There are still many people who do not understand the bad side effects of cholesterol.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Cholesterol is an important part of the body and it is recommended to maintain cholesterol levels in the body. But there are still many people who do not understand about this substance and what its side effects are.
“Cholesterol is a waxy substance made in the liver,” says Johna Burdeos, RD Eat This Not ThatSunday (10/4/2022).
According to him, cholesterol helps protect nerves, make tissue cells, and certain hormones. Cholesterol is also present in food, dairy products, eggs and meat.
There are two types of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Many refer to LDL cholesterol as the “bad” variety, because it builds up in your arteries and can cause a variety of problems.
Whereas the “good” HDL cholesterol is just broken down and dumped in your liver. High levels of LDL cholesterol and low levels of HDL cholesterol can cause a number of problems, especially if you leave these levels out of control.
Due to the high amount of LDL cholesterol build up in your body, there are various bad side effects.
1. Heart attack
“When cholesterol levels are high, the extra cholesterol gets deposited in the arteries and builds up over time into plaque, making it difficult for blood to flow properly through the arteries,” says Burdeos.
Over time, uncontrolled plaque buildup causes one of the most well-known side effects of high cholesterol. According to him this can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
2. Skin Growth
While cholesterol can cause many internal side effects, not all symptoms of high LDL levels remain on the inside.
“Unfortunately, most people with high cholesterol levels won’t know they have high cholesterol without having a blood test to tell them they have high cholesterol,” says Dr. Dana Ellis Hunnes, PhD, MPH, RD, author of Recipe For. Survival.
However, there are some signs that you have high cholesterol. One of them is called xanthomas which are tender, yellow growths on the skin.
“Blood flow is blocked by thick cholesterol which can build up on the sides of the blood vessels, making them thinner and making the blood thicker,” says Dr. Ellis Hunnes.
3. Male Impotence
Men with high cholesterol should stay extra vigilant, because too much LDL cholesterol can stop you from starting a family. “Another potential sign is impotence in men because the blood vessels leading to the penis can be blocked (blocked) due to high cholesterol levels,” said Dr. Ellis Hunnes.
4. Arterial Damage
“High cholesterol levels are associated with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and coronary heart disease,” says Reda Elmardi, RD, CN, owner of The Gym Goat.
Atherosclerosis is caused by the buildup of plaque in the arteries that narrows them and reduces blood flow. This causes symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and irregular heartbeat.
5. Stroke
If you allow your cholesterol levels to get too high and suffer a lot of arterial damage, you may suffer a stroke.
“Stroke occurs when a blood clot forms in the brain and cuts off the oxygen supply to the brain,” says Elmardi.
6. Diabetes
If you let your bad cholesterol levels get out of control, you may develop diabetes.
“Diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or when cells don’t respond to insulin properly,” adds Elmardi.
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