Cholesterol is when Your blood contains a waxy material. Although cholesterol is necessary for the body to produce healthy cells, excessive cholesterol can raise your risk of heart disease. It is possible to get fatty deposits in your blood vessels if your cholesterol is high. When these deposits accumulate over time, your arteries can no longer adequately pump blood. Occasionally, such deposits may abruptly rupture and create a clot that results in a stroke or heart attack. Although bad lifestyle decisions are frequently the cause of high cholesterol, it can be prevented and treated. High cholesterol can also be inherited. To lower high cholesterol, a balanced diet, frequent exercise, and occasional medication are helpful.
SYMPTOMS OF CHOLESTEROL
There are no symptoms associated with high cholesterol. The only method to find out if you have it is through a blood test.
TYPES OF CHOLESTEROL
Your blood carries cholesterol that is bonded to proteins. A lipoprotein is a mixture of cholesterol and proteins. Depending on what the lipoprotein contains, cholesterol can be classified into many categories. They are as follows:
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL): Your body uses LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, to move cholesterol particles around. The accumulation of LDL cholesterol causes the artery walls to become narrow and rigid.
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL): The “good” cholesterol, or HDL, collects extra cholesterol and returns it to your liver.
- Very low-density lipoprotein is known as VLDL: Because VLDL also plays a role in the accumulation of plaque in the arteries, some individuals refer to it as a “bad” cholesterol. However, VLDL and LDL are not the same; LDL mostly transports cholesterol, while VLDL primarily carries triglycerides.
RISK FACTOR OF CHOLESTEROL
Your chance of having abnormal cholesterol levels can be increased by the following factors:
Smoking: Smoking cigarettes may reduce your HDL, or “good,” cholesterol levels.
Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption can raise overall cholesterol.
Heredity. High blood cholesterol can run in families.
Age: Unhealthy cholesterol can occur in even young children, although it is far more common in those over 40. The ability of your liver to eliminate LDL cholesterol decreases with age.
Poor diet: Unhealthy cholesterol levels can arise from consuming excessive amounts of trans or saturated fats. Full-fat dairy products and fatty meat cuts contain saturated fats. Packaged snacks and desserts are common sources of trans fats.
Being overweight: You run the risk of having high cholesterol if your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or above.
Insufficient exercise: Exercise raises your body’s “good,” or HDL, cholesterol levels.
COMPLICATIONS OF CHOLESTEROL
Atherosclerosis, or the hazardous buildup of cholesterol and other deposits on the walls of your arteries, can be brought on by high cholesterol. Your arteries’ ability to carry blood may be compromised by these deposits (plaques), which could lead to problems such as:
Ache in the chest: Angina (chest pain) and other symptoms of coronary artery disease may occur if the arteries supplying your heart with blood (coronary arteries) are impacted.
Heart attack: When plaque rips or bursts, a blood clot may form at the site of the rupture, obstructing blood flow, or it may break loose and clog an artery downstream. You will experience a heart attack if blood flow to a portion of your heart stops.
Stroke: A stroke happens when a blood clot stops blood flow to a portion of your brain, just like a heart attack.
TEST THAT MEASURES CHOLESTEROL
A lipid panel, also known as a lipid profile, is a blood test that your doctor uses to determine your cholesterol levels. Your arm vein will be punctured by your healthcare provider, who will then send the blood to a lab for analysis. Make sure you adhere strictly to the test-taking instructions provided by your supplier. Most likely, you’ll need to fast for 12 hours in advance. This entails abstaining from all liquids and foods to save water.
Total cholesterol: This refers to the overall quantity of cholesterol present in your blood. This is the formula to figure it out: Total cholesterol is equal to HDL plus LDL plus 20% triglycerides.
HDL level: High-density lipoprotein is known as HDL. Extra cholesterol is transferred from your bloodstream to your liver by this “good” cholesterol. After that, your liver eliminates it from your body. Consider the letter “h” for helpful when you see HDL. HDLs assist your arteries in removing unnecessary cholesterol from your body. You want this one lipid panel number to be as high as possible.
LDL level: Low-density lipoprotein is known as LDL. This is the “bad” cholesterol that clogs your arteries with plaque. Because LDLs transport cholesterol to your body’s cells, you need some of them. However, having too many can lead to issues.
VLDL level: Very low-density lipoprotein is known as VLDL. It’s an additional “bad” form that fuels plaque accumulation. Triglycerides, a kind of fat, are carried by VLDLs in your blood. Your arteries may become clogged with excess fat if your VLDL count is excessive.
Triglycerides: Triglycerides are one kind of fat. Some triglycerides are necessary. However, elevated levels (hypertriglyceridemia) can increase your chance of developing atherosclerosis and other conditions.
All of the cholesterol in your blood that isn’t HDL is known as non-HDL cholesterol: This number can be computed using the following easy formula: Non-HDL cholesterol is equal to total cholesterol minus HDL.
Total cholesterol to HDL ratio: This is calculated by dividing your total cholesterol by your HDL. Generally speaking, your number should be less than five. A chart with more information and desired levels can appear in your results.
PREVENTION OF CHOLESTEROL
The heart-healthy lifestyle modifications that can lower your cholesterol can also help keep your cholesterol from rising in the first place. To mitigate hypercholesterolemia, one may:
- Consume a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and low in salt.
- Reduce the quantity of animal fats and utilize healthy fats sparingly.
- Reduce excess weight and keep your weight in check.
- Give up smoking.
- Engage in at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
- If you use alcohol at all, do it in moderation.
- Control your Stress.
Summary: Changes to your lifestyle that promote heart health can help lower your cholesterol. They consist of controlling weight, engaging in regular physical activity, and following a heart-healthy diet. You might also need to take medication if your cholesterol cannot be sufficiently lowered by changing your lifestyle. Statins are among the many kinds of cholesterol-lowering medications that are on the market. You should still stick to your lifestyle modifications even if you take medication to lower your cholesterol. Seek the help of your doctor for proper treatment.