There are certain numbers that are very important to college students. Most students can probably rattle off their SAT scores, GPAs and the price of a case of PBR without blinking. When it comes to personal health, though, it’s a different story. Ask one of your friends about his LDL cholesterol level, though, and you’ll probably be met with a blank stare.
Unfortunately, cholesterol screening is not the norm among college-aged students.
Whether because of feelings of invincibility fueled by newly discovered independence or a simple lack of information, the truth is that your college years are actually the perfect time to start getting your cholesterol checked. This is particularly true if high cholesterol runs in your family or if anyone in your family has heart disease or has had a heart attack. If you’re unsure, talk to family members and make sure you’re up to date on your family’s medical history. Genes play a major role in high cholesterol, so even if you are a world-class triathlete or bikini model, your cholesterol could still be a major problem.
Getting your cholesterol checked at the doctor’s office is just half the battle; making sense of all of the numbers on your report can take some effort, so have your doctor explain them to you. Basically, cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance that your body needs to perform its normal functions, such as making cell membranes and certain hormones. Most of the cholesterol in your body is made by the liver and some also comes from the foods we eat. Although some cholesterol is necessary for life, too much cholesterol can put you at risk for atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), which can cause heart attacks and strokes.
Perhaps you’ve heard of “bad cholesterol” and “good cholesterol.” Basically, you have two types of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein. LDL is the “bad” and HDL is the “good”. Although their names are similar, they actually have completely opposite functions. Because cholesterol can’t dissolve in blood — think oil and water — it has to be carried by molecules like LDL and HDL. LDL tends to carry cholesterol toward peripheral tissues — think heart, brain, blood vessels —, setting you up for cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, HDL scavenges potentially harmful cholesterol in blood vessels and takes it back to the liver, where the body can get rid of it, thereby lowering your risk for atherosclerosis and the like.
When your doctor measures your cholesterol, he will tell you your LDL and HDL. Remember, LDL is bad, so a lower number is better. Current recommendations call for a LDL-level less than 100. As for your HDL, higher numbers are better. If your HDL is more than 60, you are likely benefiting from its protective effects.
If you get your cholesterol checked and your numbers come back normal, you have in no way wasted your time. Now you know your numbers and have a baseline in case anything changes in the future. If your cholesterol is high, your doctor will probably recommend that you pay close attention to how much saturated fat you consume and will encourage you to lose weight and increase your physical activity level. There are medications that can lower cholesterol, but if you are otherwise young and healthy, diet and exercise are first-line treatment options. Once you have gotten your cholesterol checked, your doctor will probably recheck it every five years or so to make sure nothing is changing.
College is a chaotic time, and heart health is probably one of the last things on your mind. Unfortunately, heart disease is the number one overall cause of death in America. The good news is that you have a hand in prevention. The earlier you start taking control of your health, the easier it will be to stay healthy down the road, so get yourself checked and know your number
Emily is a University Medical student. She can be reached at e.graham@cavalierdaily.com.
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