Yesterday was my first time cholesterol check after I started mountain biking. I was so worry if it did not show any improvement. Last time I checked it was nearly 3 years ago.
I know that cholesterol is about Nasi Lemak and Roti Canai I took every morning. 43 days diet without those two in Holy Land in early 2005 lowered it to 4.3.
I went to Pharmacy at City Plaza yesterday and the result is 5.61! I think it is ok since more than 2 weeks without cycling and just golfing and nasi lemak or roti canai without miss everyday. Before this, my level is around 6. The target is to go below 5.2
You have to do blood check at the lab to get to know your Bad and Good Cholesterol in detail. But for RM8 test at Pharmacy, you will only know the total.
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a soft waxy substance found in all your body’s cell. Despite all the nasty things that you’ve heard about cholesterol, you need a certain amount of it to live:- Cholesterol is essential to your body’s cell membranes, to the insulation of your nerves, and for the production of certain hormones. It is also used by your liver to make bile acids, which helps in the digestion of food.
Interestingly, the majority of cholesterol in your blood is manufactured by your own body – mainly by your liver – and only 20% comes from the food you consume, especially animal based foods like milk products and meat as well as some cooking oil.
Good and Bad Cholesterol
As cholesterol can’t be transported in blood special carries called lipoproteins transport it to and from cells. There are 2 kinds of lipoproteins that you need to be concern about.
- LDL (low-density lipoprotein) When too much LDL circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the walls of the arteries and can form plaque (thick hard deposits) that can clog up arteries. If a clot forms where the plaque is, oxygen-rich blood flow can be blocked to the heart muscles leading to a heart attack. If the clot blocks the blood flow to part of the brain a strok can manifest. This is why a high level of LDL is reffered to as the bad cholesterol. Lowering LDL levels will help reduce the plaque buildup in your arteries leading to healthier arteries.
- HDL (high-density lipoprotein) HDL cholesterol is called the good cholesterol because it contains a relatively small amount of cholesterol itself and carries away harmful fatty deposits from cells and tissues to the liver for excretion from the body. This helps prevent the buildup of cholesterol in the walls of your arteries.
Your Cholesterol Reading
Cholesterol readings generally include total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It is important to take note of all 3 readings and not just total cholesterol.
Total Cholesterol [mmol/L (mg/dl)]
Desirable: <5.2 (<200)
Borderline High: 5.2 – 6.2 (200 – 239)
High: >=6.2 (>=240)
LDL Cholesterol [mmol/L (mg/dl)]
Desirable: <3.3 (<130)
Borderline High: 3.3 – 4.1 (130 – 159)
High: >=4.1 (>=160)
HDL Cholesterol [mmol/L (mg/dl)]
Acceptable: >=0.9 (>=35)
Risky: <0.9 (<35)
Triglyceride [mmol/L (mg/dl)]
Desirable: <2.3 (<200)
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