High cholesterol is a problem many face, especially in the US. One downside is it shows no symptoms. You discover it only when you visit the doctor and do some tests. So today we'll learn everything about high cholesterol.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a type of fat. It's a waxy substance made by the liver. One of its jobs is to make cell membranes, some hormones, and vitamin D. Cholesterol doesn't dissolve in water, so it can't move through the blood by itself, it needs help from lipoproteins.
Lipoproteins are particles made of fat and protein, that carry cholesterol and triglycerides, which are another type of fat. Lipoproteins come in two kinds: low density (LDL) and high density (HDL).
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol means all the cholesterol carried by proteins is low. If you have bad cholesterol, you get diagnosed with high cholesterol. This can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
What are the symptoms of high cholesterol?
High cholesterol symptoms are silent unless serious complications happen like:
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Heart attack.
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Stroke.
So you should see a doctor from time to time.
Causes of high cholesterol
Some foods raise cholesterol, like bread with fats, and some activities like smoking. Also, genetics can affect your chances of high cholesterol. Genes guide how your body handles cholesterol.
In rare cases, genetics cause your body to not remove low-density lipoproteins, but most people with high cholesterol have levels around 300 mg/dL. Some conditions that raise the risk of high cholesterol are diabetes and hypothyroidism.
Bad cholesterol
When LDL cholesterol goes up, it moves to your arteries and builds up on their walls. This buildup lowers blood flow and ups the risk of blood clots or heart attacks.
Good cholesterol
HDL cholesterol is called good cholesterol. It helps bring LDL cholesterol back to the liver to get rid of it. It also stops cholesterol from building up in your arteries.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are a different kind of fat from cholesterol. Your body uses cholesterol to build certain cells and hormones. It uses triglycerides as energy. When you eat more calories than your body needs, they quickly turn into triglycerides. It uses lipoproteins to transport triglycerides through the blood.
If you regularly eat more calories than you need, your triglyceride levels go up and cause many diseases like obesity, heart diseases, and stroke. There are many tests to measure triglyceride levels in the body.
Cholesterol level test
If you are over 20 years old, you should check your cholesterol level every 4 to 6 months. If you have a history of heart and blood vessel diseases, the doctor may recommend more frequent cholesterol tests. The doctor can use a lipid panel to measure total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol.
Healthy cholesterol levels
The body needs some cholesterol, but it shouldn't be too high. In 2018, experts updated their guidelines to treat high blood cholesterol. They raised treatment measures for people with chronic diseases and a family history of high cholesterol. Risk factors for high blood cholesterol
You may be more at risk for high blood cholesterol if you:
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Struggle with obesity.
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You consume a lot of saturated and trans fats like those found in fast food.
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You have limited physical activity.
High cholesterol doesn't just threaten older people, it threatens everyone.
Complications of high cholesterol
Without treatment, high cholesterol can cause deposits in arteries. Over time, this leads to artery hardening, a serious disease we shouldn't reach because it causes:
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Stroke
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Heart attack.
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Angina.
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High blood pressure.
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Vascular diseases.
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Chronic kidney failure.
High cholesterol can mess with bile balance, which raises the chance of gallstone disease.
How to lower cholesterol levels
If you have high cholesterol, your doctor might suggest changing some habits, including your diet. If you want to know foods that lower bad cholesterol, click here. Sometimes medication is needed too.
Lowering cholesterol through diet
To get healthy cholesterol levels, you need to change some eating habits like:
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Cut down on foods that have saturated and trans fats.
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Choose lean proteins like legumes, fish, and chicken.
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Eat foods high in fiber like vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
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Have more baked, grilled, or roasted foods instead of fried ones.
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Avoid foods with lots of sugar and canned goods.
Foods that have a lot of cholesterol include:
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Red meat, egg yolks, full-fat dairy products.
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Processed foods made with cocoa butter or palm oil.
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Fried foods: fries, onion rings, fried chicken.
Cholesterol medications
There are some cholesterol meds that help lower it, such as:
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Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
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Fluvastatin (Lescol)
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Rosuvastatin (Crestor)
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Simvastatin (Zocor)
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