Cholesterol is a waxy, fatty substance found in your blood naturally created by your liver. Cholesterol serves various functions in your body, but having too much of it in your blood can be dangerous.
High cholesterol levels in the blood are mostly caused by consuming foods that are not part of a heart-healthy dietary pattern. Following a heart-healthy eating pattern will allow you to consume foods that are naturally low in harmful fats and rich in beneficial fats. Although, various other factors may contribute to a higher cholesterol level and lead to a severe health hazard. This blog will help you understand the primary causes of high cholesterol levels and tips to lower cholesterol.
What exactly is high cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a kind of fatty substance present in the blood. It is naturally made in the liver. Everyone has cholesterol. We require it to maintain our health because it is used by every cell in our body. Some of this cholesterol is derived from the foods we consume.
A person with too much cholesterol in their blood has high cholesterol. This increases your chances of developing heart and circulation disorders such as heart attack and stroke.
What are the symptoms of cholesterol problems?
Until there is an emergency, high cholesterol usually has no symptoms. A blood test is the only method to determine if you have excessive LDL cholesterol levels. Untreated cholesterol can lead to plaque formation over time, weakening the heart and putting you at risk for a heart attack or stroke. you should keep an eye out for signs of a heart attack or an early stroke, such as:
- Nausea
- Numbness
- Slurred speech
- Extreme fatigue
- Chest pain or Angina
- Breathing difficulty
- Extremity numbness or coldness
- High Blood pressure
If you have any worries about your symptoms, don’t hesitate to consult with a cardiologist to manage the symptoms. They can examine your blood work and do tests to confirm that nothing significant is wrong.
What are the possible causes of high cholesterol?
Your cholesterol levels are affected by various factors, including your lifestyle, family history, other health issues, and heredity. All of these factors might boost the causes of high cholesterol.
Following are the possible factors that raise your cholesterol and your risk of heart disease.
- Smoking –
Cigarette smoking affects the walls of your blood vessels, making them more prone to fatty deposits. Smoking can also affect your HDL cholesterol levels.
- Obesity –
Having a BMI of 30 or above puts you at risk of having high cholesterol. A person with a heavyweight is at a higher risk of developing a high cholesterol level.
- Diet –
Consuming many unhealthy meals (especially those high in fat and salt) might lead to higher cholesterol levels. Eating too much-saturated fat or trans fats might result in harmful cholesterol levels. Saturated fats are present in fatty cuts of meat and full-fat dairy products. Trans fats are one of the most
causes of high cholesterol, typically found in packaged snacks or desserts.- Unhealthy lifestyle –
Lack of exercise and excessive alcohol use might contribute to high cholesterol problems.
- Genetics –
genetics can also play a role. Sometimes your genetic composition prevents cells from efficiently eliminating LDL cholesterol from your blood, or it causes your liver to create too much cholesterol. You are also more likely to have high cholesterol if you have a family history.
- Diabetes –
Type 2 diabetes, linked with lifestyle factors, body weight, and metabolism, is related to higher HDL cholesterol and increased LDL cholesterol. The reasons for this association are still poorly known. However, alterations in insulin metabolism and general inflammation may be important factors.
Possible complications of High cholesterol –
High cholesterol, if left untreated, can cause a variety of health issues, including:
- Heart attack –
High cholesterol can promote plaque buildup in your arteries, leading to a heart attack. If the plaque rips or ruptures, a blood clot might occur. This can either obstruct blood flow to your heart or migrate through your arteries and produce a blockage in another region. A heart attack may strike when blood flow to a portion of your heart is blocked.
- Stroke –
Like a heart attack, a stroke happens when a blood clot prevents blood flow to a portion of your brain. Too high levels of cholesterol may lead to brain stroke.
- Chest pain or Angina –
Angina is a chest discomfort caused by decreased blood flow to the heart. A shortage of blood flow indicates that your heart muscle is not receiving enough oxygen. Physical activity or stress are common causes of discomfort. High cholesterol increases your chances of having Angina.
High blood pressure and high cholesterol are frequently associated. When plaque builds up or increases in the arteries, the heart works considerably harder to pump blood. As a result, blood pressure rises.
- Peripheral vascular disease –
High cholesterol increases your chance of getting the peripheral vascular disease (PVD). The blood arteries outside your heart and brain constrict, block, and spasm. PVD often causes discomfort and stiffness in the legs, particularly during activity.
- Chronic renal disease –
In addition to causing heart disease, excessive cholesterol can contribute to kidney disease. Cholesterol plaque can obstruct renal arteries, preventing blood flow to the kidneys. This results in renal function loss.
Tips to prevent high cholesterol problem – You may avoid high cholesterol regardless of family history or history of heart disease by eating a nutritious diet, getting regular physical activity, and quitting smoking. Maintaining a healthy body weight & lesser alcohol consumption can also assist.
Monitoring your cholesterol levels regularly can also help prevent them from becoming too high or low. There are more techniques to avoid high cholesterol.
- Consume a low-fat, low-salt diet.
- Avoid drinking too much alcohol.
- Quit smoking or avoid starting.
- Take the initiative to exercise regularly.
- Control your stress levels.
Healthy individuals should have their cholesterol checked every four to six years. However, your doctor may request that you check your cholesterol more frequently, depending on your age, overall health, and other risk factors.
Conclusion:
You can manage High cholesterol levels by making significant dietary and lifestyle changes. A well-balanced diet can maintain a calorie deficit and prevent weight gain. In addition, it’s critical to maintain a healthy weight and stay physically active. Medications such as statins can help decrease LDL levels and are generally considered safe when used in a medical treatment plan. You can also consult a Cardiologist in Mumbai to lower your cholesterol level and prevent heart issues.