Cholesterol Symtpoms & Treatments

Cholesterol:

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found among the lipids (fats) in the bloodstream and in all your body’s cells

Different Types of Cholesterol:

• Low density lipoproteins (LDL): LDL, also called “bad” cholesterol, can cause buildup of plaque on the walls of arteries. The more LDL there is in the blood, the greater the risk of heart disease.
• High density lipoproteins (HDL): HDL, also called “good” cholesterol, helps the body get rid of bad cholesterol in the blood. The higher the level of HDL cholesterol, the better. If your levels of HDL are low, your risk of heart disease increases.
• Very low density lipoproteins (VLDL): VLDL is similar to LDL cholesterol in that it contains mostly fat and not much protein.
• Triglycerides: Triglycerides are another type of fat that is carried in the blood by very low density lipoproteins. Excess calories, alcohol, or sugar in the body are converted into triglycerides and stored in fat cells throughout the body.

Causes of Cholesterol:

• Nutrition – although some foods contain cholesterol, such as eggs, kidneys, eggs and some seafoods, dietary cholesterol does not have much of an impact in human blood cholesterol levels. However, saturated fats do! Foods high in saturated fats include red meat, some pies, sausages, hard cheese, lard, pastry, cakes, most biscuits, and cream (there are many more).
• Sedentary lifestyle – people who do not exercise and spend most of their time sitting/lying down have significantly higher levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) and lower levels of HDL (good cholesterol).
• Bodyweight – people who are overweight/obese are much more likely to have higher LDL levels and lower HDL levels, compared to people who are of normal weight.
• Smoking – this can have quite a considerable effect on LDL levels.
• Alcohol – people who consume too much alcohol regularly, generally have much higher levels of LDL and much lower levels of HDL, compared to people who abstain or those who drink in moderation.

Symptoms of Cholesterol:

Symptoms of high cholesterol are revealed if you have the symptoms of atherosclerosis, a common consequence of having high cholesterol levels. These can include:

• Leg pain when exercising – this is because the arteries that supply the legs have narrowed.
• Blood clots and ruptured blood vessels – these can cause a stroke or TIA (mini-stroke).
• Narrowed coronary arteries in the heart (angina)
• 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 damage to heart muscle it could cause heart failure.
• Xanthomas – thick yellow patches on the skin, especially around the eyes. They are, in fact, deposits of cholesterol. This is commonly seen among people who have inherited

Treatments for High Cholesterol:

• Doing plenty of exercise (check with your doctor)
• Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, oats, good quality fats
• Avoiding foods with saturated fats
• Getting plenty of sleep (8 hours each night)
• Bringing your bodyweight back to normal
• Avoid alcohol
• Stop smoking