High Cholesterol is a very common problem in the U.S today. Cholesterol is a fatty substance contained in the blood. The possession of Cholesterol is not bad as your body needs it to build healthy cells. The problem of High Cholesterol may not present any real symptoms, so many people carry it undetected.
What is considered high Cholesterol?
Just as we have said, cholesterol is a fatty substance contained in the blood. They are naturally produced by the body and do not dissolve so they travel down with the blood. Cholesterol is carried around the bloodstream by Lipoproteins. When Cholesterol becomes too high in your body, it may lead to the blocking of blood vessels and cause complications like a heart attack.
Causes of High Cholesterol
High Cholesterol is caused by a normal lifestyle. The people who have high Cholesterol show the same lifestyle characteristics. It is caused by eating too many fatty foods ( eating foods gaining too much saturated and trans fat.)
Other lifestyle attitudes that cause high Cholesterol are
- Lack of exercises
- Being overweight
- Smoking
- Drinking alcohol
- Age.
High Cholesterol can also be caused by some health conditions like
- Chronic kidney disease
- Diabetes
- HIV/AIDS
- Hypothyroidism
- Lupus
Also, medications for the following health problems can also result in high cholesterol
- Acne
- Cancer
- High blood pressure
- HIV/AIDS
- Irregular heart rhythms
- Organ transplants
Without having all these characteristics, High Cholesterol can also run in people’s Lineage.
What Foods Lead to High Cholesterol?
A slight, or even consumption of these foods do. not pose threats but a high consumption is not advisable. these foods contain high amounts of unsaturated fats, they are listed below.
- Red meat
- Full fat dairy
- Processed meat
- Baked goods and sweets
- Fried foods
Best High Cholesterol Foods to Eat
As advised by dieticians, these foods can be part of a healthy daily diet.
- Eggs
- Shellfish
- Lean meat
whatever you eat, make sure you know your cholesterol levels and control them.
Food to Lower Cholesterol and Block the body from Absorbing Cholesterol.
- Oats
- Barley and other whole grains
- Beans
- Eggplant and okra
- Vegetable oils
- Foods fortified with sterols and stanols
- Apples, grapes, strawberries, citrus fruits
- Vegetable oils
- Soy
- Fatty fish
- Fiber supplements
Symptoms of High Cholesterol
The possession of high Cholesterol in your body does not show any visible physical symptoms, you can only deactivate it with a blood test. If left uncontrolled or undetected, it can lead to complications that will amount to deadly consequences.
How to Lower Cholesterol Quickly
The best way to lower cholesterol quickly is through healthy lifestyle practices like
- Quit smoking
- Eat a low salt diet, emphasizing fruits and whole grains.
- Have a healthy exercise routine
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Manage stress
- Drink alcohol in moderation if you take it at all
- Limit the amounts of fatty foods you take
Complications That Can Arise From High Cholesterol
These conditions can slow down the flow of blood through your blood vessels by blocking them. This results from the accumulation of deposits of Cholesterol around the walls of arteries (arteriosclerosis)
The following can result from high Cholesterol.
Chest Pain or Coronary Heart Disease
When blood vessels carrying blood to the heart are affected. you can have chest pain and some other symptoms of coronary heart disease.
Heart Attack
This can result if plaques(deposits) tear and form blood clots, restricting the flow of blood to some areas of your heart. This can lead to a heart attack.
Stroke
like heart attack, when blood is restricted from flowing to your brain, stroke occurs.
High Cholesterol is not a death sentence as soon many things can be done to combat it. But life is very precious and we do not need to wait to show the overall symptoms before we can fight against it. Make sure you do your yearly check-up ( or every 6 months) and subscribe to a good lifestyle to avoid the problem.
