In the past 30 years, with the improvement of the living standards of mainland residents, the average blood lipid level of the population has been increasing, and the number of people with dyslipidemia has increased.
Dyslipidemia is not a single disease, and blood lipids in the body are usually made up of three parts: cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipids. It is the first two that are closely watched clinically.
01
What is the difference between triglycerides and cholesterol?
Triglycerides
Triglycerides play a vital role in maintaining the proper functioning of energy metabolism in our body. Did you know that more than 90% of the fat in our body is in the form of triglycerides.
Elevated triglycerides are closely related to our eating habits. Imagine that when you frequently taste those fatty and juicy meats, or immerse yourself in a sea of butter, chicken skin, pork rinds and other delicacies, your triglyceride levels are likely to climb before you know it. The triglyceride content that is rich in these foods will undoubtedly exacerbate the growth of this indicator in the body.
What's more, alcohol intake can also be behind elevated triglycerides. When alcohol enters the body, it not only increases fat synthesis, but also decreases the activity of lipoproteinase, causing triglyceride breakdown to become sluggish. Such a chain reaction will undoubtedly cause triglyceride levels to rise further.
For healthy adults, normal triglyceride levels should be maintained between 0.45 and 1.69 mmol/L. Once this value jumps to 1.70-2.25mmol/L, it means that your blood lipids are in a state of critical elevation.
At this time, you must pay enough attention to strictly control the intake of triglycerides to build a solid line of defense for your health.
cholesterol
When we hear the word "cholesterol", it's easy to associate it with "harmful." But in reality, there are "good" and "bad" types of cholesterol.
"Good" cholesterol, also known as HDL cholesterol, is the guardian of our body. It bravely shuttles through the bloodstream to transport excess cholesterol and cholesterol adhered to the walls of blood vessels back to the liver, thus effectively preventing the occurrence of atherosclerosis. The presence of this cholesterol builds a solid line of defense for our health.
However, the "bad" cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, is an unsolicited troublemaker. It often wanders in the blood vessels and does not hesitate to stop and deposit under the intima once it is found to be damaged. These deposits gradually accumulate and form yellow patches, which eventually lead to narrowing of the lumen, posing a potential threat to our health.
As an indispensable substance in life activities, the elevated level of cholesterol is closely related to our eating habits. Excessive intake of saturated fatty acid foods, such as meat and fried foods, can cause cholesterol levels in our bodies to rise. Therefore, maintaining a balanced diet and reducing the intake of saturated fatty acids is essential to maintain our health.
The "normal marker" of LDL cholesterol varies from person to population. For healthy adults, 2.7 mmol/L to 3.36 mmol/L is considered a healthy range.
For younger people, if they are non-smokers, not obese, and have no family history of three highs, then even if their cholesterol level does not exceed 4.1 mmol/L, there is no need to worry too much.
However, for patients with coronary heart disease and diabetes, their LDL cholesterol levels should be kept below 2.1 mmol/L to ensure that their health is better protected.
02
High triglycerides or high cholesterol, which is more harmful?
In general, high triglycerides and high cholesterol can pose certain health risks, but the exact magnitude of the harm depends on a variety of factors.
Triglycerides
Elevated triglycerides are like a time bomb lurking in the human body and can detonate at any time. High triglyceride levels can exacerbate the process of arteriosclerosis, making the lining of blood vessels thick and stiff.
This process not only restricts blood circulation, but also provides a breeding ground for the formation of blood clots. Once a blood clot blocks a blood vessel, it can lead to fatal diseases such as myocardial infarction and stroke.
More seriously, elevated triglycerides may also induce a range of metabolic diseases. Hypertriglyceridemia is closely linked to metabolic syndromes such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. These diseases interact with each other, creating a vicious circle that further exacerbates the health risks of patients.
cholesterol
Cholesterol, as a lipid substance in human blood, will be deposited on the blood vessel wall when too high, forming atherosclerotic plaques, which is the main pathological basis for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Imagine that the blood vessels that were originally unobstructed become narrowed or even clogged due to the deposition of cholesterol, which is fatal to the body.
Not only does it affect the blood supply to the heart, leading to heart diseases such as angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, etc., but it also affects the blood supply to the brain, increasing the risk of stroke. In addition, elevated cholesterol may also induce chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients.
And the dangers of elevated cholesterol aren't just limited to your health. In modern society, people's pursuit of beauty is getting higher and higher, and problems such as obesity and fatty liver caused by high cholesterol will also affect personal image and self-confidence.
03
How to lower it?
In the face of dyslipidemia, the first thing we need to do is to adjust our diet. Diet is one of the key factors that affect blood lipid levels. We should reduce our intake of high-fat, high-calorie foods and increase our intake of fiber-rich vegetables and fruits.
In addition, moderate amounts of fish, legumes, and nuts are also good choices. These foods not only help lower blood lipids but also provide our body with essential nutrients.
In addition to adjusting the diet, increasing exercise is also an important means to improve dyslipidemia. Exercise can help us burn excess fat and increase metabolism, thereby reducing blood lipids.
We can choose the exercise method that suits us, such as walking, jogging, swimming, etc., and insist on doing it several times a week for more than 30 minutes each time, and the effect will be more obvious.
Of course, if the dyslipidemia is severe, we also need to take medication under the guidance of a doctor. Medications can help us lower blood lipids quickly, but at the same time, we need to pay close attention to our physical condition to avoid adverse reactions.