Regulate cholesterol, Prevent Stroke

Thursday, December 10, 2009


Jakarta, Stroke is a major neurological disease. Stroke is the third leading cause of death (after heart disease and cancer), but it is the number one cause of disability. Stroke occurs due to disruption of blood vessels in the brain.

Research in the United States shows that there are 3 million Americans are affected by blood penbuluh disease (heart disease, stroke, and peripheral blood vessels) and 150,000 of them die each year. General recurrent stroke incidence is also found, 33% of stroke patients who survive will suffer a stroke back in 5 years.

Stroke can occur because a person has a healthy individual stroke risk factors. There stroke risk factors that can be controlled and others can not be controlled.

Stroke risk factors that can not be controlled are age, gender, race, family history, and history of previous stroke. Old age group and men more prone to stroke, as well as someone with a family history of stroke.

Stroke risk factors can be controlled are hypertension, diabetes, smoking, high blood cholesterol, high blood triglycerides, obesity and so on.

Understanding of stroke risk factors can be controlled is important. Control of these stroke risk factors will decrease a person's risk for stroke. Controlled blood pressure below 130/80 mmHg would reduce one's risk for stroke. Quitting smoking will reduce the risk of stroke.

High cholesterol is also a risk factor for stroke. Critical question that arises is' How does the relationship between high blood cholesterol and stroke? " and 'How cholesterol control efforts to prevent a stroke? "

Know cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fatty substance, which is normally formed in the body. Cholesterol is formed in the liver from fatty foods. Cholesterol plays many important roles in the functioning of body cells (such as hormone production).

Blood cholesterol can be divided into 2 main sections: LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) is known as 'bad cholesterol' and HDL cholesterol (High Density Lipoprotein) is known as 'good cholesterol'. LDL carry cholesterol from the liver to the cells, and HDL cholesterol from play brought to the liver cells.

LDL cholesterol is high, it will trigger the accumulation of cholesterol in the cell, which causes the emergence of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arterial wall) and the accumulation of plaque on artery walls. This penngkatan risks associated with diseases of blood vessels (eg coronary heart disease, stroke, blood vessel disorders integral).

Levels of high blood cholesterol can be caused by various factors. The factors that cause high cholesterol is genetic, high-fat diet, being overweight, physical inactivity, and smoking. Smoking increases LDL cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol levels. LDL cholesterol may also high due to the consumption of alcohol or drugs (eg steroids or the contraceptive pill).

The relationship of cholesterol and stroke

Cholesterol is a stroke risk factor consistently reported from various research results. High LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol ratio and high HDL associated with an increased risk of stroke. This will be strengthened if there is a risk factor of stroke (eg: hypertension, smoking, obesity).

The relationship between cholesterol and stroke is also portrayed in a variety of studies of cholesterol therapy. The success of therapy decreased blood cholesterol levels will reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease by 60%. Koleserol decrease blood levels will hamper the process of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries wall).

The development of atherosclerosis can be inhibited in most patients who undergo therapy for 2 years. Blood cholesterol levels are not controlled will increase the risk of stroke. 40-year-old patient's who have high LDL cholesterol level will have a risk of 52% for heart attack and stroke at the age above 50 years (Lang, 2005).

Levels of high blood cholesterol does not provide specific gejla. This causes the levels of high blood cholesterol also known as 'the silent killer'. Treatment when patients come have emerged vascular complications. The process of atherosclerosis still running without any complaints of patients.

Controlling cholesterol

Controlling cholesterol levels to the normal rate will be very useful to reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease. Cholesterol reduction targets are as follows:

1. Total blood cholesterol level below 200 mg / dl
2. LDL cholesterol level below 130 mg / dL (in individuals without a history of coronary heart disease), or below 100 mg / dl (if he has heart disease, smoking, hypertension, diabetes).
3. HDL cholesterol above 35 mg / dl
4. Triglyceride levels below 250 mg / dl.

Controlling blood cholesterol levels achieved with a targeted lifestyle changes and drug therapy. Lifestyle changes recommended include weight loss, eating lots of fiber, consumption of fruits and vegetables, stop smoking, exercise, and limiting consumption of excess fat.

If the target reduction in blood cholesterol has not been achieved, patients can consult a doctor to obtain obat.Terapi drug therapy recommended for lowering cholesterol are statins daah. This drug has many groups (eg, pravastatin, simvastatin, lovastatin, Atorvastatin, Cerevastatin, fluvastatin), and most have been available in Indonesia.

The success of statin therapy to reduce the risk of stroke has been demonstrated from various studies. Decrease in blood cholesterol levels according to the target (below 200 mg / dL) would reduce the risk of stroke ebesar 27%. For patients who have experienced heart disease, the decrease in blood cholesterol levels will reduce the risk of stroke by 32%.

Many of us who do not know their blood cholesterol levels. Levels of high blood cholesterol are often asymptomatic. The question is 'Did you know that your blood cholesterol level?'. Controlling cholesterol levels is an effort of effective stroke prevention. Always remember that prevention is better than cure.



dr Rizaldy Pinzón, MKes, SpS
Team Stroke Bethesda Hospital Yogyakarta


source : health.detik.com

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