Diseases & Cholesterol; Why You Should Care?
Healthy cholesterol levels are necessary for the body to function properly. The body makes cholesterol in the liver and uses it when it is needed. Additional cholesterol is provided by foods such as egg yolks, fat-containing dairy products and red meat. There are two components of cholesterol. LDL and HDL. Specific cholesterol levels in the body are necessary for good health, but if cholesterol levels rise above a certain level, it can lead to a number of serious health problems and diseases.
High cholesterol levels are associated with a high risk or danger of cardiovascular disease. These can include coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and stroke. High cholesterol is also associated with high blood pressure and diabetes. Because disease and cholesterol are linked, you should be concerned and cautious if your cholesterol levels are elevated. To avoid diseases caused by high cholesterol, you need to talk to your doctor and find ways to control the cholesterol levels in your blood.
Cholesterol and Coronary Heart Disease
The main threat of high cholesterol is coronary heart disease. If cholesterol levels are too high, it builds up in the walls of blood vessels, especially in the arteries. Over time, this accumulated cholesterol, called plaque, leads to atherosclerosis or atherosclerosis. The result is a narrowing of the arteries, which slows the flow of blood to the heart muscle. If the blood vessels become completely blocked, the reduced blood supply can cause angina (chest pain) and even a heart attack.
Cholesterol and Stroke
Atherosclerosis causes the arteries to the brain to become narrowed or even blocked. If the blood vessels that carry blood to the brain are blocked, you are more likely to have a stroke.
Cholesterol and Peripheral Vascular Disease
Another disease associated with high cholesterol is peripheral vascular disease. This disease affects other blood vessels, except for those in the brain and heart. In this disease, fat builds up in the walls of the arteries, creating a barrier to blood flow. This occurs mainly in the blood vessels that carry blood to the feet and legs.
Cholesterol and Diabetes
Diabetes causes a disturbance in the balance of HDL and LDL cholesterol. People with diabetes are likely to have LDL particles stuck in the arteries, further damaging the artery walls. Sugar-coated LDL stays in the bloodstream longer and can lead to plaque formation. And people with diabetes have lower levels of HDL and higher levels of triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood). Both of these problems increase the risk of arterial and heart disease.
Cholesterol and high blood pressure
High blood pressure, also commonly known as hypertension, is directly related to high cholesterol levels. When blood vessels or arteries become stiff and constricted due to calcium and plaque, the heart must use more pressure to push blood through the arteries. The result is abnormally high, extremely high blood pressure. And high blood pressure is one of the leading causes of heart disease.
Take care of your cholesterol levels
In order to avoid diseases caused by unhealthy high cholesterol, it is certainly important to take care of yourself and maintain healthy blood cholesterol levels. There are several causes of high blood cholesterol levels. These include.
- Genetic; people with a family history of blood disorders and high cholesterol are more likely to have high cholesterol levels.
- Gender; men tend to have more typical symptoms, while women tend to have fewer typical symptoms.
- Race; people of different races have different levels of risk for high cholesterol levels.
And here the risk factors can be controlled.
- Diet
- Smoking
- High LDL and low HDL
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Stressful lifestyles
You can achieve and maintain healthy blood cholesterol levels by focusing on controllable factors.
Diet
Eating healthy foods can have a good impact on your cholesterol levels and overall health. You should avoid foods that contain fat, especially saturated fat. Fast foods such as pizza, French fries, hamburgers, pancakes, chocolate, and sodas are one of the main causes of high cholesterol and fat buildup. Care should be taken not to consume such foods. Instead of ready-to-eat foods and fast foods, choose healthy types of foods. These include vegetables, fruits, fish, legumes and whole grains. If you feel like eating meat, choose skinless chicken and remove all the visible fat from the meat before eating it. Use low-fat dairy products. Avoid foods that contain cholesterol and saturated fats. Eat a high-fiber breakfast and include a serving of fruit in your daily diet.
Exercise and physical activity
If you are serious about your health, in addition to a healthy diet, you need to include exercise and physical activity in your daily routine. Adults should exercise at least half an hour a day and be physically active. Exercise or physical activity basically lowers HDL and triglyceride levels.
Physical activity combined with a healthy diet will help eliminate obesity, another cause of elevated cholesterol levels and cardiovascular disease. When it comes to physical activity, you have many options such as biking, running, walking, hiking, swimming, games and sports of your choice. Such activities will help reduce obesity, ensure physical and mental health, and of course, keep your blood cholesterol levels up.
Adopt a healthy, stress-free lifestyle
Participate in healthy activities and do your best to make your day stress-free. If you smoke, quit immediately, eat healthily, drink plenty of water, take a morning walk, read a good book and train yourself to have a positive mindset and you will feel a real difference.
