The Brazilian Society of Family and Community Medicine (SBMFC) advises that cholesterol, even though it is a type of fat, is essential for the proper functioning of the body and that healthy people, without risk factors such as obesity and family history, do not need to do measurement periodically.
Cholesterol has several functions in the body, being essential for the production of vitamin D and some hormones such as testosterone, that is, it is essential for health. “It is not possible to live without cholesterol, although its elevation is related to cardiovascular problems.
It was believed that the intake of cholesterol in food was related to these problems, but more recent research already points out that the problem is not in the diet, but in the sedentary lifestyle, obesity and family history”, explains Rodrigo Lima, family doctor from SBMFC.
Not all people therefore need to measure cholesterol regularly. When necessary, physicians may order lipoprotein dosage, the most important of which are HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and LDL (low-density lipoprotein). Lipoproteins have the function of transporting cholesterol through the blood.
LDL is associated with the accumulation of cholesterol in blood vessels, which is why it is known as “bad cholesterol”, while HDL, responsible for “cleaning” cholesterol from the vessels, is known as “good cholesterol”. “It is also worth mentioning that a person diagnosed with high cholesterol cannot be classified as sick, as the increase in cholesterol can only be temporary, and corrected with physical activity and weight control.
Furthermore, not all people with high cholesterol should use medication to lower it, as the medication brings very little benefit to people who have never had a heart attack or stroke (stroke), and can cause harm”, explains Lima.
When you need to monitor it
In people who have cardiovascular risk factors, such as a family history of heart disease, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, among others, it may be important to monitor the LDL and HDL dosage, but always bearing in mind that the control of these factors is the most important.
“People who do not have these problems, especially those who practice regular physical activity, are within the ideal weight and do not have a family history of cardiovascular problems, do not need to undergo the examination periodically to measure the rates. Many people who do this discover small changes that are of no clinical significance but raise unnecessary concerns.
Most people who have a heart attack have normal cholesterol, but are obese, or sedentary, or smokers. Controlling these risk factors is much more important than doing tests and taking medications,” he concludes.
The Brazilian Society of Family and Community Medicine (SBMFC) advises that cholesterol, even though it is a type of fat, is essential for the proper functioning of the body and that healthy people, without risk factors such as obesity and family history, do not need to do measurement periodically.
Cholesterol has several functions in the body, being essential for the production of vitamin D and some hormones such as testosterone, that is, it is essential for health. “It is not possible to live without cholesterol, although its elevation is related to cardiovascular problems.
It was believed that the intake of cholesterol in food was related to these problems, but more recent research already points out that the problem is not in the diet, but in the sedentary lifestyle, obesity and family history”, explains Rodrigo Lima, family doctor from SBMFC.
Not all people therefore need to measure cholesterol regularly. When necessary, physicians may order lipoprotein dosage, the most important of which are HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and LDL (low-density lipoprotein). Lipoproteins have the function of transporting cholesterol through the blood.
LDL is associated with the accumulation of cholesterol in blood vessels, which is why it is known as “bad cholesterol”, while HDL, responsible for “cleaning” cholesterol from the vessels, is known as “good cholesterol”. “It is also worth mentioning that a person diagnosed with high cholesterol cannot be classified as sick, as the increase in cholesterol can only be temporary, and corrected with physical activity and weight control.
Furthermore, not all people with high cholesterol should use medication to lower it, as the medication brings very little benefit to people who have never had a heart attack or stroke (stroke), and can cause harm”, explains Lima.
When you need to monitor it
In people who have cardiovascular risk factors, such as a family history of heart disease, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, among others, it may be important to monitor the LDL and HDL dosage, but always bearing in mind that the control of these factors is the most important.
“People who do not have these problems, especially those who practice regular physical activity, are within the ideal weight and do not have a family history of cardiovascular problems, do not need to undergo the examination periodically to measure the rates. Many people who do this discover small changes that are of no clinical significance but raise unnecessary concerns.
Most people who have a heart attack have normal cholesterol, but are obese, or sedentary, or smokers. Controlling these risk factors is much more important than doing tests and taking medications,” he concludes.
