Technology allies in the fight against cholesterol
One of the great benefits it offers is that it doesn't interfere with blood glucose, making it suitable mainly for diabetics and pre-diabetics. It also doesn't affect retroviral cocktails, so it can be used by HIV patients.
The high level of fat in the blood causes cholesterol levels (LDL) to be higher than recommended, ideally below 50mg/dL, which can trigger various serious illnesses, such as an increased risk of 50% heart attacks and 25% strokes. In addition, 40% of Brazilians have high cholesterol, according to the Ministry of Health.
Cholesterol is a fat that contributes to the functioning of the body. However, there are two types of cholesterol in the body that should be monitored: LDL and HDL. LDL, known as bad cholesterol, causes fatty plaques to build up in the blood vessels, which can lead to cardiovascular events and even cardiovascular mortality. On the other hand, HDL, known as good cholesterol, has the function of removing bad cholesterol from the bloodstream and taking it to the liver, where it is metabolized and eliminated from the body.
"The only way to know if someone has cholesterol is to take a blood test. With it, you can measure the total cholesterol and its fractions, i.e. the good and the bad, in your bloodstream. If your total cholesterol (TC) is higher than 190 mg/dL, you need to be aware of the risks," explains Dr. Ruy Lyra, a doctor and professor of endocrinology at the Federal University of Pernambuco.
The Brazilian market is now selling this innovative statin for treating heart disease: pitavastatin. "Statins inhibit the production of cholesterol in the liver (the main source of cholesterol in the body) and increase the removal of bad cholesterol from the blood by the liver, reducing total cholesterol. They also help to reduce the fat content in the blood and improve the elasticity of the arteries. Among them, pitavastatin is the latest statin on the market, with additional benefits such as not interfering with glycemia (blood sugar levels). This characteristic of pitavastatin means that it has the potential to be used, among others, by pre-diabetic and diabetic patients. It also does not interfere with the effect of retroviral cocktails and can be used by HIV patients. These are essential characteristics for these groups of patients, although all patients with high cholesterol levels can use this type of statin," explains Prof. Ruy Lyra.
A significant proportion of the population suffers from Metabolic Syndrome, a set of risk factors that manifest themselves in the individual and increase the chances of developing heart disease, including central obesity (waist circumference greater than 88 cm in women and 102 cm in men), dyslipidemia, hypertension and altered blood glucose levels or even type 2 diabetes.
According to the specialist from the Federal University of Pernambuco, the main reasons why people have high levels of bad cholesterol are genetic factors, diabetes, smoking, being overweight and a sedentary lifestyle. Therefore, the best way to prevent high cholesterol is to eat a healthy diet in the first place. "Lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as low-fat, high-fiber foods should be part of your daily meals. It's important to avoid fried foods, fatty meats and moderate alcohol consumption. With a healthy diet in place, physical activity is essential for the functioning of the body as a whole. And a word of warning: don't smoke," says the endocrinologist.