High Cholesterol: What Does This Mean for You and Your Health?

In recent years, we have seen an unexpected rise in the percentage of young people diagnosed with high cholesterol. It is scary to hear that six out of ten Indians have abnormally elevated levels of bad cholesterol, which is a consequence of the intake of junk food and a poor diet. In addition, it coexists with other problems, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, it is essential to know what high cholesterol is and how it affects your health.

To begin, Let us Understand Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fatty substance produced by the liver that helps in cell development and is needed to produce Vitamin D. Additionally, it helps in fat digestion and nutrient absorption.

The body can also absorb this substance from animal-based foods like eggs, milk, and meat.

There are two types of cholesterol. They are,

• HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) is considered ‘good cholesterol.’
• LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) is ‘bad cholesterol.’

Cholesterol circulates in the blood and is present in every cell in the body that uses cholesterol to build new tissues and fix the damage in the old tissues, producing steroid hormones such as oestrogen and aiding the liver in producing bile. However, as the cholesterol level increases it results in lethal conditions such as cardiovascular disease and kidney problems.

High Cholesterol

Many individuals do not experience any symptoms of high cholesterol. If the cholesterol level increases in the blood, it leads to atherosclerosis, a condition in which plaques develop on the arterial walls and reduce blood flow which leads to a variety of health problems, such as:

Heart attack:

You may have chest pain (angina) and other signs of coronary artery disease if your heart's blood-supplying arteries (coronary arteries) are damaged. This leads to a heart attack when a part of your heart's blood flow fails.

Stroke:

When a blood clot blocks the blood supply to a part of the brain, a stroke occurs.

High blood pressure:

There is a correlation between hypertension and high cholesterol. Cholesterol deposits and calcium induce the hardening and constriction of the arteries. Therefore, your heart must work harder to circulate blood through them. As a result, your blood pressure rises to serious levels.

Diabetes:

Diabetes can reduce the amount of good cholesterol in the bloodstream and increase the amount of bad cholesterol that increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

How can you Control your High Cholesterol?

Changing your diet and exercise routine might have a significant impact on your cholesterol levels. You can do the following to help prevent high cholesterol:

• Focus on eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains on a low-sodium diet.
• Reduce your intake of animal fats and make moderate usage of healthy fats.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Quit smoking.
• Get at least 30 minutes of exercise.
• Avoid or limit alcohol consumption.
• Manage your stress.

Examine your Cholesterol Levels: When to do it

High cholesterol levels can develop at any age. Therefore, it is better to start screenings during childhood.

• Check your cholesterol every five years beginning at the age of nine. An infant too can have it if his or her parents have high cholesterol or has a history of heart diseases.
• Men, from age 45 to 65, should take a high cholesterol test every one to two years. After 65 get a check-up done every year.
• Women, from age 55 to 65, should take a high cholesterol test every one to two years. After 65 get a check-up done every year.

Changes in food and lifestyle are not always sufficient to bring cholesterol levels down. Sometimes high cholesterol levels have a genetic part, so your doctor may suggest using medication to lower your high cholesterol levels. So, we suggest you take regular check-ups with your doctor and follow the prescribed medication to keep your cholesterol levels under control.