Can High Cholesterol Cause Headaches? – Facts To Consider!
Nowadays, cholesterol has become a common disease. Compared to previous years, there is a massive increase in cholesterol patients. Changing lifestyles are the main cause of increasing high-level cholesterol. Lifestyle changes reflect in cholesterol levels within weeks. High consumption of saturated fats and trans fats is the main reason for high cholesterol. The condition not only affects your cardiovascular health but also each part of the body.
You may have several doubts regarding the cause of cholesterol. Most people believe that high cholesterol only causes heart- health. Because the majority of people who have been diagnosed with cholesterol have several heart issues. That’s true. But apart from that, it causes headaches, joint pain, obesity, etc.
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How Does High Cholesterol Cause Headaches?
There is no doubt that high cholesterol is a risk factor for several health problems. But People may wonder if there is any connection between headaches and high cholesterol. Sometimes it can cause headaches.
Normally high cholesterol doesn’t have any symptoms. The only way to detect the disease is to take a lipid test. But in some cases, it may have symptoms depending on the body of an individual. The deposits of cholesterol in the body may differ. Cardiologist, Luke Laffin, MD says that sometimes, the cholesterol may deposit in your elbows or the Achilles tendon. In younger people, cholesterol may deposit in the eye if the levels are high. Sometimes this condition causes headaches. An elevated level of total cholesterol and triglycerides are interconnected with migraines.
Recent research proves that there is an association between total cholesterol and migraine with aura. The research examined the association of lipid levels with headaches and migraine in elderly individuals. It showed that migraine with aura has been associated with cardiovascular risk factors.
Migraine And High Cholesterol
Migraine is a headache that usually occurs on one side of the neck. The intensity of migraine may differ from person to person. The headache comes in episodes and sometimes it is accompanied by vomiting and nausea. It often occurs with other health problems. An Italian researcher found the frequency and intensity of migraine related to high levels of cholesterol.
The researchers examined 52 migraine patients and also compare the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The results showed that people who have high cholesterol or a high amount of LDL has been facing severe and frequent migraine. Proper medications can improve the intensity of pain. But this situation happens when the cholesterol rises above a normal level.
What Are The Symptoms Of High Cholesterol?
As you all know that generally high cholesterol doesn’t cause any symptoms. You can only realize the high-level cholesterol in emergency situations. For example, the final stage of cholesterol results in several risk factors. Mainly it is harmful to your cardiovascular health. High cholesterol leads to the formation of plaque in the arteries ultimately resulting in a heart attack or stroke. This worse situation can lead to several serious complications.
You can check whether you are diagnosed with cholesterol by taking a simple blood test. It is the only way to understand if your cholesterol is too high. The cholesterol test gives a separate amount of low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein level, triglycerides, and total cholesterol. It’s better to take a cholesterol test once a year. You can take advice from doctors regarding when should you take the blood test. You may read about the three types of fatty substances that are found in your body. Let’s look at each type of cholesterol in detail.
Low-density lipoprotein(LDL)cholesterol
LDL cholesterol is harmful to your health. It is a bad cholesterol that deposits in the walls of blood vessels and raises cardiovascular problems. This type of cholesterol comes from what you eat and what your liver produces. This bad cholesterol won’t dissolve in blood and build a blockage in your arteries.
High- density lipoprotein(HDL)cholesterol
This cholesterol is good for your health. HDL helps to pick up the excessive cholesterol in the body and takes it back to the liver. A limited good amount of HDL cholesterol is good for your health. A regular diet that avoids saturated fat can increase the HDL cholesterol level. Avoiding cigarettes and managing a healthy weight is also considered best for increasing the count of good cholesterol.Â
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are also a type of fat found in the cells of the body. Mostly the fat in your body appeared in the form of triglycerides. It comes from foods such as oil-based foods, butter, cheese, and other fats you eat. The triglycerides have stored the calories you eat. Later, hormones release triglycerides for energy.
Health Issues Related To High-Cholesterol
Depositing a high amount of fatty substance in your blood can cause several health problems including headaches. Evidence shows that high cholesterol can increase the risk of several body parts. Some of the health issues related to high- cholesterol are,
Atherosclerosis
Many studies have proven that there is a close association between high cholesterol and atherosclerosis. According to the low-density lipoprotein receptor hypothesis, a high level of LDL cholesterol in the blood lead to
the development of atherosclerosis. The condition occurs due to the cholesterol plaques. High cholesterol leads to the formation of plaque that builds up inside your blood vessels. It is known as atherosclerosis.
Coronary artery disease (CAD)
When it comes to heart disease, people use the term coronary heart disease or coronary artery disease. The condition is closely associated with high cholesterol. It happens when atherosclerosis affects your coronary arteries. When your heart doesn’t get enough blood, gradually it becomes weaker and couldn’t work properly. It causes a heart attack or heart failure.
Peripheral artery disease(PAD)
When high cholesterol affects the arteries in your legs or arms called peripheral artery disease. It is dangerous. The condition causes no symptoms. You might feel certain symptoms in the final stages when a periphery artery is at least 60% blocked. Joint pain and leg cramps are considered the key symptoms of PAD.
High blood pressure
High blood pressure and high cholesterol are interlinked. Cholesterol plaque and calcium cause your arteries. When the deposition of cholesterol increases, it causes your arteries to become narrow and hard. It makes it difficult for your heart to pump blood through them. It results in high blood pressure.
How Can You Lower Cholesterol?
Consult a doctor and talking about your health problems is the best way to lower your cholesterol. Because taking suggestions from physicians can make better results than following your own method. Some people may not need medications to lower cholesterol. They may only need lifestyle changes and like avoiding saturated fat. While others may need lifestyle changes plus medication.
It is totally depending on the condition of your body. Anyway, it’s better to follow heart-healthy diets, regular exercise, avoid drinking and smoking habits, etc. Don’t be upset. Having high cholesterol is not a personal failure. You can make good results by avoiding what makes you unhealthy.
