High Cholesterol Symptoms
About Cholesterol :
Cholesterol is a type of fat in our blood which is necessary for healthy growth and development and still, if the levels of this fat increase afar from the requirement of the body, then this can be harmful for our body. The body usually makes all the cholesterol it needs from the daily food we eat.
Causes & Risk Factors :
There are different types of cholesterol which is depended upon the type of protein carrier molecule to which they are attached.
Like:
1. Low density lipoproteins (LDL): The ‘bad cholesterol’ because they carry the fats, depositing them in the arteries and making them narrow and hard.
2. High density lipoproteins (HDL): This this 'good cholesterol’ which picks up the extra fat and carries them to the liver without depositing it in the arteries of our body.
There are a number of dangerous factors which can predispose people to high cholesterol in their blood.
They are like:
Lifestyle/alterable risk factors include,
1. Eating High fat diet: Eating fatty foods of animal origin and have high amounts of trans fats. Foods like full-fat dairy and meat are also rich in cholesterol.
2. Obesity:If body mass index (BMI) is greater than 30 increases the risk factor.
3. Large waist circumference: If a waist circumference of man is more than 40 inches and more than 35 inches in a woman then they are at a greater risk.
4. Lack of physical exercise
5. Smoking
Unalterable risk factors include,
1. Diabetes,
2. Blood pressure,
3. Polycystic ovarian disease,
4. Pregnancy,
5. Underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism)
Signs and Symptoms :
High cholesterol does not present with any signs and symptoms, but the person is at a higher risk for many other conditions. Usually, high cholesterol levels are picked up through blood test and screening which is done regular .In some cases, high cholesterol may start getting deposited around the eyes called as xanthelasma.
Investigations :
The only way to identification of high cholesterol in the blood is through a blood test. Usually this test is done after a period of overnight fasting of 10 to 12 hours without any food, drink or pills. By doing this blood test we get an accurate reading and eliminate false positive readings. This test is named as a lipid profile which reports:
1. Total cholesterol (In which optimal levels should be -- less than 200 mg/dL)
2. LDL cholesterol (In which optimal levels should be -- less than 100 mg/dL)
3. HDL cholesterol (In which optimal levels should be -- within 40 to 60mgdL)
4. Triglycerides (In which optimal levels should be -- less than 150 mg/dL)
5. VLDL cholesterol (In which optimal levels should be -- less than 30 mg/dL)
Treatment :
The most important part of treatment is lifestyle modification and exercising. After having implemented these, if your cholesterol levels are still high, medications will be advised to you by your health care team. Common drugs which is given for lowering cholesterol levels are :
1. Statins,
2. Bile acid binding resins,
Complications and When Should You See or inform a Doctor,
The common complication of high cholesterol is mostly atherosclerosis or deposition of fats in the walls of the arteries in the body . This reduces the rate of blood flow by narrowing the arteries. In this condition symptoms can be cause such as:
1. Chest pain (angina)
2. Heart attack
3. Brain stroke
In case of the following signs and symptoms y healthcare professional should be consulted immediately:
1. Sudden chest pain
2. Sudden breathlessness
3. Gradually increasing breathlessness on regular activity
4. Dizziness, confusion
5. Blurring vision
6. Numbness of a body part or a parts of face.
7. Slurred speech/slow speech
8. Difficulty in walking
Comments
Post a Comment