If you want to know Cholesterol, You are required
to understand High blood Cholesterol (ko-LES-ter-ol). Cholesterol is a fatty,
wax like substance present in all cells of the body.
Cholesterol is needed for the body to produce
Vitamin D, hormones and substances which are necessary to digest food. Body
itself produces the required cholesterol but there are certain other foods
which also contain high level of cholesterol.
Lipoproteins (lip-o-PRO-teens) are the small
packages of cholesterol which travels through the bloodstream. These packages
are made up of Fats (Lipid) and proteins.
The
functions of Cholesterol
§ It fabricates and maintains the cell
membranes.
§ It is necessary for determining which
molecules can go into the cell and which cannot
§ It is important in the production of hormones
discharged by the adrenal glands
§ It helps in the production of anger.
§ It changes sunshine to vitamin
D.
§ It is significant for the metabolism of fat
soluble vitamins;
it includes vitamins A, D, E, and K.
§ It protects nerve fibers.
Types of lipoproteins that transmit cholesterol throughout the
body:
·
Low-density lipoproteins (LDL)
·
High-density lipoproteins (HDL).
To have healthy levels of both kinds of
lipoproteins is very important.
LDL cholesterol is also known as “bad”
cholesterol. A high level of LDL leads to loudening of cholesterol in the
arteries. (The blood vessels that transmit blood from heart to other parts of
body are called arteries.)
HDL cholesterol is known as “good”
cholesterol. It takes cholesterol from different parts of body back to the
liver and the liver removes the cholesterol from body.
The
normal cholesterol levels:
§ Required - Less than 200 mg/dL.
§ Bordeline - 200 to 239 mg/dL.
§ High - 240 mg/dL and more.
§ Most favorable level: less than
5mmol/ltr.
§ Slightly high cholesterol level:
5 to 6.4mmol/ltr.
§ Moderately high cholesterol
level: 6.5 to 7.8mmol/ltr.
§ Very high cholesterol level:
above 7.8mmol/ltr.
Risks
of high cholesterol
§ Atherosclerosis - narrowing of the arteries.
§ Higher coronary heart disease
risk - an abnormality of the arteries
that supply blood and oxygen to the heart.9
§ Heart attack – It occurs when the supply of oxygen and blood to the area of
heart muscle is blocked because of a clot in a coronary artery. This causes
heart muscle to die.
§ Angina – discomfort and chest pain that arise when your heart muscles
do not get sufficient blood.
§ Stroke and mini-stroke – It occurs when a blood clot blocks a vein or artery,
interrupting the flow to the area of brain. Can take place when a blood vessel
breaks and the brain cells begin to die.
Signs
and symptoms of high cholesterol:
§ Tapering coronary arteries in
the heart.
§ Leg pain when exercising
§ Ruptured blood vessels
§ Ruptured plaques - this can lead to coronary thrombosis (a clot forming in one of
the arteries that delivers blood to the heart). If this causes significant injury
to heart muscle which may result in heart failure.
§ Xanthomas – they are the thick yellow patches on the skin, particularly in
the region of the eyes. They are the deposits of cholesterol.
Causes
of high Cholesterol:
1.
Lifestyle causes
§ Food Habits - Some food contains cholesterol, like eggs, some sea foods,
however, dietary cholesterol does not have much of an effect in human blood
cholesterol levels but saturated fats do. Foods which are high in saturated
fats include some pies, red meat, sausages, lard, hard cheese, pastry, most
biscuits, cakes, and cream etc.
§ Inactive lifestyle –Those who do not work out and spend most of their time sitting
and lying down have significantly higher levels bad cholesterol and lower
levels good cholesterol.
§ Bodyweight – Those who are overweight or obese are much more likely to have
higher bad cholesterol levels and lower good cholesterol levels, as compare to
the people who have normal weight.
§ Smoking -This can have quite a significant effect on bad cholesterol levels.
§ Alcohol - Those who guzzle too much alcohol on a regular basis,
generally have much higher levels of bad cholesterol level and much lower
levels of good cholesterol level as compared to who refrain or those who gulp
in moderation.
2. Treatable medical conditions
·
High levels of triglycerides.
·
Kidney diseases.
·
Liver diseases.
·
Under-active thyroid gland.
How to handle high
cholesterol:
- Doing plenty of exercise.
- Eating fruits, whole grains, vegetables, oats.
- Avoiding foods which have saturated fats.
- Getting sound sleep.
- Bringing bodyweight back to normal.
- Avoiding alcohol.
- Stopping smoking.
No comments:
Post a Comment