The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 36 million people in the world currently die each year from noncommunicable diseases (NCD) such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, and malignancy, accounting for 2/3 of all deaths worldwide. by 2020, this number is expected to climb to 44 million. Among NCDs, cardiovascular disease (including heart disease and stroke) is the number one cause of death and disability worldwide. In 2004 alone, cardiovascular disease caused 17 million deaths and more than 150 million disabilities worldwide; by 2008, the situation had not changed significantly: 17.3 million people died from cardiovascular disease worldwide, accounting for 30% of all deaths worldwide. If the current trend of cardiovascular disease “epidemic” continues, 23.3 million people will die from cardiovascular disease worldwide by 2030. For individuals, cardiovascular disease can sometimes be catastrophic: for example, acute coronary syndromes are sometimes sudden, fatal or disabling, often knocking down the golden years of “middle age, with all the grace and strength of a man who is taking on great family and social responsibilities”. Hospitals and doctors focus more on diagnosing and treating this catastrophic disease, while more effective prevention and rehabilitation have long been neglected. The “Simple Lifestyle 7” of not smoking, maintaining proper weight, regular exercise, healthy diet, ideal cholesterol levels, ideal blood pressure levels, and ideal blood glucose levels is the most powerful tool in the fight against cardiovascular disease at both the individual and group levels. In order of their importance, the controllable risk factors for cardiovascular disease are ranked as follows: dyslipidemia, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, central obesity …… Controlling the above risk factors well, 9 out of 10 cases of myocardial infarction can be predicted and 5 out of 6 cases can be prevented. From now on, together with patients and friends, we will learn some lipid knowledge together one after another. Lipid Science Class (I) Numerous clinical studies over the past 20 years have shown that lipid levels, especially low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LCL-C) levels, are positively and positively associated with cardiovascular events. Lipid-lowering therapy, especially lowering LCL-C, can greatly reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease, the incidence of future myocardial infarction, the mortality of coronary heart disease, and the risk of interventions (coronary angioplasty and stenting) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). 1. What are blood lipids and cholesterol? Lipids are the general term for cholesterol, triglycerides and a small number of lipid-like components of the blood. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that the body needs to perform important physiological functions. Cholesterol is an important component of cell membranes and is used in the synthesis of certain vitamins and hormones such as vitamin D, glucocorticoids, estrogen and testosterone. The liver synthesizes all the cholesterol required by the body. Cholesterol is also derived from animal foods such as meat (beef, muscle, pork, lamb, fish), milk, cheese, butter, egg yolks, and other foods that contain the above components. Plant foods such as vegetables, fruits and grains do not contain cholesterol. Cholesterol in food is absorbed in the body’s small intestine and stored in the liver. Two related concepts: Plaque The deposition of cholesterol and fat in the walls of arteries to form plaques that cause narrowing of the lumen and affect the blood supply to the organs and tissues distal to the narrowing. Atherosclerosis A pathological process in which excess cholesterol from the body’s blood circulation is deposited in the cells of the arterial wall. The lipid deposited in the arterial wall is called plaque. 2.What is “bad” cholesterol? LDL-C or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is the bad cholesterol. When the LDL-C level in the blood circulation increases, it leads to the deposition of lipids in the artery wall and the formation of plaque (this is what we call the atherosclerosis process). As the plaque grows, the lumen of the artery gradually narrows, and blood flow to the organs becomes insufficient. This happens in the coronary arteries that supply the heart and can lead to myocardial infarction (see Part II: Cholesterol and Atherosclerosis for more information). 3. What is “good” cholesterol? HDL cholesterol or HDL-C is good cholesterol. HDL is a more complex lipoprotein than LDL, and one of the most important functions of HDL is to transfer cholesterol from other parts of the body to the liver (reverse cholesterol transport), both to remove cholesterol from the circulation and to prevent cholesterol deposition and plaque formation in the arterial walls, thus reducing the risk of atherosclerosis. Sclerosis risk. Therefore, if good HDL levels are low, the risk of atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and stroke is high. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol “good” cholesterol because its increased levels are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Reverse cholesterol transport The function of HDL cholesterol: to transport cholesterol from the cells of the arterial walls back to the liver for removal. 4. What are triglycerides? Triglycerides are composed of glycerol and three fatty acids. Triglycerides transport lipoprotein particles that are used by tissues and organs as a source of energy and fatty acids. Excess triglycerides are stored in the body’s adipose tissue and are metabolized as an energy source when the body needs them for energy supply.