \u00a0silent disease\u00a0 without symptoms.” He has experienced two heart attacks, one approximately 23 years ago and another 11 years ago. From experience, he understands, “I am a chronic patient, and I must follow the treatment exactly as prescribed. Even when I feel fine, I need to reduce the risk of another cardiovascular episode.”<\/p>\n

However, Fajardo also points out the importance of advocacy for adherence, particularly in secondary prevention, noting that “it’s not uncommon for someone to stop treatment due to muscle pain when alternatives exist, or they might mistakenly believe that a food product that lowers cholesterol could replace medications.” A thorough understanding of their condition and the implications of elevated cholesterol levels is essential for patients.<\/p>\n

A Broad Therapeutic Arsenal<\/h2>\n

Several effective medications are available to control \u00a0LDL cholesterol levels\u00a0 when necessary. \u00a0Statins\u00a0 continue to be the first-line treatment for dyslipidemia, demonstrating clear clinical benefits despite potential side effects like muscle pain. New therapies such as \u00a0ezetimibe\u00a0, \u00a0PCSK9 inhibitors\u00a0 (evolocumab and alirocumab), and inclisiran provide additional options for high cardiovascular risk patients, explains Dr. P\u00e9rez de Isla.<\/p>\n

One recent innovation is \u00a0bempedoic acid\u00a0, a new oral treatment that significantly reduces LDL cholesterol levels. A large clinical trial (CLEAR Outcomes) demonstrated that it could lessen vascular events in high-risk patients who cannot tolerate statins without causing muscle discomfort. “In addition to clinical trials, real-world studies like MILOS support the effectiveness of bempedoic acid, showing a notable improvement in LDL cholesterol control when combined with other therapies,” adds the expert. Consequently, bempedoic acid is currently considered a safe and complementary therapeutic option for those who cannot achieve lipid goals with statins or cannot use them.<\/p>\n

Overall, managing cholesterol levels remains a multifaceted approach balancing lifestyle changes, medication adherence, and professional guidance to ensure optimal cardiovascular health.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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General News – 2<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0Cholesterol\u00a0 is a vital substance naturally found in our bodies. While it plays an essential role in various bodily functions, an imbalance can lead to significant health issues. \u00a0Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL)\u00a0 cholesterol, often referred to as \u00a0bad cholesterol\u00a0, can accumulate in the arteries, causing \u00a0atherosclerosis\u00a0, which is the leading cause of heart attacks and many […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36400],"tags":[36717,36729,36730,26681,36732,36731],"class_list":["post-149843","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health","tag-ciencia-y-salud","tag-ciencia-y-salud-salud","tag-colesterol","tag-salud","tag-sintomas","tag-tratamiento"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149843","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=149843"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149843\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=149843"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=149843"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=149843"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}