The Truth About Managing High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy component found in the body. Cholesterol is required in the body to develop healthy cells. However, having too much Cholesterol can put your body at risk for heart disease.
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How To Manage High Cholesterol
Fatty deposits in the blood arteries can form if your Cholesterol is too high. As time passes, these deposits accumulate, reducing the amount of blood that can flow freely through your arteries. Those deposits can rupture and create a blood clot, resulting in a heart attack or stroke.
Causes of High Cholesterol
Fatty Foods
Consuming food with a high-fat content like pizza increases your Cholesterol.
Obesity
High Cholesterol is also caused by being overweight and inactive. If you’re overweight, your triglyceride levels are likely to be higher. It can lower your good Cholesterol if you never exercise and are dormant in general.
Hereditary
Your cholesterol level is also influenced by your family history. You may get high Cholesterol if a member of your immediate family does.
Diabetes
High blood sugar can increase cholesterol levels because it lowers fat decomposition.
Liver Disorder
Your liver makes Cholesterol to protect nerves, and synthesize cell tissue and hormones. Therefore, if the liver is malfunctioning, it may produce excess Cholesterol.
Medications
Some medications may have an unfavorable influence on your cholesterol levels. Some birth control and blood pressure medications might boost your cholesterol level.
Thyroid Gland Disorder
Thyroid hormones help in the removal of unnecessary Cholesterol from your body. As a result, if your thyroid is dysfunctional or hypothyroidism, your total cholesterol levels will rise.
Age
The sex hormone estrogen is associated with high Cholesterol. As one grows towards menopause, this hormone decreases. People at menopause experience elevated Cholesterol due to reduced levels of estrogen hormone.
Stress
Stress is linked to various health issues, including elevated Cholesterol; this is because stress chemicals like cortisol and adrenaline produce changes in the body that can contribute to high blood sugar and inflammation. This may lead your liver to produce more Cholesterol and blood fats known as triglycerides.
Myths and Misconceptions of High Cholesterol.
Having Cholesterol is bad for your body.
Not all Cholesterol is bad. Cholesterol is essential to our body. As we have seen, the liver produces Cholesterol to synthesize body cell tissues. Cholesterol only becomes harmful if it is in excess.
High Cholesterol can be felt virtually.
Indeed, this is a myth because you cannot feel high Cholesterol in your body without a medical examination. High Cholesterol does not display any symptoms until it is too late when you experience a stroke or heart attack. If you want to know your cholesterol level, go for a medical checkup.
Nothing I can do to change my cholesterol level.
The truth is, there are plenty of things that you can do to improve your cholesterol levels. Exercise, eating healthy food, and getting tested after every five years, among the many things you can do to improve your cholesterol levels.
I do not need medication; I can manage my cholesterol level with exercise and diet.
This is not 100% true because it does not apply to all people. Even though many people can achieve good cholesterol levels by eating nutritious foods and exercising regularly, others may require statin medications to lower their cholesterol levels.
Treatment for High Cholesterol
Taking health food
To lower your cholesterol level, you will need to reduce your fatty food intake and start taking healthy food like food containing omega-3 fatty acids and soluble fiber. Also, taking food with whey protein like red meat can increase your cholesterol level.
Exercise regularly
Exercise will not only reduce your cholesterol level, but it will have an overall benefit to your body. Exercising 30 minutes a day can help you increase the high-density lipoprotein (HDL). HDL is good cholesterol, and it is essential to your body.
Avoid smoking
Smoking affects your blood vessels, accelerates artery hardening, and increases your risk of heart disease significantly. Don’t start smoking if you don’t already. If you smoke, stopping will reduce your chances of developing heart disease.
Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol.
Excess alcohol intake increases Cholesterol in your body because it interferes with organs like the liver, which are significant in cholesterol regulation. Excess alcohol also increases the risk of other health problems like high heart failure, blood pressure, and strokes.
Lose weight
If you are obese, there is a high risk of having high Cholesterol. Reducing weight can help you lower Cholesterol and other risky health problems like blood pressure. You can reduce weight through exercise and cutting off sugary foods.
Medications
When it comes to lowering cholesterol levels, lifestyle modifications aren’t always enough, and your doctor may prescribe statin medicines to help you lower your Cholesterol. Follow the directions carefully while continuing to make healthy lifestyle changes.
Conclusion
High Cholesterol is associated with severe health problems like stroke, heart attack, and blood pressure. High Cholesterol is manageable if noticed early enough before it gets to its complicated conditions. You can discover what is causing elevated cholesterols in your body by simply looking at your lifestyle. Changing lifestyle is the principal treatment for high Cholesterol. You can avoid the treatment also by getting tested after every five years to keep track of your cholesterol level.
Frequently Asked Questions
High Cholesterol is when you contain too much fat substance in your blood, and it is harmful to your body.
A high level of cholesterol in your blood increases your risk of cardiovascular illness, such as heart disease. If you have a lot of Cholesterol in your system, it can build up in the walls of your arteries and block blood flow to your heart.
Doctors advise that you keep your total cholesterol level around 200 mg/dL. A cholesterol level of 190 or above is a significant risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and other disorders caused by clogged arteries.
high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is referred to as good cholesterol because they lead to body tissue development. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is bad cholesterol because they cause clogging of your arteries, increasing cardiovascular diseases.
Remember that Cholesterol reducing medicines are effective when combined with a healthy low-cholesterol diet. Cholesterol drugs include Niacin, statins, fibrates, bile acid resins, ezetimibe (Zetia), and protein convertase (PCSK9) inhibitors.
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