Cholesterol is a necessary fatty substance that exist naturally in the body and helps in the vital bodily functions. The body itself creates the amount of cholesterol needed. This is why people are recommended to intake small amount of fat in the diet to ensure the body does not have more cholesterol than required. Any surge in the cholesterol levels over extended periods of time can causes serious chronic ailments. Doctors have already established that high cholesterol is the primary risk factor behind heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.
What Are The primary Causes Of High Cholesterol:
There are several causes to hypercholesterolemia. High cholesterol in the blood can result from a high consumption of cholesterol rich foods as well as high fat diets. A person with obesity and excessive smoking and alcoholic habits may also be at risk of this disease. The following are the primary causes of the high cholesterol :
- Nutrition
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Bodyweight
- gender (men have higher cholesterol)
- heredity
- level of physical activity
- Smoking
- Stress
Signs and Symptoms of High Cholesterol:
High cholesterol has no obvious symptoms. The disease is often asymptomatic and is usually only detected after a cholesterol blood test. The following are some symptoms of high cholesterol:
- Fatty skin deposits
- Cholesterol deposits in the eyelids
- Chest pain
Diagnosis And Treatment Of High Cholesterol:
Generally a physician may perform a physical examination to check fatty skin growths. They may also order blood test to evaluate the total cholesterol, the high density lipoprotein (HDL or good cholesterol), and the low density lipoprotein (LDL or bad cholesterol) in the blood to determine and diagnose hypercholesterolemia. Mild hypercholesterolemia may be controlled with diet and exercise alone, however; most people require medications prescribed by their own doctor. These lifestyle changes include plenty of exercise, avoiding foods with saturated fats and curb excessive alcohol intake. Medications like Crestor, Lipitor and Zetia are effective in the treatment. It is however important to consult your doctor before starting the medication.