Health experts are recommending that people increase their HDL-Cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) in order to minimize the risk of heart and artery diseases. According to studies, the risk of heart diseases is high with patients having low HDL-C, the ‘good cholesterol’, as well as those having a high content of LDL-Cholesterol, the bad cholesterol.
The health expert’s recommendation came up for discussion at a recent conference held in Dubai titled ‘First Arab Meeting on HDL-C’ organized by Merck, the German pharmaceutical company. Prominent doctors and health experts from the Gulf region attended the one-day conference which issued the first guidelines for measuring HDL and raising it.
LDL-C is considered a “bad” cholesterol because when too much of it circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. Together with other substances it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can clog those arteries. If a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, it can cause a heart attack or stroke. The levels of HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in the blood are measured to evaluate the risk of having a heart attack. HDL-C however is “good” because a high level of it seems to protect against heart attack. Medical experts think that HDL tends to carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it is passed out of the body. Some experts believe that HDL removes excess cholesterol from plaque in arteries, thus slowing the buildup.
It is fairly easy to lower your blood cholesterol. Just eat more foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol and cut down on high-fat ones, especially those high in saturated fats. The guideline includes watching your calorie intake; eating more servings of fruits and vegetables; eating whole-grain products; eating fish, poultry without skin and leaner cuts of meat, eating fat-free or 1 percent milk dairy products; enjoying 30-60 minutes of vigorous activities most days of the week and maintaining a healthy weight.
Some people may also need to take medicine, because changing their diet is not enough. It is a good idea to have regular screening of HDL and LDL cholesterol levels especially for people with a higher risk of suffering a heart attack. It Is also wise to know your fats, which fats raise LDL cholesterol and which do not. Saturated fat, trans-fatty acids and dietary cholesterol raise blood cholesterol. Monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats do not. Saturated fat is found mostly in foods from animals- beef, beef fat, veal, lamb, poultry fat, butter, cream, milk, cheeses and other dairy products made from whole milk — and some plants. These include coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil (often called tropical oils), and cocoa butter. Hydrogenated fats also raise blood cholesterol and these are found in margarine and shortening. Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats do not raise blood cholesterol and they are found primarily in oils from plants.
Professor Mohammed Al-Maatouq of Saudi Arabia said that the conference held in Dubai also called on the physicians to ask for a complete lipid profile for patients with diabetes mellitus and heart diseases, which will go a long way in minimizing the risk of heart and artery diseases.
Ramy Sourial, Merck Regional Office pointed out to a recent trial (Arbitter 2) that found that an HDL raiser agent has resulted in protection of the blood vessels that were narrowed by the bad cholesterol. “This agent is expected to help patients with heart diseases and those with diabetes to raise their HDL and minimize the risk of heart and artery diseases,” said Sourial. The results of the Arbitter 2 Study were announced in the American Heart Association Meeting. The use of Merck’s raiser agent was discussed at length at the First Arab Meeting on HDL-C. “The use of this raiser agent will boost the HDL-C in the blood leading to a safer heart and lifestyle,” said Sourial.
