Cholesterol

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fat (lipid) which is produced by the liver and is crucial for normal body functioning. Dangers of high cholesterol levels Atherosclerosis - (narrowing of the arteries). This causes heart diseases. SYMPTOMS: Symptoms of high cholesterol do not exist alone in a way a patient or doctor can identify by touch or sight. Symptoms of high cholesterol are revealed if you have the symptoms of atherosclerosis.These can include: Chest pain-Narrowed coronary arteries in the heart 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). 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 may be hereditary. Tips saturated fats are high in cholesterol and they include red meat, some pies, sausages, hard cheese, lard, pastry, cakes, most biscuits, and cream (there are many more). Although some foods contain cholesterol such as eggs, kidneys and some seafoods, these does not have much of an impact in human blood cholesterol levels. 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,Alcohol - this can increase LDL levels. Certain ethnic groups - people from the Indian sub-continent (India,Pakistan, Bangladesh,Sri Lanka) are more susceptible to having higher cholesterol levels, compared to other people. Treatable medical conditions These medical conditions are known to cause LDL levels to rise and they can be controlled medically Diabetes High blood pressure (hypertension) High levels of triglycerides Kidney diseases Liver diseases Under-active thyroid gland Instructions Do plenty of exercise Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, oats, good quality fats. Avoid foods with saturated fats Get plenty of sleep (8 hours each night) Bringing your body weight back to normal Avoiding alcohol Stopping smoking Healthy diet will have numerous health benefits. Investigations Lipid profile (fasting)