15 Things you should know about your Cholesterol, What is HDL and LDL Cholesterol?

Lower your Cholesterol What is HDL and LDL Cholesterol

What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol in the blood is, a fat-like molecule found in all of your body’s cells. Cholesterol is produced by the liver and is also found in some meals such as meat and dairy products. Your body requires cholesterol to function properly. However, if you have so much cholesterol in your blood, you are more likely to develop coronary artery disease.

Why is Cholesterol important?

Most cells in the body manufacture cholesterol, as does the liver. It is transported in the blood by tiny molecules referred to as lipoproteins. Because the body utilises a little quantity of blood cholesterol for these purposes:

• Build the structure of cell membranes
• Produce hormones like oestrogen, testosterone, and adrenal hormones that aid in the proper functioning of your metabolism.
• Cholesterol is necessary for your body to produce vitamin D Produces bile acids that aid in the digestion of fat and the absorption of vital nutrients.

What are the types of cholesterol?

The two primary forms of cholesterol are HDL and LDL, or “good” and “bad,” respectively. In order to decrease the bad cholesterol and boost the good, it is crucial that we are aware of them.

High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL)

The term “good” cholesterol is frequently used to describe HDL (high-density lipoprotein). This is due to the fact that it absorbs other kinds of cholesterol and transports them back to your liver, where they are then excreted from your body. The ideal type of cholesterol, HDL, aids in lowering high cholesterol levels.

Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL)

The incorrect type of cholesterol that enters your cells is LDL. The optimal LDL range is greater than 100 mg/dL. The “Bad” cholesterol is low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which can build up in our blood at excessive levels and clog our arteries with plaque, resulting in heart disease.

The body benefits from HDL cholesterol. But if there is an excessive amount of LDL cholesterol, it can lodge along the artery walls, generating atheroma (fatty material), which narrows or blocks blood vessels. The arteries that feed the heart with blood may gradually constrict over time due to an accumulation of atheroma. This condition, known as atherosclerosis, may eventually result in angina symptoms, a heart attack, or a stroke. A diet heavy in saturated fat is one reason for elevated LDL cholesterol.

How can cholesterol levels be measured?

Your cholesterol levels can be measured through a blood test known as a lipoprotein panel. You must refrain from eating or drinking anything other than water for nine to twelve hours before to the test. The exam provides details about you that:

• A measurement of the overall quantity of cholesterol in the blood is total cholesterol. It contains both LDL and HDL.
• LDL (bad) cholesterol is the major cause of cholesterol accumulation and artery blockage.
• HDL (good) cholesterol helps eliminate cholesterol from your arteries.
• Non-HDL is the result of subtracting HDL from your total cholesterol.
• LDL and other forms of cholesterol, such as VLDL, are included in your non-HDL (very-low-density lipoprotein).
• Triglycerides are a different type of blood fat that, particularly in women, might increase your risk of heart disease.

How often should you check your cholesterol levels?

Although crucial, your cholesterol levels are only one aspect of your general health. Along with your cholesterol levels, your doctor will consider your age, gender, family history, and other aspects of your lifestyle or health that may increase your risk for high cholesterol, such as smoking.

Every four to six years, most healthy persons should have their cholesterol levels examined.

Some people should have their cholesterol examined more frequently, including those who have diabetes, heart disease, or a family medical history of high cholesterol.

Between the ages of 9 and 11, as well as between 17 and 21, children and teenagers ought to have their cholesterol examined at least once each time.

Symptoms of High Cholesterol

The presence of high cholesterol is not immediately apparent. Many people don’t even realize that their cholesterol is excessive due to a lack of symptoms. The bulk of the time, the only precise symptoms it could produce are emergency situations. The following are some early signs of elevated cholesterol.

Angina

One or more arteries that supply the heart narrow, which leads to angina. Plaque accumulation inside the arteries causes constriction of the arteries. Blood flow to the heart is thus restricted, and patients complain of chest discomfort or pain.

Heart attack

High blood cholesterol levels can block one of the arteries supplying the heart and cause a heart attack.

When the plaque build-up clogs one of the coronary arteries, our heart gets too little blood and oxygen, which may cause a heart attack.

Stroke

Strokes could be brought on by a blockage in one of the arteries feeding the heart from high blood cholesterol levels. When the accumulation of plaque jams one of the stroke. Patients with high blood cholesterol tend to get strokes that are brought on by a blockage in an artery in the neck or brain more frequently. A high amount of LDL cholesterol in the blood can clog your arteries with plaque and reduce blood flow to the brain. Additionally, it raises the risk of blood clot formation.

Walking with Pain

The arteries that provide blood to your legs might occasionally get blocked by high blood cholesterol levels. The limb may therefore feel heavy or experience a searing discomfort.

Sore Hands and Feet

Because of the narrowing of the blood arteries in your hands and legs caused by cholesterol accumulation, people with high cholesterol frequently have aching hands and feet.

Frequent Tingling

Itching and tingling sensations in the hands and feet are symptoms of poor blood flow. Tingling happens when blood flow slows down as a result of elevated blood cholesterol levels.

Lumps in the Body

Lipomas, or fatty moles or deposits, are caused by improper fat metabolism. Lipomas develop between the skin and muscle.

Depression and Memory Loss

A study found a connection between sadness and memory loss and either high LDL or low Cholesterol level.

Fatigue

If you suffer from high cholesterol, you could feel exhausted or run down as a result of the insufficient energy you have.

How high HDL levels affect Health?

Despite the fact that increased HDL cholesterol is thought to be preventative, new research has revealed that, for certain individuals, high levels of HDL may result in a greater risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) than in those with normal HDL levels. By age and gender, different cholesterol levels are considered normal. The following goal ranges for HDL cholesterol are suggested by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) Trusted Source (based on milligrams per deciliter readings taken while fasting):

What Causes High HDL Levels?

Genes: Some genes increase your risk of having high HDL cholesterol. High HDL levels that are inherited can either reduce or raise the risk of heart disease.

Diet: Foods excessively increase HDL cholesterol. They include some of the same items that can cause an increase in dangerous LDL cholesterol, such as:

• Red meat
• Cream and other full-fat dairy products
• Butter
• Cheese
• Cookies, cakes, and other baked goods
• Fried foods

More use of alcohol can also increase HDL levels.

Medications: These types of medications can raise HDL levels:

• Statins and other medicines that decrease triglycerides and LDL cholesterol
• Pills for birth control
• Menopause hormone replacement treatment and seizure medication

Menopause: Estrogen, a hormone found in women, appears to increase HDL levels. After menopause, oestrogen levels drop, which alters how HDL cholesterol functions in the body and lessens its ability to protect against heart disease.

Is medicine necessary for high cholesterol?

The majority of individuals with high LDL cholesterol who are not genetically predisposed do not first treat it with medication. Instead, you may try adopting a heart-healthy diet, increasing your physical activity level, stopping smoking, and, if you’re overweight, decreasing weight. You could require medicine if those procedures don’t work.

Healthy tips for balanced cholesterol

The majority of people should aim to balance their HDL levels, preferably by changes to their lifestyle. Health tips for cholesterol are advised by experts:

• Taking regular cholesterol tests
• Some foods control cholesterol, eating a balanced diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein.
• Limiting intake of processed foods, saturated and Trans fats, added salt, and sugars to achieve and maintain moderate levels.
• Avoiding or stopping smoking, using alcohol in moderation.
• Controlling stress when feasible.
• Obtaining 7-9 hours of sleep at night are all recommended.

Can exercise help balancing cholesterol?

Exercise can minor your LDL cholesterol up to 15% and boost your HDL cholesterol level up to 20%.

Regular exercise of the correct sorts can lower risky triglyceride levels while increasing heart-protective HDL cholesterol levels. Regular modest aerobic activity that raises your heart rate can have a significant impact on your lipid levels. If combining moderate and strenuous exercise makes it simpler for you to maintain a training routine, do so. And if you’re a little rusty, it’s totally OK to start off slowly by exercising for around 15 minutes a day at a moderate intensity, then building up from there.

Moderate-intensity exercise include:

• Walking briskly
• Gardening
• Casual or ballroom dancing
• Water aerobics

Some strenuous intensity exercise types:

• Jogging, or running
• Swimming laps
• Playing tennis
• Bicycling
• Jumping rope
• Aerobic dancing

How can you naturally decrease your cholesterol?

By altering your lifestyle, you may naturally decrease your cholesterol and safeguard your cardiovascular health. You may decrease your cholesterol levels in addition to decreasing weight, monitoring your fat intake, and converting to a high-fiber diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, chicken, and whole grains by reducing your blood pressure and stopping smoking. Additionally, cholesterol and high blood pressure can be reduced by increasing cardiovascular activity through swimming, brisk walking, biking, dancing, and other moderate to strenuous physical activity three to four times per week.

What Lowers Cholesterol Quickly?

Take in Fiber, soluble fiber, which is abundant in foods like oats, apples, prunes, and beans, prevents your body’s absorption cholesterol. According to research, people’s LDL levels decreased when they consumed 5 to 10 extra grames of it each day. You will feel more satisfied after eating more fiber, which reduces your need for snacking.

Stay away from any dairy products.

Some individuals think the safest course of action is to completely avoid dairy products, but this is untrue. Your daily diet should include dairy products since they provide several key elements, including calcium. However, there are several additional forms of calcium that vegans may consume, such as soy milk.

Avoid Eggs and Seafood

In moderation, you can consume some foods that are high in cholesterol as long as your diet as a whole contains little saturated fats. For instance:

• Egg yolks: One egg yolk has 200–250 mg of cholesterol, which is approximately the daily maximum advised amount (300 mg). However, for healthy individuals with appropriate blood cholesterol levels, cutting back on eggs is generally not necessary.
• Seafood: While prawns and seafood may contain some cholesterol, they are also rich in beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and low in saturated fat. Simply because seafood includes cholesterol does not mean that it should be avoided as a meal. But stay away from battered and fried fish.

Experts continue to advise concentrating on lowering LDL and raising HDL values, preferably through lifestyle changes but also, if required, with medication.

A Brief Description of Cholesterol

Here are 15 Things you should know about your Cholestrol. You might be surprised to learn that your cholesterol levels can be controlled by changing your diet. Many people do not realize the power of simple changes. By eating healthier, you can lower your cholesterol levels, lower your blood pressure, and lose weight. Here are some other tips you should follow to improve your cholesterol. But be careful! These tips may not work for you!

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