Cholesterol and Smoking
Over the past twenty years people have been made ever more aware of the importance of a healthy cholesterol level. We might only know what the good “target” numbers are on our blood work, and we might even understand what the difference is between “good and bad” cholesterol types. It is really important to learn all about cholesterol if one is also a smoker because it is probably going to lead you to the conclusion that you should give up this radically unhealthy habit.
First of all, cholesterol is a natural substance that is necessary for overall health. It has a waxy or fatty appearance and it is located all over the body. It helps cell membranes to form and it has a lot to do with many bodily functions, including hormonal processes. Unfortunately, if it reaches excessive levels in any area of the body it can accumulate and block the arteries. This is a major cause of heart disease, and this is the primary reason that doctors work with patients to control their levels.
There are two types of cholesterol – the LDL and the HDL. The LDL is the “bad” cholesterol that is known as the Low Density Lipoprotein. This is what builds up on arterial walls and is called “plaque”. It is one of the key indicators of heart disease, and is what can lead to an entirely unpredicted heart attack. The HDL is the “good” variety of cholesterol and is known as the High Density Lipoprotein that carries the cholesterol through the blood and into the liver where it is processed and eliminated.
Now, the disastrous connection between smoking and cholesterol is that it elevates LDL levels while simultaneously decreasing HDL. This means that it is actually working as a double threat to overall heart health by reducing the type of cholesterol that might help to manage excessive levels of bad cholesterol. This is one of the reasons that so many smokers will actually suffer totally unexpected heart attacks. They might not even know that their habit has shifted levels to such catastrophic amounts. Since the buildup of any arterial plaque is totally painless, when the blockage occurs and leads to a heart problem, it may be the first time the smoker is even aware that there was trouble in the first place.
Luckily, simply quitting smoking has shown a dramatic improvement in cholesterol levels over a short period of time. Naturally there are far more benefits for those who make the choice to stop smoking, but heart health is certainly a good reason to do it.
