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Understanding Cholesterol: How to Control Bad Cholesterol Levels and Improve Your Health

Written by Enas Al-Banna, Sunday, July 30, 2023 06:00 PM

cholesterol A fatty and waxy substance found in the blood. Most of the cholesterol in the blood is made by the liver and the rest comes from one’s diet. Cholesterol travels in the blood grouped in packages called lipoproteins.

If not controlled, according to the healthsite, over time, high LDL cholesterol can severely damage arteries, cause serious heart disease, and increase the risk of stroke.

To avoid such health complications, one must ensure that he checks his cholesterol levels regularly and do his best to keep bad cholesterol levels under control.

Some easy tips to control bad cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease are – diet management, regular exercise, lifestyle modifications, and medications. These easy home tips can help reduce the effects of heart disease and improve quality of life.

What is the normal cholesterol level?

Normal LDL cholesterol levels for adults are as follows:

Optimal: less than 100 mg/dL (anyone with diabetes or heart disease should maintain this level).

Close to optimal: 100 to 129 mg/dL

The high-risk range: 130 to 159 mg/dL

High: 160 to 189 mg/dL

Very high: 190 mg/dL or more

What happens when cholesterol levels cross 200?

LDL cholesterol can build up in arteries, causing them to become clogged and less elastic, when the body excretes too much of it. Hardening of the arteries (hardening of the arteries) is the medical term for this particular condition. When there is a blockage in the arteries, normal blood flow is impeded, making it more difficult for the heart to pump and work. Accumulating too much cholesterol can lead to plaque formation, which can worsen heart conditions such as heart attacks and strokes.

When the level of cholesterol is more than normal in our blood, there is always a possibility that it will enter the arterial wall and cause fat, and this in turn will start the process of atherosclerosis, meaning the accumulation of fat.

Cholesterol and other substances around the inner and middle walls of the arteries, gradually blocking the arterial wall, this is known medically as atherosclerotic plaque, and eventually the plaque increases the blockage and causes coronary artery ischemia in the presence of the fatty layer. It is inside the heart, it causes a heart attack, if it is inside the brain artery it causes a stroke, if it is in the kidneys it causes kidney damage, and if it is in the artery, the side of the leg then it causes some problems in the leg and sometimes gangrene as well.”

High cholesterol is always present and is a major problematic factor, but not every patient who has a high level of cholesterol will face the same consequences, because some of the consequences depend on other risk factors such as the presence of diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity, genetic background, etc., and therefore the effect of cholesterol Significantly important in the presence of cumulative risk factors. Adopting a healthy lifestyle, consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables with soluble fiber, and limited salt and alcohol intake can help balance your cholesterol level for longer.”

High cholesterol can affect your brain

While you need some cholesterol for your brain to function properly, too much of it in your blood can be harmful and cause serious health problems within your body.

Blockages of blood flow caused by high cholesterol in the arteries can cause strokes that can damage certain areas of the brain and cause memory loss, impaired movement, and difficulty speaking and swallowing, among other symptoms.

Too much bad cholesterol can harm your digestive system

The production of bile, a liquid that aids in digestion and absorption of nutrients in the intestines, requires cholesterol in the digestive tract. However, if the bile juice contains too much cholesterol, the excess crystallizes into solid gallstones. Gallstones may cause severe pain.

2023-07-30 15:00:00

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