Blood lipid levels under control: Free online lecture for Biberach!

Blood lipid levels under control: Free online lecture for Biberach!

Blood lipid levels such as cholesterol and triglycerides play a central role in the well-being of our cardiovascular system. It's no secret that persistently elevated blood lipid levels can lead to serious health problems. The risk of heart attack and stroke increases dramatically. Diet can have a decisive influence here. Birgit Krause, a nutrition specialist at AOK Ulm-Biberach, emphasizes that choosing the right food is essential to minimize these risks. In addition, the AOK is hosting a free online lecture on blood lipid values ​​in collaboration with the “Schwäbische Zeitung” on Tuesday, June 24th at 7 p.m. Those interested can contact: my.schwaebische.de/aok register.

How does our diet affect blood lipid levels? It is advisable to rely on low-fat animal products, especially if you have high cholesterol levels. Sugar and alcohol should also be reduced if triglyceride levels are high. Processed foods with trans fatty acids are also an absolute no-go. What should be on the table, however, are foods such as vegetables, fruit, whole grain products, legumes, low-fat fish and lean meat. Regular consumption of fatty cold-water fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids can also have a positive impact on blood lipid levels.

Familial hypercholesterolemia – an underestimated danger

Did you know that hypercholesterolemia is often genetic? A common cause of elevated cholesterol levels is familial hypercholesterolemia, a congenital disorder of lipid metabolism. This is estimated to affect one in 500 Germans. It is also known that one in three people worldwide is affected by this disease and only around 15% of those affected are aware of their illness. If this disease goes undetected, it can have fatal consequences as it increases the risk of heart disease by 26 times. What is particularly worrying is that in many cases it is only diagnosed after a heart attack or other cardiovascular disease, such as ndr.de describes.

Familial hypercholesterolemia often shows no acute symptoms. This disease can manifest itself in childhood through increased blood lipid levels, especially due to too much LDL cholesterol, which can lead to arteriosclerosis. Signs of this can include fat deposits in the eyes or yellow nodules on the skin. There are two forms: the heterozygous form, which is inherited from one parent, and the homozygous form, in which both parents pass on the mutated gene. It is tragic that many of those affected are often only treated after a heart attack, which could be avoided through timely medical examinations and preventive measures.

Prevention through diet and exercise

Treatment significantly increases the quality of life of people with hypercholesterolemia. Cholesterol-lowering medications such as statins, combined with a high-fiber diet, healthy fatty acids, avoiding nicotine and regular exercise, are essential. If cholesterol levels are very high, lipid apheresis may be considered. In this way, it can be checked that the target values ​​for LDL cholesterol are below 100 mg/dl, and in damaged vessels even below 70 mg/dl. It is important to know that high lipoprotein(a) levels are also an independent risk factor for arteriosclerosis.

In summary, it can be said that a focused approach to blood lipid levels has significant health benefits. The AOK's free online lecture offers an ideal approach to find out more about this important topic. Take the opportunity and focus on a healthy diet!