What is high cholesterol?
Cholesterol is needed by our body for building healthy cells, however high levels of cholesterol can higher the chances of developing heart disease. High levels of cholesterol cause fatty deposits to develop in the blood vessels, which creates difficulty for the blood to flow through the arteries. High cholesterol lead insufficient supply of oxygenated blood to the heart, as a result, chances of heart attack increases. Whilst, reduced blood flow to the brain can result in stroke. The condition can be inherited, however high cholesterol often results because of choosing lifestyle choices that are not healthy, which makes the condition treatable and preventable. In most cases, regular exercise and healthy diet serves as a treatment plan for controlling high levels of cholesterol.
What are the symptoms of high cholesterol?
The condition has no apparent signs or symptoms.
What causes high cholesterol?
Certain factors contribute in leading high cholesterol, such as:
- Consuming excessive amount of cholesterol, trans fat and saturated fat.
- Being overweight.
- Lack of physical activities.
- Some disease such as chronic kidney disease and hypothyroidism makes you more likely to have high levels of cholesterol.
- Cigarette smoking.
- Heavy consumption of alcohol.
- Specific medicines.
- Family history of high cholesterol.
What are the potential complications of high cholesterol?
High cholesterol can trigger atherosclerosis that can cause:
- Chest pain.
- Heart attack.
- Stroke.
What are the risk factors of high cholesterol?
Few factors make you more likely to experience high cholesterol:
- Chain smoking.
- If the condition runs in your family.
- Being obese.
How is high cholesterol diagnosed?
Levels of blood cholesterol are generally measure through a normal blood test, known as lipid panel.
How is high cholesterol treated?
Changes in lifestyle for example consuming a healthy diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, and regularly exercising for at least 25 minutes a day are its initial line of defense. However, despite these efforts, your cholesterol level fails to respond, then the doctor can suggest medication. Clearly, what medication or combination of medications are suitable for your case, depends upon certain factors such as your overall heath, age, risk factors and potential side effects. Besides, common choices are:
- Bile-acid-binding resins.
- Cholesterol absorption inhibitors.
- Statins.
- Combination of statin and cholesterol absorption inhibitor.
Prevention:
As mentioned earlier, choosing a healthy lifestyle can greatly help controlling and lowering your cholesterol level. However, in order to prevent the condition, one must act on the following:
- First of all, quit consuming alcohol, or drink in moderation.
- Quit or avoid smoking tobacco.
- If you are obese, try to shed off the extra pounds in order to avoid many complications in future.
- Maintain healthy weight.
- Consume a healthy diet rich in fresh vegetables and fruits.
- Consume a low-salt, low-fat diet.
- Regularly exercise for at least twenty five minutes a day.
- In case of chances, immediately consult your doctor for cholesterol screening.
By : Natural Health News
