By Penelope A. Domogo, MD
We take off from our discussion last week about making our heart happy. In a nut shell, we make our heart happy by keeping our blood pressure normal, by keeping our blood vessels clean and flexible and wide and by NOT making our blood sticky. How? By eating naturally-grown foods, minimizing processed foods, have enough exercise and have a positive grateful attitude. Many of us think we are doing well in these three aspects and yet, why are many people hypertensive or have heart problems? The worse thing is that sometimes this high blood pressure is discovered only after many years and has already damaged the heart, kidneys or eyes. We usually depend on how we feel to monitor our health. Yes, it’s okay to listen to your body how it is feeling, but then oftentimes, we generally feel okay when, in reality, our insides are not okay. So don’t be complacent if you feel okay and even if your blood pressure is okay. Thank God, there are ways to detect unhealthy lifestyle earlier even before blood pressure rises, and one way is through blood tests.
There are many types of blood tests and one is blood chemistry. There are many substances that can be measured in blood chemistry but for today, we will discuss the three most common substances- blood cholesterol, triglycerides and sugar. These 3 substances are the major ingredients that will make our blood sticky. These tests are available in our hospitals and even in some clinics. Let’s discuss them one by one.
A) BLOOD CHOLESTEROL: The most popular test that doctors rely on to check if you have excess cholesterol in the blood is as follows: (this is usually in one blood test)
1. Total blood cholesterol- this includes LDL, HDL, very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and other fats in the blood. Should be less than 200 mg/dL. The lesser the better.
2. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) – bad cholesterol- should be 100 mg/dL or less.
3. High density lipoprotein (HDL) – good cholesterol- should be more than 40 mg/dL.
Take note, though, that what is measured is the cholesterol that is cruising in the bloodstream. Once they are deposited or dumped on the arterial walls, then the laboratory cannot detect them so one can have a normal cholesterol level. Don’t be surprised then when a person with normal cholesterol level has a heart attack or stroke or the other diseases that develop because of slow blood traffic. Meaning if your diet is unhealthy, don’t let a normal blood cholesterol level assure you that all is well. This test is not fool-proof.
B) TRICLYCERIDE: The normal triglyceride (TG) level is less than 150 mg/dl- the lower the better. If it is 10mg/dl, your heart would be very happy as it does not require extra effort to pump your blood.
How is TG different from cholesterol? Both are kinds of fat but TG is stored energy while cholesterol is used in body metabolism and production of some hormones and vitamins. In this sense, you will use TG when you are fasting or when you burn off more calories than you are eating while excess cholesterol will stick to the walls of your blood vessels or perhaps accumulate in your gallbladder. But chances are we eat much more calories than we use so TG will accumulate in your belly, your liver, your thighs and chin. I wish it would go to my face. Oh, by the way, aside from the fat you eat, TG also comes from the excess sugar you eat. How can that be? Well, when there is excess sugar in your blood, your body converts these to fat, even without your permission. This is because sugar is corrosive to your blood vessels and your body knows that, even if you don’t. See, our body wants to survive and be healthy!
C) SUGAR: The upper limit of normal fasting blood sugar level is pegged at present at 120 mg/dl. Some health authorities say 80 mg/dl and I agree. If yours is even lower than 80, that’s good for you, because 80 is the UPPER limit. Unlike income, an increase in blood sugar more than the normal is not desirable. Blood sugar level is usually measured when you have fasted for about 8-12 hours because eating within that time can temporary increase your blood sugar.
If the sugar in the blood is more than enough for our energy needs, this insulin will signal the body to convert this excess to glycogen and triglyceride to be stored in the liver or muscle cells. Insulin, which is a hormone produced in the pancreas, makes it possible for our body to use sugar. And when we eat refined sugar, this usually implies we are eating in excess because we also eat rice, camote, potatoes, fruits, other vegetables and all these contain sugar. Thus imagine our blood getting sugary and oily- ohh so malapot.
Initial increases in blood cholesterol, TG and sugar usually don’t cause any symptoms because our bodies can cope. But as our blood gets thicker, the heart will need to pump stronger so blood pressure will rise. Initially also, slight increases in BP may not give any symptoms until further damage is done. So don’t wait for the blood vessels to burst or get clogged or hardened. Even if you feel okay, have your blood chemistry done in your nearest hospital or diagnostic clinic. Here’s to happy hearts!***
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23
