Typically, a high level of blood cholesterol does not manifest itself, but it is a real threat, and sometimes even fatal. Many people do not take seriously the dangers posed by high levels of cholesterol in the blood. Yet, one of the six human cholesterol levels increased.

Can such a common social problem indeed represent a serious health risk? Unfortunately yes. Cholesterol is directly linked with the development of cardiovascular disease, which can lead to heart attacks and heart attacks.

In spite of all the miracles of medicine, cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of illness and deaths in our society. According to the World Health Association, nearly 20% of all heart attacks and more than 50% of all heart attacks are associated with high blood cholesterol.

But the diagnosis of "high cholesterol" - is not a reason for despair. The good news is that the risk factor of heart attacks and heart attacks can be reduced and eliminated. You need to act as soon as possible, while high cholesterol did not lead to the development of serious diseases.

All about cholesterol

When it comes to the risks posed by high cholesterol, it is not easy to be honest with yourself in all respects. We generally bad imagines that such a "bad" and what is "good" cholesterol, and some of them have of ourselves. But we prefer not to think about it until then, until he is in the office of a doctor. So let's just repeat the basics.

Cholesterol - a fat-like substance circulating in our blood. A certain fraction of cholesterol enters our body with food. But its main part is produced in the body, namely by the liver. Cholesterol performs in our body a number of useful functions. It is required for the synthesis of certain hormones, and also for our cells. But an excess of it in the bloodstream vdet to problems.

There are several types of cholesterol, but doctors usually focuses our attention on two types: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL).

LDL is also called "bad cholesterol". This cholesterol clogs the artery, thereby increasing the risk of heart attacks and heart attacks. We must strive to ensure that the level of this type of cholesterol was not more than 100 mg / 100 ml. But people who already have heart disease, you need to reduce this figure to 70 mg / 100 ml.

High density lipoprotein cholesterol - is the "good cholesterol." This cholesterol is attached to the bad cholesterol, and delivers it to the liver where bad cholesterol is removed from the body. Thus, the "good cholesterol" reduces the amount of "bad cholesterol." The body should be less than 60 mg / 100 ml cholesterol this type.

Triglycerides are not the form of cholesterol, is another type of fat present in our blood. As in the case of the "bad" cholesterol, triglycerides excess increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. It should seek to ensure that the level of triglycerides, fasting was not more than 150 mg / 100 ml.

So, although we are talking about the threat posed by high cholesterol, this formulation is somewhat flawed. In fact, one should speak of a high level of "bad" LDL cholesterol and high levels of triglycerides and low levels of "good" HDL cholesterol.

Cholesterol in the usual broad sense: it is believed that the level should not exceed 200 mg / 100 ml. But most experts advise not to rely on this figure, as it is not a reliable indicator. Even when the total cholesterol level of less than 200 mg / 100 ml - although typically this figure too high - levels of "good" cholesterol, there may be too low, and the "bad" cholesterol may be exceeded.

Awareness of the risks: how dangerous high cholesterol?

In the blood of each of us contains cholesterol. However, if the level of LDL cholesterol than normal, it may start the excess deposited on the walls of arteries. Accumulation of cholesterol or other substances - the so-called plaques - can narrow the artery is clogged drains. It can also cause arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, usually making a flexible fabric more fragile.

Plaques can form in any part of the body. If they are formed in the carotid arteries in the neck, the carotid artery disease. If they occur in coronary arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood is a disease of the coronary arteries. Like any other organ, the heart to work properly requires an adequate supply of blood. If the heart is not enough blood can begin angina Angina: When the heart needs help Causing oppressive chest pain Chest pain is one symptom - a lot of diseases   and other symptoms.

There are other threats at a high level of cholesterol. With an increase in plaques formed thrombus. If the clot is in an artery and completely blocks blood flow, the cells no longer receive the nutrition they need and oxygen and die.

If the clot into the brain where it blocks blood flow, it can cause a heart attack Heart disease and heart attacks: that every woman should know . If the thrombus formed in the coronary arteries, it can cause a heart attack.

  The fact that more than 6 billion people on the planet, there are only a few groups of blood, greatly facilitates the work of doctors. The blood of every human being is made up of four main components: red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (WBCs), plasma and platelets Platelets - what they are for the body? . Red blood cells deliver oxygen to all tissues of the body, white blood cells White blood cells as the basis of immunity   ensure the functioning of defense mechanisms, platelets are involved in the process, during which the blood to clot, and plasma are important for the body's proteins.

Blood group to which a person belongs, determine the red blood cells. On their surface markers are small - antigens that are unique to each person. The antigens and antibodies contained in plasma, allow doctors to establish the blood group.

There are A and B antigens and the anti-A and anti-B antibodies.

• Blood group O, or the first group of people, who do not have blood antigens, but there is an anti-A and anti-B.
• Blood group A, or a second group of people, who are present in the blood antigens A and anti-B antibodies.
• Blood group B, or a third group of people, whose blood has antigens B and anti-A antibodies.
• Blood group AB, and the fourth group of people, there are blood antigens A and B, but no antibodies Antibodies - "soldiers' immunity .

Rh system

For a description and classification of human blood groups use another system - the Rh system. Five basic Rh antigens - C, C, D, E and E allow to distinguish two major types of blood - Rh-positive and Rh-negative. If the blood has resuz antigen D, man has Rh-positive blood group, if not - Rh negative. Thus, a variety of combinations of eight and eight different types of blood. The most common blood type in the world is about. + In general, the distribution of blood groups is as follows:

Rh-negative is about 15% of the total population of the Earth.

Blood transfusion

The first known transfusion of blood was carried out in France in 1667. Jean-Baptiste Denny poured human blood and lamb, according to the records, the patient's condition improved. However, shortly after that because of the large number of unsuccessful transfusions, he was forbidden to use this method. The first transfusion of blood from one person to another was held in 1795 and since then has carried out repeatedly by many doctors that due to the high failure rate was considered too dangerous transfusion, but sometimes necessary. Only in 1900 it was opened the first three blood groups, and in 1902 - the fourth.

Errors in blood transfusions may lead to the death of the patient. This table shows the compatibility of blood groups

The first negative blood for a long time considered universal. Despite the fact that in theory it can be transfused to any person (which was not done once, and often - successfully), sometimes it is not compatible with other blood groups. As the price of such an error may be too high at the moment the blood group does not coincide with the recipient's blood group, poured only when there is no other exit.

How inherited blood group

Blood groups are inherited as follows:

Parents with different positive or Rh factor, a child can have both negative and positive Rh. If both parents have the Rh factor Rh factor - still medical mystery   negative, then the child it will be the same.