Familiar With High Cholesterol levels are an increasingly prevalent problem in America. According to data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 94.4 million U.S. adults age 20 or above have what could be classified as marginal high cholesterol.
Since this condition may appear without warning signs, you may not realize you have it until visiting a doctor.
Are You Wondering Why My Cholesterol Level Is High?, What To Do if It Has Been Diagnosed and If There are Ways To Alter it (Hint: There Are)? Read this for all the answers!
What Is Cholesterol ?
Cholesterol is a type of lipid produced naturally by your liver. This waxy fat-like substance plays an essential role in cell membrane formation and chemical processes as well as producing Vitamin D for health benefits.
Cholesterol cannot dissolve in water, making its journey through your blood unmanageable without some sort of assistance from lipoproteins produced by your liver. To help with moving cholesterol through, lipoproteins serve as carriers.
Lipoproteins are made up of fat and protein molecules. They carry cholesterol and other types of lipids through your circulatory system. Two significant forms of lipoprotein are low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
LDL cholesterol refers to cholesterol transported in low-density lipoproteins. If your blood contains too much LDL cholesterol, this could indicate high cholesterol. Without treatment, high cholesterol could lead to serious medical issues like coronary failure and stroke.
High cholesterol doesn’t always show visible symptoms right away, which is why regular screening for cholesterol should be conducted.
High Cholesterol Symptoms
High cholesterol is often an “invisible” problem, without any discernable symptoms or adverse consequences for those living with it. Many don’t become aware that they have elevated levels of cholesterol until severe complications such as coronary failure or stroke become manifested in their lives.
Routine cholesterol screenings are vitally important. If you are 20 or over years old, ask yourself whether undergoing regular cholesterol tests can save your life. This might just save it!
Reasons For High Cholesterol
Consuming foods rich in cholesterol, saturated fats and trans fats increases your risk for high cholesterol. Being overweight also heightens that risk. Other lifestyle factors that could increase it include inactivity and smoking.
Your genetics can also play a large part in your risk for high cholesterol. Genetic traits are passed from parent to child and provide guidance as to how the body processes cholesterol and fats; if either parent had high cholesterol, you are at increased risk for it yourself.
Familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic issue that prevents your body from eliminating LDL, may contribute to high cholesterol. According to the Public Human Genome Research Institute, most adults with this condition have total cholesterol levels exceeding 300 milligrams for every deciliter and LDL levels exceeding 200 milligrams for every deciliter.
Other medical issues, like diabetes and hypothyroidism, may increase your chances of high cholesterol and associated problems.
LDL Cholesterol, Or “Bad Cholesterol”
LDL cholesterol, commonly referred to as “bad cholesterol,” transports it through your conduits into your body. If LDL levels become excessively high, plaque build-up can occur on arterial walls resulting in serious health risks.
This buildup, known as cholesterol plaque, can impede supply routes, restrict blood flow and raise your risk of blood clusters – potentially leading to heart attacks and strokes if one occurs in either your heart or mind.
HDL Cholesterol, Or “Good Cholesterol”
HDL cholesterol, often referred to as “good cholesterol,” works by returning LDL cholesterol back to your liver so it can be processed out of your system and prevent cholesterol plaque formation from accumulating in arteries.
Assuming you have healthy levels of HDL cholesterol, it can assist in lowering the risks of blood clots, coronary disease and stroke.
Hazard Factors For High Cholesterol
If any of the following apply to you:
People living with obesity tend to consume large quantities of saturated and trans fats found in fast food.
Are You Engage in limited physical activities? If yes,
Are You Smoking Tobacco Products Or Have a Family History of High Cholesterol
Have diabetes, kidney disease or hypothyroidism.
People of all ages, genders and ethnic backgrounds can have high cholesterol.
