High cholesterol is one of the most common diseases around the world. According to data published by the World Heart Federation website, about 34 million people worldwide have high cholesterol, or one in 250 people.
Every year, at least 4.4 million people are infected around the world, and 8% of them die.
In order to prevent cholesterol disease, doctors usually advise the need to follow a balanced health system that encourages eating healthy foods and exercising. Sportsin exchange for avoiding stress, drinking alcohol or smoking excessively.
The importance of cholesterol
Ziad Itani, a cardiologist at Al-Fardan Medical Institution, explains that cholesterol is a waxy substance that is produced by the liver at a rate of 80%, and 20% of it comes from food.
Cholesterol contributes to the production of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, as well as vitamins such as vitamin D, according to Itani.
The specialist points out the importance of cholesterol for the development of the fetal brain, the formation of the outer covering of cells and the bile that helps digest food.
The need to reduce harmful cholesterol
Itani stresses the importance of distinguishing between cholesterol and triglycerides, speaking of the existence of two types of cholesterol: beneficial and harmful, as the harmful type transports fats to the walls of the arteries, while the beneficial type transports cholesterol to the liver for the body to get rid of it.
He points out that smoking and obesity raise harmful cholesterol in the body. On the other hand, avoiding saturated fats such as starches and sugars and eating unsaturated fats contributes to lowering triglycerides.
In addition, Itani says that high good cholesterol provides better protection for the human body, while high harmful cholesterol exposes it to hardening of the heart arteries, strokes and heart attacks.
Some suffer from hereditary cholesterol, where the harmful cholesterol is very high, and the matter is discovered at an early age.
In parallel, in other cases it is difficult to detect genetic cholesterol, according to Itani, who indicates that the best time to take cholesterol medication is in the evening before bed.
