High cholesterol

When you should check for your cholesterol level

High cholesterol may begin during your childhood or adolescence. So, it is important to check cholesterol levels from your childhood.

• Children and teenagers – You need to get your cholesterol levels checked in every five years from the age of nine. If your parents have higher cholesterol or past history of heart problems, then this might start sooner.
• People assigned male at birth – It is necessary to get the cholesterol levels checked in every five years till 45 years. Starting from the age of 45 to 65 years, you should get it checked in every one to two years and check your cholesterol every year after 65.
• People assigned female at birth – It is essential to check cholesterol in every five years till 55 years. From the age of 55 to 65, you should get it checked in every one to two years. And you need to check cholesterol every year after 65 years.

Symptoms of high cholesterol

High cholesterol is mostly silent condition and it does not lead to any symptoms. Many people do not realize they have higher cholesterol till they develop serious complications such as stroke or heart attack. So, it is important to conduct routine screening of cholesterol level. When you are 20 or above, consult with the doctor about your screening process so that you can stay protected.

• When you have high cholesterol, the body can store additional cholesterol into the arteries. These blood vessels carry blood from your heart to your remaining body.
• The accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries is called plaque. The plaque may become hard which makes your arteries narrow. Large plaque deposits can block the artery completely. Cholesterol plaques may break apart, forming a blood clot that blocks flow of blood.
• A blocked artery to your heart may cause a heart attack. A blocked artery to the brain can lead to a stroke.
• Many people do not know they have high cholesterol till they experience life-threatening events.

Causes of high cholesterol

• Use of cigarettes and tobacco – Smoking reduces good cholesterol or HDL and raises bad cholesterol or LDC.
• Stress level – Stress triggers change in the hormones that cause the body to produce cholesterol.
• Consume alcohol – Having too much alcohol in the body may increase the entire cholesterol.
• Not doing physical activities – When you perform physical activities like aerobic exercise, this improves the level of cholesterol. But when you are engaged in desk job, the body won’t be able to produce sufficient amount of good cholesterol.
• Strict diet – Certain foods may increase or decrease the cholesterol. According to healthcare professionals, it is suggested to change your diet plan or see a nutritionist for your new diet chart.

Difference between good cholesterol and low cholesterol

Good cholesterol is high-density lipoprotein or HDL which removes cholesterol from your bloodstream. On the other hand, low-density lipoprotein or LDL is known as bad cholesterol.

When the total cholesterol is higher due to high LDL level, you might be at greater risk of heart disease or stroke. But, when the total cholesterol level is high only due to high HDL level, you are possibly not at greater risk.

Triglycerides are another kind of fat present in the blood. When you eat lots of calories than your body’s capacity, it can turn additional calories into triglycerides.

It is important to change your lifestyle and improve the cholesterol levels, lower LDL and triglycerides and increase HDL.

Risk factors for high cholesterol

You are at a higher risk of developing high cholesterol when you:

• have a family history of high cholesterol
• have diabetes, kidney ailment or hypothyroidism
• are living with obesity
• have limited physical activity
• consume lots of saturated and trans fats like the ones found in fast food
• smoke tobacco products

Complications associated with high cholesterol level

Atherosclerosis might be the reason for life threatening complications such as:

• high pressure
• stroke
• peripheral vascular disease
• chest pain
• heart attack
• chronic kidney disease

Home remedies to reduce the level of cholesterol

• astragalus
• ground flaxseed
• garlic
• red yeast rice
• hawthorn
• blond psyllium
• stanol supplements
• plant sterol

How to prevent high cholesterol

• Eat a balanced diet high in fiber and low in cholesterol, animal fats
• Say no to cigarettes
• Exercise on a daily basis
• Do not consume excess amount of alcohol
• Maintain proper weight

What happens when you have high cholesterol level?

When you have high level of cholesterol, chances are you might develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels. These deposits might grow in due course which makes it difficult for sufficient blood to flow through the arteries. Sometimes, these deposits may break all of a sudden and lead to the formation of blood clot causing a stroke or heart attack.

Can high cholesterol go away?

The cholesterol level drops in due course but not suddenly after a few days of your healthy living. There is no specified period when the cholesterol may drop. But there are medicines available to lower your cholesterol level which can bring a change in 6 to 8 weeks. This is quite possible with changes in your lifestyle.

When you need to visit a doctor

The cholesterol screenings take place in every one to two years for men who are in the age group of 45 to 65 years and for women in 55 to 65 years. People above 65 years need to perform cholesterol tests in a year.

If the test results are not within the desirable range, the doctor may suggest more-frequent measurements. He may even ask more-frequent tests when you have a family record of heart disease, high cholesterol or other risk factors, such as high pressure or diabetes.

Consult with your doctor right away when you have severe pain in your heart!