Association between HIV and cholesterol

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HIV

What Is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that is produced mainly in our liver, but can also be found in food. The body produces all the cholesterol it needs. And what exactly do we need for him? HIV and cholesterol has several vital functions:

  • Cell membrane formation and maintenance
  • Formation of sex hormones
  • Production of salts that aid in food processing
  • Production of Vitamin D

What are Triglycerides?

Triglycerides are the chemical form of most fats in the body and in the food we eat. When we eat our body turns fat into triglycerides ?? the form in which the body stores energy for the time it will need it. When the body needs energy, triglycerides are released and burned like fuel to serve our energy needs.

If they are so important, then why are we worried when there are many in our blood?

As part of routine care, your doctor will often take blood samples to measure the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. In some people, their levels are normal, but in others, due to diet, medication and food intake, cholesterol and triglyceride levels are higher than needed by the body. Unfortunately, in this case, the larger the quantity the better. Elevated levels of HIV and cholesterol triglycerides are associated with:

  • Heart disease leading to chest pain and heart attack
  • Peripheral cardiovascular disease (clogged arteries in the legs)
  • Stroke as a result of clogged arteries in the head and neck
  • Pancreatitis and Lipodystrophy

I’ve heard that not all fats are harmful. Is that correct?

There are actually two types of cholesterol, high density lipids (HDL) and low density lipids (LDL). In other words good cholesterol and bad cholesterol.

  • Good Cholesterol: It transfers harmful fatty tissue residues from cells and tissues to the liver for disposal. Excessively high-density lipid levels increase the risk of heart disease. The higher the HDL level, the better.
  • Bad Cholesterol (LDL): It is responsible for most of the cholesterol in the blood and transports it to the tissues and blood vessels of the body, which can lead to clogged arteries. Too high a low-density lipid level increases the risk of heart disease.  The lower the LDL level, the better.

What causes things to increase our blood levels?

As mentioned above, certain conditions help raise our blood cholesterol. Here are some of them:

  • Eating a lot of fat
  • Lack of exercise
  • Some drugs, especially those for HIV / AIDS
  • Genetic predisposition (family history)

What should we do to control our cholesterol and triglyceride levels? 

Control the fat you absorb. Now that we know that not always means well how to control cholesterol and triglycerides? Dietary fats

As mentioned above, the fats we eat through our diet contribute to the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in our body. Too much of the wrong type of fat always causes these levels to rise. Here are some tips to control your fat intake.

1: Read food labels: Every food you buy has a label that says how much fat, cholesterol, etc. are contained in one serving or one gram. Read these labels to know what’s in your food.

 2:  Eat the right fats: Of the fats you eat, try to ingest only monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (you will find out from the label). Saturated fats reduce the levels of highly saturated lipids and increase those of weakly saturated lipids, thus leading to a risk of heart disease.

3: Eat the right amounts of fat: The guidelines for fat intake are well known: healthy Americans consume no more than 30% of their total calories in fat. ?? 30 percent ?? means that 7-10% of all calories come from saturated fat, about 10-15% – from monounsaturated fat, and about 10% – from polyunsaturated fat.

4: Create a balanced, healthy diet: A healthy diet includes 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Make a menu of whole wheat grains, beans and beans, or about one pound of lean or skinless chicken, and 2-3 servings of skimmed milk products each day. Limit sweet stuff or other high calorie foods ?? and carefully choose what fats and oils you use.Other things you can do Dietary fat is important, but there are other ways you can control cholesterol and triglycerides.

5: Quit Smoking: Smoking decreases your HDL, except it is an additional risk factor leading to heart and lung diseases and various cancers.

6: Do Exercises: Exercises help increase HDL as well as burn excess fat.

7: Observe Your Weight: Being overweight can increase your LDL and in itself is a risk factor for heart disease and high blood pressure.

8: Beware of Alcohol: Although experts are not entirely sure how alcohol affects cholesterol and triglycerides, it is known that it does not help reduce bad cholesterol and contributes to liver disease. Therefore, moderation in alcohol intake is recommended.

9: Consult your healthcare provider on a regular basis: We should all go to regular check-ups, but for people living with HIV and cholesterol, these visits are vital. Some Hiv Medication dramatically increase cholesterol and triglyceride levels, so frequent medical advice is needed.

10: Consult a Nutritionist: A nutritionist could help you build the right diet and exercise system that will help you control your cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

11: If you need medication: If nothing else helps, your doctor may decide to prescribe medication to control your cholesterol and triglycerides.

With the right information and guidance, you will be able to effectively control the levels of HIV and cholesterol triglycerides in your body. This can only be achieved in part, even by carefully monitoring the food you eat.


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