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What Does Good Cholesterol Do

Preparing And Eating Eggs Safely

What is Cholesterol? | LDL and HDL | Good and Bad Cholesterol

Now, there are important safety aspects to consider when it comes to egg preparation. Eggs can contain salmonella, and if not cooked properly, can cause illness. Under cooked eggs present a food poisoning risk. Make sure to cook your eggs until the yolk and white are firm. Scrambled eggs should not be runny.

Simple precautions can eliminate much of the potential salmonella risk. As with any other perishable food, make sure you wash your hands and all preparation surfaces. Dont eat eggs with cracked or broken shells. Also, steer clear of eggs that have been out of refrigeration for more than two hours. Dont store egg dishes for more than a few days in the fridge.

How Is An Hdl Cholesterol Test Different From A Total Cholesterol Test

A total cholesterol test measures the sum of all cholesterol found in different kinds of lipoproteins. The total cholesterol number includes HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and VLDL cholesterol.

Because these kinds of cholesterol have distinct implications for cardiovascular health, tests of total cholesterol often measure HDL cholesterol as well so that more information is provided about the ratio of HDL to non-HDL cholesterol in the blood.

To Sum It All Up Does High Cholesterol Cause Diabetes

We have learned that diabetes is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but does high cholesterol cause diabetes? Researchers are still unsure. However, there are some characteristics of diabetes that seem to affect cholesterol levels. To review, they are

  • people with diabetes have smaller and denser cholesterol particles that attach to arteries forming plaques
  • high glucose in diabetes contributes to LDL-C cholesterol staying in the bloodstream longer than it normally would
  • lower HDL-C and higher triglycerides in Type 2 diabetes increase cardiovascular risk
  • circulation difficulties compound the problems of high cholesterol
  • high triglycerides have been shown to be a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes

I hope you learned the relationship between cholesterol and diabetes. If you have any comments on the connection of cholesterol and diabetes let us know.

TheDiabetesCouncil Article | Reviewed by Dr. Christine Traxler MD on June 03, 2020

References

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When Should I Get An Hdl Cholesterol Test

Whether an HDL cholesterol test is appropriate depends on your specific circumstances.

As a screening test, there are no universally agreed-upon recommendations regarding how often to measure cholesterol levels. In general, screening is started earlier for people with risk factors such as high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, diabetes, or a family history of heart disease at an earlier age. Ongoing cholesterol testing may occur more often in people with one or more of these risk factors.

People without an elevated risk for cardiovascular problems usually start screening at a later age and often have longer intervals between cholesterol tests.

Every individual should talk with their doctor about the most appropriate screening plan in their specific situation. An overview of common recommendations for cholesterol screening are listed in the table below:

Demographic Group
With or without risk factors Annually

Screening is frequently done with a lipid panel, especially for an initial test. However, some screening may be done with only a total cholesterol and HDL-C measurement.

Although principally used to detect cardiovascular issues, abnormalities in HDL cholesterol can occur with other health problems affecting the thyroid, pancreas, or liver. As a result, cholesterol testing may be involved in the diagnostic process for a range of medical conditions.

What Can I Do If My Hdl Cholesterol Level Is Low

Why Does Cholesterol Cause Heart Disease

If your HDL is low, you can take several steps to boost your HDL level and reduce your heart disease risk:

  • Exercise. Aerobic exercise for 30 to 60 minutes on most days of the week can help pump up HDL.
  • Quit smoking. Tobacco smoke lowers HDL, and quitting can increase HDL levels.
  • Keep a healthy weight. Besides improving HDL levels, avoiding obesity reduces risk for heart disease and multiple other health conditions.

In certain cases, your doctor may recommend medication to improve your cholesterol level. Remember that multiple factors besides cholesterol contribute to heart disease. Diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, and genetics are all important as well.

Because so many factors contribute to heart disease, cholesterol isn’t everything. People with normal HDL cholesterol can have heart disease. And people with low HDL levels can have healthy hearts. Overall, though, people who have low HDL cholesterol will have greater risk of developing heart disease than people with high HDL levels.

Experts recommend follow-up cholesterol testing every five years for most people. People with abnormal lipid panels, or who have other risk factors, may need more frequent cholesterol tests.

If you have high cholesterol or low HDL levels, take steps to increase HDL cholesterol such as eating right, exercising regularly, and not smoking. Lifestyle changes can make a big difference for most people and may prevent heart disease and stroke.

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Does Having Higher Cholesterol Levels Present A Risk Factor For Diabetes

Diabetes has actually been determined to be a coronary heart disease risk factor. So just like smoking and inactivity, diabetes predisposes you to CHD. To put this into perspective, the risk for a CHD in a diabetic patient with no previous CHD is the same as for those of people without diabetes, and no heart disease. Thats significant. Not only that, but people with diabetes are two to four times more likely to die from a coronary event, with risk of death especially greater in the first 28 days following a coronary event. Women with diabetes were even more likely to die following a coronary event. Research in this area has been replicated, and is reliable.

Medical Guidelines And Recommendations

In 2015, the United States Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee recommended that Americans eat as little dietary cholesterol as possible, because most foods that are rich in cholesterol are also high in saturated fat and thereby may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. For over 2 decades, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommended that dietary cholesterol be no more than 300 mg per day. In a 2014 draft, DGAC dropped this recommendation because evidence showed no appreciable relationship between dietary and serum cholesterol. This caught the eye of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine , which sued DGAC due to concerns of conflicts of interest which prompted the final draft to recommend eating “as little dietary cholesterol as possible”. A 2013 report by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology recommended to instead focus on healthy dietary patterns rather than cholesterol limits as they are hard for clinicians and consumers to implement. They recommend the DASH and Mediterranean diet, which are low in cholesterol. A 2017 review by the American Heart Association recommends switching saturated fats for polyunsaturated fats to reduce cardiovascular disease risk.

Risk for heart disease

> 6.2 High risk

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What Causes Hdl To Drop

Cholesterol statistics show several lifestyle factors can have a big effect on your body’s levels of HDL cholesterol, according to the Cleveland Clinic, including the following:

  • Diet. Eating a diet that is low infruits and vegetables and high in trans fats, processed meats and refinedcarbohydrates like sugar all negatively affect HDL levels.
  • Exercise. A sedentary lifestyle whereyou don’t get enough exercise also has a negative effect.
  • Obesity. Having high body weight isanother factor that seems to negatively affect HDL levels.
  • Smoking. Smoking has also been shownto decrease HDL levels.
  • High blood sugar and blood pressure.Poor management of both of these cardiovascular issues can also pose problemsfor your HDL cholesterol levels.

The Mayo Clinic also notes that certain medications, such as those containing testosterone or anabolic steroids, can lower HDL levels.

Youll Fend Off Metabolic Disease

‘Good’ cholesterol: You CAN have too much of a good thing

Eating eggs is one of the best ways to increase your HDL good cholesterol levels. People with higher levels of HDL cholesterol have a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, and other health conditions. According to a 2008 study in the Journal of Nutrition, increasing your intake of dietary cholesterol from eggs can also help reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome, a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

When you work out, your body needs protein to repair the tears in your muscle tissue from exercising. Eggs are a great post-workout snack or meal because just one has about six grams of the muscle-building macro. Whisk two into a scramble or an omelet with some veggies, and you have the perfect dish for getting lean and toned.

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Can I Take The Test At Home

At-home tests are available that measure HDL cholesterol. There are various options for at-home HDL cholesterol testing.

An at-home self-test involves a fingerstick blood sample that provides results without having to send your sample to a lab. In these self-tests, a drop of blood is applied to a special test paper. The test paper either changes color based on your cholesterol levels or is inserted into a small device that analyzes your blood.

A self-collection test involves taking a fingerstick blood sample at home and then mailing it to a laboratory that measures the level of HDL cholesterol.

Some at-home tests only measure total cholesterol and do not provide a result for HDL cholesterol. For this reason, it is important to look closely at the test to determine if it includes a measurement of HDL-C.

What Are Good Levels For The Hdl Cholesterol

A cholesterol test or lipid panel tells the level of HDL cholesterol. What do the numbers mean?

In general, people with high HDL are at lower risk for heart disease. People with low HDL are at higher risk.

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Why Is Cholesterol Needed By The Body

Overview

With all of the bad publicity cholesterol gets, people are often surprised to learn that its actually necessary for our existence.

Whats also surprising is that our bodies produce cholesterol naturally. But cholesterol isnt all good, nor is it all bad its a complex topic and one worth knowing more about.

Speak To A Registered Dietician Or A Certified Diabetes Educator

Totalcholesterol What Happens If I Accidentally Take An ...

For starters, ask your primary care provider about an appointment with a registered dietician or a certified diabetes educator. Either one of these folks can help you to get a handle on your diabetes and your cholesterol, and help you to plan for heart healthy meals that are good to control your diabetes and get your cholesterol numbers in the right range. It doesnt have to be drab or boring either. You can eat a variety of whole foods. You just need to learn what is right for you, and what may work against your diabetes and your dyslipidemias.

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Exercise Can Help Control Blood Cholesterol Diabetes And Obesity

Exercise is the poly-pill, therefore it helps with everything. Blood pressure, blood glucose, blood cholesterol, weight, and state of mind are all affected by exercise in a positive way. Therefore, beginning a modest program of aerobic exercise where you are getting 150 minutes of exercise per week is helpful when trying to lower your cholesterol. This is not such an easy task, and the National Health and Nutritional Examination survey showed that only 48 percent of people with diabetes were able to obtain a cholesterol goal of less than 200 mg/dl. Even more discouraging, less than 10 percent of people with diabetes were able to achieve all three goals. LDL-C goals were particularly bleak, as only 20 percent of people with diabetes were able to obtain an LDL-C of less than 100 mg/dl. It becomes clear that managing cholesterol in people with diabetes needs improvement, and plays up the need for intensive statin therapy in people with diabetes.

What Are The Types Of Cholesterol

Cholesterol moves throughout the body carried by lipoproteins in the blood. These lipoproteins include:

  • Low-density lipoprotein is one of the two main lipoproteins. LDL is often called the bad cholesterol.
  • High-density lipoprotein is the other main lipoprotein. HDL is often called the good cholesterol.
  • Very-low-density lipoproteins are particles in the blood that carry triglycerides.

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Soluble Versus Insoluble Fiber

Foods such as whole wheat bread and whole grain cereal have insoluble fiber. This is great for decreasing constipation, but doesnt do much to lower cholesterol numbers. Fiber found in thinks like oats and oat products, dried peas and beans, such as lentils or chickpeas, barley, flaxseed and nuts, as well a brussel sprouts and prunes, oranges, and apples have something called soluble fiber. This kind of fiber is great to help lower LDL-C or bad cholesterol by piggy backing it out through the gut. In other words, it grabs the bad cholesterol, and moves it on out of the body.

In order to lower LDL-C with soluble fiber foods, you need to be eating between 7 and 13 grams of it in a day. The rest you should get from insoluble fiber, so that you are getting a total of 20-35 grams per day of total fiber. This could get you up to seven percent LDL-C lowering, and a two to three percent total cholesterol reduction. And thats not too shabby, so best to increase fiber in your diet when you have high cholesterol.

How Is The Total Cholesterol Or Blood Cholesterol Test Done

What is cholesterol?

A blood test is a routine test. A phlebotomist is a person whose job is to draw blood. Blood is usually drawn from the vein in your arm. You will sit down and the phlebotomist will wrap a rubber band around your upper arm so that the vein in your elbow sticks out. Then they will use a needle to puncture the vein and remove blood. The blood is sent to the lab to be examined.

Youve probably been at health fairs where testing is offered. In that case, the person performing the test takes a drop of blood from your finger. The finger-stick test uses a small blade to poke a hole in the tip of your finger to get the blood.

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New Dietary Guidelines Tougher On Meat Easier On Cholesterol

Last year, mining the wreckage of Roches failed dalcetrapib study, researchers at the University of Montreal noted that the drug had a marked effect on a subset of patients with mutations to a gene called ADCY9. DalCor Pharmaceuticals, a UK startup, has raised $150 million in venture capital to see if Roches drug can have a second life as a targeted therapy.

Our understanding of the HDL story has changed, said Dr. Bassem Masri, a cardiovascular disease expert at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian who helped run a slew of CETP trials. Its not just increasing HDL it might be that only a specific population will respond to that increase positively.

Elsewhere, scientists are studying novel methods of boosting HDL, whether by stimulating other pathways in the body or injecting patients with synthetic good cholesterol. Considering past failures, it looks like an uphill battle. But anythings possible.

Ive been doing medicine long enough that Ive learned to say you never say never, Nissen said.

Cut Down On Foods That Are High In Cholesterol

Reading food labels helps when trying to cut down on foods high in cholesterol. Look for labels that say low cholesterol, or no cholesterol. Look for foods that are low in fat. You can cut down on egg yolks, and eat more egg whites. Cut down on fried foods in general, and things like gravy, biscuits, and other foods known to be high in fat. Bake, grill, or broil meats, and trim excess fat.

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Diagnosing And Treating Hypocholesterolemia

Blood tests are the standard way to diagnose cholesterol levels. Most doctors will consider an LDL cholesterol level less than 50 milligrams per deciliter or a total cholesterol level less than 120 mg/dL as low cholesterol. Total cholesterol is LDL and HDL added together and 20 percent of a persons triglycerides, which are another type of fat found in the bloodstream. You might be interested in knowing that an ideal LDL level is between 70 and 100 mg/dL.

If you havent had your cholesterol checked within the last two years, you should do so.

Lets say that you are diagnosed with low cholesterol what do you do? Low cholesterol treatment is only prescribed after a doctor has taken a close look at your diet, lifestyle, other potential health conditions, as well as yourmental health.

Often times, low cholesterol is caused by something in the diet or a physical condition, so hypocholesterolemia treatment will focus on either foods or the physical ailment. In many cases, just eating cholesterol-rich foods wont solve the problem. Adjustments to diet often need to be coupled with other treatments. When cholesterol level is having an impact on a persons mental health or vice versa, an antidepressant may be prescribed.

During an evaluation, the doctor will also go over any medications that you might be taking. Some statin medications can cause cholesterol levels to decrease. In these situations, it is usually a matter of changing the dose or the medication.

What To Make Of All Of This

Goodcholesterol Why Is Cholesterol Important For The Body ...

I find that many patients will tend to over value their absolute cholesterol levels rather than the entirety of their risk profile. While these levels are important, they only tell one chapter in what is essence the book of your cardiac risk story.

Ultimately, you as the patient and I as the physician care about your risk of having a heart attack or stroke and taking steps to gauge that risk accurately. Those numbers on your cholesterol blood tests tell only a fraction of that risk. Whether through a risk calculator or through a Coronary Calcium Scan, risk assessment is an important step in helping to decide if your risk need to be treated.

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