What is High Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a dense fatty substance found in every cell of the body. It is essential for many life-sustaining functions and is necessary for building hormones, vitamin D, and other compounds that help digest foods.
While too much cholesterol in the body is bad, some individuals do not respond to diet changes and may need medication.
Although high cholesterol is associated with an elevated risk for heart disease and stroke, most people have no symptoms in its early stages. High cholesterol levels are detected through blood tests.
It can be hereditary. This means that your liver is not able to remove LDL from your blood efficiently. Excessive saturated fat and lack of exercise are also risk factors. In the United States, nearly half of adults have high cholesterol levels.
The results will show total cholesterol and bad cholesterol as well as a healthy level of HDL, or “good” cholesterol. High-quality lipid panels will show your total cholesterol and HDL levels, and may indicate a risk of heart disease.
Read on to learn more about high cholesterol and what you can do to protect yourself from it.
Low-density lipoproteins
A blood test will measure the levels of the two kinds of cholesterol in your body. Low-density cholesterol (LDL) is the one that carries cholesterol into cells.
High-density cholesterol (HDL) is what carries cholesterol back from the liver. LDL cholesterol levels that are high can lead to strokes and heart disease.
In addition, high-density lipoproteins may help protect your heart from a heart attack or stroke.
LDL cholesterol
The link between elevated LDL cholesterol and atherosclerosis is largely genetic. One-third of American adults have elevated LDL cholesterol.
A physician will perform a simple blood test to determine if your cholesterol levels are high enough to cause concern.
Treatment options vary based on your particular needs and the results of your cholesterol test. Here are some steps to reduce your LDL cholesterol levels and avoid heart problems.
Triglycerides
People with high triglycerides should cut down on saturated fat, which is found in butter baked into pastries. They should also avoid trans fats and choose leaner cuts of meat.
While these two types of fat are not necessarily harmful, they can raise your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Instead of butter, you can substitute it with olive oil, which can be used for salad dressing or as a substitute for margarine.
Exercise
There is a link between exercise and high cholesterol. It is possible that exercise will improve the effects of cholesterol on the heart.
This study, which was conducted in rabbits, found that exercise training can help prevent atherosclerosis. High cholesterol diets cause vascular structural changes, and exercise training reverses these effects.
Saturated fats
It’s easy to assume that saturated fats and heart disease go hand in hand, but it doesn’t. While the majority of heart attack victims have high cholesterol, half of them don’t.
High cholesterol is actually an indicator of heart disease, but this doesn’t mean that eating a lot of saturated fats is the culprit.
The fact is that inflammation can increase your cholesterol levels, and people who avoid healthy fats are at risk for heart disease.
Trans fats
Until the 1990s, few people knew that trans fats were harmful for the heart. The worst kind of fat for your blood vessels and heart is found in thousands of processed foods.
It’s also known as vegetable shortening or partially hydrogenated oil. Fortunately, policy initiatives made it nearly impossible to find artificial trans fat in the U.S. food supply.
Unfortunately, trans fats remain in products that are produced outside the U.S.
Can High Cholesterol Cause Headaches?
The answer is no. However, there are many risks associated with high cholesterol, including heart disease, stroke, and migraine. People with migraines are at risk for cardiovascular disease, so high cholesterol may not directly cause headaches.
Statin drugs are being studied as a possible treatment for migraine, but they may trigger headache attacks for some people. Regardless, it’s important to know what cholesterol levels mean to your health.
Do you get frequent headaches and dizziness? If so, you may be wondering if high cholesterol is a cause of your symptoms.
While you may think there is some connection between high cholesterol and these symptoms, this is not the case. Many medications for high cholesterol do cause headaches, and you should talk to your doctor to avoid side effects.
There are several things that can cause high cholesterol. Caffeinated beverages can cause elevated serum cholesterol, which is a risk factor for coronary disease. A sedentary lifestyle and smoking are other causes of high cholesterol.
Sometimes underlying conditions, such as vascular disease, may also contribute to high cholesterol. However, the headache is typically ipsilateral and may be the result of something else.
Does it cause dizziness?
If you have dizziness that worsens with activity, then it’s important to talk to your doctor about your risk factors.
While low cholesterol can contribute to this condition, it’s worth noting that high cholesterol can also cause symptoms such as dizziness and headache. In fact, if you’ve had a recent MRI, it may be due to a blocked artery.
If you have high cholesterol, you may experience dizziness and other symptoms, such as vertigo. However, this symptom is not indicative of a serious condition.
High cholesterol can also cause serious health problems such as strokes, heart attacks, and angina. Those with high cholesterol may not recognize that there is a connection between these symptoms and high cholesterol, but it does put your health at risk.
High cholesterol is something you should be aware of and have checked by your doctor.
Does it cause heart disease?
Does high cholesterol cause heart disease? Many people struggle with this question. The British Heart Foundation lists high cholesterol as a risk factor for heart disease, and NHS public guidelines say that the higher your cholesterol, the higher your risk.
This is why you will find cholesterol-lowering products in supermarkets. But do they really work? Regular exercise can help lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease.
However, not all cholesterol is bad for you. Your GP can test your cholesterol levels to see if they are too high. High levels of cholesterol do not always mean a heart attack.
However, you should still visit your GP to get a heart health check if you have high levels. Some risk factors, like smoking, are within your control.
Does it cause migraines?
The latest research reveals that high cholesterol may not be the main cause of headaches. However, high levels of triglycerides may be.
The answer depends on what specific factors are causing headaches. High levels of cholesterol may lead to migraines and other health issues.
While it’s important to check your cholesterol level, there isn’t any proof that high cholesterol causes headaches. Many people with high cholesterol have a higher risk of developing certain conditions, including coronary artery disease, which can cause heart attacks or painful angina.
This means that you may be ignoring an important risk factor and misdiagnosing a health issue. However, this doesn’t mean that high cholesterol doesn’t cause headaches.
What is the Good and Bad about Cholesterol?
We are all familiar with cholesterol and its negative effects. While cholesterol is essential for proper body function, excess amounts of it can cause fatty deposits to build up in arteries.
This could lead to blockages in the blood vessels and, eventually, heart disease and stroke. Cholesterol is produced by the liver but also found in foods.
It comes in two forms: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The movement of cholesterol through these two types of lipoproteins is essential for proper body function.
While cholesterol is essential for the body, excessive amounts can cause the build-up of plaque in the blood vessels. High cholesterol levels are usually the result of an unhealthy lifestyle. Fortunately, there are ways to lower cholesterol levels.
Dietary cholesterol comes from dairy products and meat. In moderation, it should be included in a person’s diet. Low-fat milk products and low-fat dairy products are good choices. Limit your intake of fatty meats, salami, and ice cream.
And eat more fruits and vegetables and limit your intake of sugar-laden products. But keep in mind that a low-fat diet can still lower cholesterol levels.
What Causes High Cholesterol Levels?
Despite the many myths about cholesterol, there is an undisputed truth that some people have high cholesterol levels. Genetics, diet, and obesity are all potential causes.
However, there are also certain medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders, which can cause high levels of cholesterol. Thyroid disorders can affect the production of thyroid hormones, which may result in a rise in the bad cholesterol level.
Genetics
High cholesterol levels are not always hereditary. A genetic condition known as familial hypercholesterolemia is a common cause of high cholesterol in individuals.
It is a hereditary disease that affects about one in every 400 people. In the general population, people with this condition have a significantly higher risk of coronary artery disease than other people.
Diet
If you have been thinking about how to lower your cholesterol level, then you’ve probably been wondering what foods to avoid. While some foods are definitely unhealthy, others may be okay to include in moderation.
Most processed meat is high in cholesterol, but if you’re trying to reduce your cholesterol, try to eat less than half a pound per day.
Obesity
Obesity increases the risk of heart disease and cardiovascular disease because of the abnormal levels of cholesterol in the blood.
It increases “bad” LDL cholesterol and lowers HDL cholesterol. Excessive cholesterol in the blood can lead to fatty deposits that can block or slow the blood flow to the target organ.
The extra fat in obese individuals is more likely to be in the hips and waist area. As a result, lowering cholesterol levels is important to prevent heart disease.
Thyroid disorders
If you have elevated cholesterol, your doctor might recommend a thyroid test. High cholesterol is linked to the health of your heart and is caused by an underactive thyroid.
Taking the time to evaluate your thyroid function can lead to significant improvements in your cholesterol level.
If you’re already on cholesterol-lowering medications, your doctor may recommend a thyroid test to find out what is causing your elevated cholesterol levels.
3 Types of High Cholesterol & How They’re Treated
If you suffer from high cholesterol, you probably already know that it is a dense, fatty substance that is present in every cell of your body.
Besides being necessary for many life-sustaining functions, cholesterol is also an important ingredient in hormones, vitamin D, and other compounds that help you digest food. Listed below are the 3 types of high cholesterol and how they’re treated.
Triglycerides
If you’re wondering what to do about your triglycerides, you’re in luck. Triglycerides are types of fat that your body uses to store energy. Like cholesterol, triglycerides are also stored in fat cells.
When these fats build up in the bloodstream, they can make your arteries hard and increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.
In some cases, triglyceride levels are part of the metabolic syndrome, poorly-controlled type 2 diabetes, liver disease, and even rare genetic conditions.
Saturated fats
Saturated fats are naturally present in many foods. They are found in meat and dairy products, but are also present in coconut, palm kernel oil, cocoa butter, and other foods.
The American Heart Association recommends limiting saturated fat intake to 5% to 6% of total calories per day. For maximum benefits, cut down on saturated fat intake to 11-13 grams per day.
Trans fats
The major source of trans fats in the human diet is partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, which is manufactured. It is present in processed and packaged foods, including cakes, fried potatoes, popcorn, and fast food.
Eating less processed and packaged foods will help reduce your trans fat intake. Instead, choose foods high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as those found in vegetable oil, fish, and shellfish.
Elimination of trans fats
Increasing LDL cholesterol is linked to a higher risk of heart disease and stroke. Eliminating trans fats from the diet may be beneficial in this regard.
Although the FDA no longer recognizes trans fats from partially hydrogenated oils as GRAS (generally recognized as safe), a study conducted by the American Heart Association found that a diet low in trans fats reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Treatment options
Initially, patients should start a therapeutic lifestyle change to lower their cholesterol levels. If this does not lower their levels, a statin may be prescribed to treat high cholesterol.
This drug blocks the absorption of cholesterol and reduces triglyceride levels. Patients can also start using a dietary change or take a statin to lower their LDL levels.
These are the most common treatments for high cholesterol. For those who are at low risk, however, there are some additional treatment options.
