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Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a chemical compound that is naturally produced by the body. Cholesterol is a building block for cell membranes and is found in all cells in the body. Cholesterol is used to produce certain essential hormones like testosterone and oestrogen.
Approximately 80% of the body's cholesterol is produced by the liver, while the rest comes from dietary sources such as meat, poultry fish and dairy products. Organ meats such as liver are very high in cholesterol content, while foods of plant origin contain no cholesterol.
With high cholesterol, one may develop fatty deposits or plaques in the blood vessels. This makes it difficult for sufficient blood to flow through the arteries, resulting in the heart and brain not receiving as much oxygen-rich blood as they need, thereby increasing the risk of both a heart attack, and a stroke.
High cholesterol is largely a preventable and treatable condition. A healthy diet, regular exercise and sometimes medication can go a long way towards reducing high cholesterol.
Symptoms of High CholesterolHigh cholesterol has no symptoms. A blood test is the only way to detect high cholesterol.
Causes of High CholesterolVarious factors within a person's control — such as inactivity, obesity and an unhealthy diet - contribute to high cholesterol. Factors beyond ones control, e.g. genetic makeup, may play a role as well.
Risk Factors for High Cholesterol One is more likely to have high cholesterol that can lead to heart disease if you have any of the following risk factors:- Smoking
- Obesity
- Poor diet
- Lack of exercise
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Family history of heart disease
Lifestyle and Home Remedies Lifestyle changes are essential to improve cholesterol levels. - Lose excess kilos
- Eat heart-healthy foods
- Choose healthy fats
- Eliminate trans fats
- Limit your dietary cholesterol
- Select whole grains
- Stock up on fruits and vegetables
- Eat heart-healthy fish
- Drink alcohol only in moderation
- Exercise regularly
- Don't smoke. Quitting can improve your HDL cholesterol level. Just 20 minutes after quitting, your blood pressure decreases. Within 24 hours, your risk of a heart attack decreases. Within one year, your risk of heart disease is half that of a smoker's. Within 15 years, your risk of heart disease is similar to that of someone who's never smoked.
Treatments and Medication Lifestyle changes such as exercising and eating a healthy diet are the first line of defence against high cholesterol but, if you've made these important lifestyle changes and your total cholesterol remains high, your doctor may recommend medication.
The specific choice of medication or combination of medications depends on various factors, including your individual risk factors, your age, your current health and possible side effects.
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