Is High Cholesterol Hereditary?

Is High Cholesterol Hereditary?

There are many forms of cholesterol, some good and some bad. Many factors, including genetics, can have an effect on your blood cholesterol levels. If a close relative has high cholesterol, you are more likely to have high cholesterol yourself. However, many lifestyle factors, including diet and exercise, can also affect cholesterol levels.

Read on to learn more about the risk factors for cholesterol and what you can do to control your cholesterol levels.

Causes of unhealthy cholesterol in the body

There are two main forms of cholesterol. The first, LDL cholesterol, is often referred to as “bad” cholesterol. High levels of LDL cholesterol in the body are considered unhealthy. The other is HDL cholesterol, sometimes referred to as “good” cholesterol. High HDL cholesterol can be a sign of good health.

If your doctor tells you that you have high cholesterol, he or she is usually referring to high LDL cholesterol or total cholesterol. Total cholesterol is sometimes called serum cholesterol. It is the sum of LDL and HDL cholesterol and 20% of triglycerides. Both LDL and total cholesterol can be used as indicators of your risk for cardiovascular disease and other complications.

There are many risk factors for unhealthy cholesterol levels, including genetics, lifestyle choices, or a combination of both.

Familial high cholesterol versus high cholesterol

If you have a close relative, such as a parent, sibling or grandparent, with high cholesterol, then you are more likely to have high cholesterol yourself. This is mainly due to parents passing on genes that increase blood cholesterol levels to their children, such as genes that code for defective receptors. This is called familial hypercholesterolemia.

Familial hypercholesterolemia is a form of inherited high cholesterol. People with this disorder usually have higher cholesterol levels than people without the disorder, despite their lifestyle choices. This is because people with this disorder cannot regulate their cholesterol levels as effectively as others. People with familial hypercholesterolemia cannot control their cholesterol through diet and exercise alone, so they may need to take medication.

Having a genetic risk for high cholesterol does not guarantee that you will have high cholesterol. It just means you are at higher risk. Discuss your concerns with your doctor. He or she can help you manage your cholesterol and monitor your levels so that if you develop high cholesterol, you can start treatment right away.

Obesity or an oversized waistline

Some people are genetically predisposed to be obese or have a large waistline. Both of these conditions can increase the risk of high cholesterol. Lifestyle also plays a role in both of these risk factors.

Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more.

Waist circumference is 40 inches or more for men and 35 inches or more for women. The accumulation of fat around the waist increases the risk of high cholesterol and other cardiovascular complications.

Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels)

High blood sugar levels increase LDL cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol. High blood sugar levels can also damage artery walls. This may increase the risk of fatty deposits building up in the arteries.

As with obesity and waist circumference, some people are genetically more likely to develop hyperglycemia. Lifestyle choices, such as a diet rich in soft drinks, candy or other foods with high levels of sugar, may also contribute to elevated blood sugar levels.

Lifestyle factors

Some risk factors for high cholesterol can be controlled entirely through lifestyle choices. These factors include diet, exercise, and smoking.

Diets high in saturated fats and trans fats can raise cholesterol levels. Foods that contain these types of fats include

1. Red meats
2. Whole milk and yogurt
3. Fried foods
4. Highly processed candy

Exercise raises HDL cholesterol and lowers LDL cholesterol. This means that by adding exercise to your daily routine, you can help promote healthy levels of cholesterol in your body.

Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-to-high intensity aerobic exercise each week. If you’re new to exercise, you don’t need to start exercising that much. Instead, try to reach this goal and be sure to talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise program. Also, add resistance exercises, such as weights or yoga, to your exercise program.

Smoking can have a negative impact on your heart health. Smoking can damage the lining of your blood vessels. This makes it more likely that fat will build up.

Talk to your doctor about a smoking cessation program that fits your lifestyle. Sometimes you need to try several ways to quit smoking. Having a support group can help you.

Complications of high cholesterol levels

High levels of unhealthy cholesterol can reduce blood flow in your blood vessels. Over time, this can increase the risk of the following diseases

1. Stroke
2. Coronary artery disease
3. Peripheral artery disease

Diagnosing high cholesterol levels

High cholesterol is usually asymptomatic. To determine your cholesterol level, you will need to have a blood test. Your primary care doctor will draw blood to check your lipid levels. This is called a lipid test and is a standard procedure for most primary care doctors. Your results will usually include: 1:

1. Total cholesterol
2. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol
3. LDL cholesterol, sometimes including the number of particles in addition to the total amount of LDL cholesterol
4. Triglycerides

To get the most accurate results, you should avoid eating or drinking anything other than water for at least 10 hours before the test. Your doctor will also interpret the other numbers to get a more complete picture of your health.

When you should be tested

If you have a low risk of high cholesterol, you should be screened with a lipid test starting at age 40 for women and age 35 for men. You should have your levels tested about every five years.

If you have multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol, you should begin lipid testing at age 20 and at more frequent intervals. If the results show that you have unhealthy cholesterol or other lipid levels, your doctor will work with you to develop a treatment and follow-up plan.

Genetic testing

If you think you are at risk for familial high cholesterol, your doctor may recommend genetic testing. Genetic testing can identify defective genes and determine if you have familial hypercholesterolemia.

If you have a positive genetic test result, you may need more frequent lipid testing.

Treatment and Prevention

Treating high cholesterol can be difficult, so you may need to use a combination of methods to control your cholesterol levels. These methods may include.

1. Prescription medications
2. Managing other conditions that increase your risk of developing diabetes, such as diabetes
3. Lifestyle changes

Here are some changes you can make to lower your risk of high cholesterol

A healthy diet. A diet high in fiber, protein and unsaturated fats can help lower LDL cholesterol levels, which can be harmful to your health. Focus on eating healthy foods such as :

1. green vegetables
2. lentils
3. beans
4. oatmeal
5. whole grains
6. low-fat dairy
7. low-fat meats, such as poultry

Avoid many foods high in saturated animal fats, such as full-fat dairy products, highly processed sweets, and red meat.

Avoid many foods high in saturated animal fats, such as full-fat dairy products, highly processed sweets, and red meat.

Exercise regularly. The general surgeon recommends 150 minutes of moderate-to-high intensity aerobic exercise per week. Also, consider adding resistance exercise to build muscle mass.

Quit or reduce smoking. If you need help quitting smoking, talk to your doctor. He or she may be able to recommend a smoking cessation program. It also helps to have a support group. Talk to a close friend or family member about your goal of quitting and ask them to help you with encouragement and support.

Maintain a healthy weight and low body fat percentage: Try to keep your BMI below 30. In addition, aim for a body fat percentage of less than 25% for men and less than 30% for women. If you need to lose weight in the form of body fat, you should aim for a daily caloric deficit. A combination of a healthy diet and exercise program will help you maintain a healthy weight or lose weight if necessary.

Limit alcohol consumption: Women should limit their alcohol consumption to one drink per day and men to a maximum of two drinks per day. One drink is considered a source of confidence. 1.5 ounces of alcohol, 12 ounces of beer or 5 ounces of wine.

Your doctor may also recommend prescription medications to manage your cholesterol. These medications include statins, niacin derivatives and bile acid. If you are taking these medications, you should use them in addition to a healthy lifestyle.

If you are unable to control your cholesterol through lifestyle changes and medications, your doctor may need to perform atherosclerosis or surgery to lower your cholesterol levels. Apheresis is a technique for filtering your blood, but is rarely used.

Conclusion

High cholesterol can be caused by a variety of genetic and lifestyle factors. If not managed properly, it can lead to a variety of health complications. Various methods can be used to optimize cholesterol levels, including the following

1. Healthy diet
2. Exercise
3. Avoiding drug abuse