4 misconceptions about dyslipidemia

Cholesterol is always harmful to the body

According to Dr. Pham Manh Hoan – Center for Scientific Research and Training, Tam Anh General Hospital, cholesterol is a fat found in the blood, an indispensable component to make up cell membranes, plays a central role. in many biochemical processes. The body needs cholesterol to produce certain hormones, bile acids and vitamin D. Cholesterol is necessary for the functioning of the brain, immune system, vital function and maintenance of the species.

Thus, cholesterol is very important to the body’s health. They only cause harm when the cholesterol level in the blood exceeds the necessary threshold.

Water-insoluble cholesterol should be transported by lipoprotein particles, including low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c). In particular, LDL- cholesterol is considered “bad cholesterol” because in excess, they increase the risk of atherosclerosis. And HDL- cholesterol is known as “good cholesterol” because they clean up excess cholesterol and carry it back to the liver. The liver then removes cholesterol from the body.

Young people do not have dyslipidemia

If in the past, dyslipidemia often appeared in the elderly, now, more and more young people suffer from the disease. According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, Vietnam has about 26% of people aged 25-74 with dyslipidemia, Dr. Hoan informed.

The common reasons why dyslipidemia is increasing in young people are due to an overweight lifestyle and lack of exercise, eating too much protein and fat but lacking in fiber and vitamins, and alcohol abuse. beer, smoke…

Dyslipidemia does not occur in thin people

According to Doctor Pham Manh Hoan, just relying on body mass index (BMI) to assess health status is not accurate. Skinny and fat in the blood are two independent parameters of each other. Although the rate of dyslipidemia in overweight and obese people is very high, this does not mean that this disease is “immune” to thin people.

Thin people can still have dyslipidemia if they have an unhealthy diet such as eating a lot of fast food, processed foods, fatty meat, abusing alcohol, smoking, etc.

In addition, cholesterol in the body is formed from 2 sources: 20% from food and 80% from the body’s own synthesis. Some people, although not overweight, even skinny, have a reasonable diet and activities, but the LDL-cholesterol receptor on the cell membrane is weakened, unable to accept cholesterol and transfer cholesterol into the cells. tissues and organs use leading to an increase in LDL-cholesterol in the blood. The end result is atherosclerosis.

Dyslipidemia is not dangerous

Because dyslipidemia progresses silently, without warning symptoms, many people have a subjective mentality that the disease is not dangerous. However, dyslipidemia is the “silent killer” of many dangerous cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, ischemia, myocardial infarction, stroke, etc. Therefore, good control of risk factors to protect health, prevent complications and risk of death caused by dyslipidemia is very urgent.

Doctor Pham Manh Hoan recommends, to prevent and support the treatment of dyslipidemia, patients need to maintain a healthy lifestyle: exercise at least 30 minutes a day; implement a scientific diet (limit greasy foods, red meat, rich in cholesterol such as animal organs, starchy substances; instead, you should increase green vegetables, fresh fruits, whole grains. seed,…); quit smoking; not abuse alcohol, beer; take time to rest, avoid stress…

In parallel with a scientific lifestyle, patients should supplement with natural biological active ingredients that increase the activation of LDL-cholesterol receptors on cell membranes. This allows for faster and more efficient transport of cholesterol from the outside into the cells. From there, it helps to reduce total cholesterol and especially “bad cholesterol” in the blood, reducing the risk of atherosclerotic plaque formation.

Recently, American scientists discovered and successfully extracted the natural essence GDL-5 (policosanol, extracted from South American sugarcane pollen), which has the ability to support cholesterol regulation naturally through activating LDL-cholesterol receptors on cell membranes. Thereby, significantly reducing the amount of LDL – “bad” cholesterol, increasing the amount of HDL – “good” cholesterol in the blood, and regulating blood fat to a balanced threshold. This reduces the risk of high blood pressure, death from heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases.

Trinh Ngo