Considering the adult human population, the most common cause of death is cardiovascular disease. Myocardial infarction or hypertension are already affecting younger and younger people, and atherosclerosis is also becoming a very common disorder. This is caused, among other things, by high cholesterol levels.
What happens with high cholesterol?
A temporary rise in cholesterol is not necessarily dangerous to health, but when the condition persists over a long period of time, very harmful changes occur to the cardiovascular system. Chronic elevated cholesterol leads to the development of atherosclerosis, which in turn can result in a stroke or heart attack.
Atherosclerosis has such serious consequences because of atherosclerotic plaques: these are clots formed by cholesterol molecules that stick to the walls of blood vessels. When atherosclerotic plaque breaks off, it can completely obstruct the lumen of an artery, and this is extremely dangerous to health: when arteries are blocked, blood cannot reach key organs such as the heart or brain.
What other complications cause abnormal cholesterol levels?
However, complications do not only affect the cardiovascular system. It has been shown that high cholesterol can cause fertility disorders and erection problems It also impairs vision, increases the risk of kidney failure, causes leg pain, and may be one of the causes of the development of dementia. So it really damages our whole body, but fortunately these negative changes can be reversed.
What does cholesterol prevention look like?
Although high cholesterol may be a congenital condition, simply in the genes, again lifestyle is of colossal importance to health. Keeping cholesterol within normal limits depends mainly on diet and the Maintain body weight at an appropriate level - Highly processed and fatty foods should be avoided. Stimulants contribute greatly to cholesterol, so stop smoking and limit alcohol consumption.
Stress also contributes to increased cholesterol, as the body produces higher amounts of sugar and metabolism becomes altered, so in the long run chronic stress ends up having serious health consequences, including lipid disorders. Excess cholesterol can also be eliminated by physical activity because it stimulates circulation and strengthens blood vessels, making the elimination of superfluous fat particles more efficient.
Read also: Lipid Control Plus for high cholesterol
Bad cholesterol and good cholesterol: where does the division come from?
But should cholesterol be completely eliminated from the body? Apparently, this is not the case at all. Cholesterol becomes harmful only in excess, while in the right concentration it performs many useful functions:
- Is involved in hormone production and vitamin D3 synthesis
- supports immunity
- Is an essential component of cell membranes
- regulates fat metabolism
- supports brain function
There are two fractions of cholesterol. The first, responsible for precisely these functions, is HDL, called good. LDL is the fraction of cholesterol that supplies the HDL molecules to the body's cells. It is LDL that is the bad cholesterol, because in excess it poses a threat to veins and arteries, depositing on their walls. For health, it is good for HDL to be at a high level and LDL at a relatively low level; when this balance is disturbed, it reflects negatively on all health.
Why is cholesterol higher than it should be?
Hypercholesterolemia can be congenital. It is the result of gene damage, so cholesterol production is impaired and atherosclerosis develops at a very young age, which requires professional treatment. People with congenital hypercholesterolemia may have cholesterol several times higher than the recommended standards, so they must be constantly followed by a doctor because of the high risk of life-threatening complications. Aside from genetic factors, for hypercholesterolemia can occur due to poor diet, smoking, high exposure to stress, and low physical activity.
How does age affect cholesterol levels? Cholesterol is naturally higher in older people, and men are more at risk of developing hypercholesterolemia. In women, the cut-off point is menopause - Hormonal changes cause alterations in lipid metabolism, and it is after the end of the menopausal period that many women develop a visible increase in cholesterol. Being overweight is also a risk factor, as it impairs internal organ function, but even thin people can suffer from hypercholesterolemia if they eat poorly or have a genetic predisposition.
Secondary hypercholesterolemia results from the presence of various diseases, mainly diabetes, coronary artery disease, kidney failure, thyroid disorders, and hypertension.
What does a cholesterol test look like?
A blood test is required to check cholesterol levels. It is taken in the same way as standard morphology, but in addition the patient's lipid profile is determined. The lipidogram provides not only total cholesterol, but also details both fractions and indicates the concentration of triglycerides.
A cholesterol level of up to 200 mg/dl is generally considered the norm. LDL cholesterol should not exceed 115 mg/dl, while the norm for HDL is at least 45 mg/dl for women and at least 40 mg/dl for men. Triglycerides should not exceed 150 mg/dl. However, these are general figures that must be interpreted by the physician.
This is because normal cholesterol levels are assessed based on additional factors such as age, sex, past and present diseases, and family history. For a person with diabetes or abdominal obesity, the requirements are different than for a healthy, slim person, because in poorer health the indicators should be lower: in this case the general norm is too high.
Is high cholesterol treatable?
Reducing high cholesterol is essential for the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system. The first step is a change in lifestyle, to which can be added dietary supplements that help keep cholesterol in the normal range, such as the following corsanum if welltone - However, they do not replace healthy meals, much less medication prescribed by the doctor. However, when the lipid profile is very bad or cholesterol is still high after weeks of dietary changes and increased physical activity, the doctor may recommend drug treatment. The medication stabilizes cholesterol production, but it must be taken for life. Prescribed medication should not be discontinued, because then cholesterol will rise again, which can lead to even more serious consequences.
What are the natural ways to reduce cholesterol?
People with high cholesterol need to move more, even if their weight is normal-the idea is to increase cardiovascular and respiratory capacity. Physical activity stimulates circulation, facilitating the removal of residual cholesterol from blood vessels and increasing the good fraction of HDL. Stress should also be avoided and attention paid to rest: lack of sleep and stress alter metabolism, raise blood pressure and weaken the body, promoting lipid disorders.
Physical activity must be adapted to the body's capabilities, as too much exercise damages the heart instead of strengthening it and can cause injury to muscles and joints. Even less intense but regular activity is better than heavy exercise done very rarely.
What diet is recommended to reduce cholesterol?
Fatty meats and cold cuts should be eliminated first. Also dangerous to the arteries are instant products, highly processed products, various salty and sweet snacks full of calories, sugar and salt, but with virtually no nutritional value. Animal fats should be replaced by healthier vegetable fats, which contain no harmful cholesterol and strengthen the heart - are, for example, olive oil, flaxseed oil, sea fish containing omega fatty acids, nuts and grains, and avocados. Meals should not be fried, only steamed or baked without fat.
Lean meats such as poultry or pork can occasionally be used, but the most important ingredient in dishes should be vegetables, preferably as little processed as possible. If dairy products are used, they should be low in fat and without added sugar. It is good to consume a lot of fiber, which is found in legumes and coarse grain products; if you eat a lot of fiber, you should also drink a lot of water so that the fiber can pass easily through the intestines. Do not drink large amounts of coffee, especially coffee with sugar and cream. Instead of sweets, it is better to eat fruit, which is also sweet, but at the same time provides fiber and many vitamins.
How do you recognize high cholesterol?
High cholesterol is difficult to diagnose without a lipidogram. Even when it is already above normal, it is usually only the diseases caused by it that produce independently recognizable symptoms. In the case of heart disease, it is usually chest pain, choking and shortness of breath, dizziness, palpitations, and numbness in the hands. Atherosclerosis often manifests with leg pain, rapid fatigue, and weakness. People with very high cholesterol and congenital hypercholesterolemia often have what is known as cholecystitis, which is a thickening of cholesterol deposits occurring mainly on tendons, eyelids, and joints.