Is Diabetes To Blame For Your Headache
Take control of pain
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease that results in blood sugar, or glucose, abnormalities. This causes a host of symptoms and related complications, some of which can be life-threatening. A common symptom of high or low blood glucose is a headache. Headaches alone arent harmful, but they can signal that your blood sugar is out of its target range. If you have frequent headaches, diabetes may be to blame. Find out if diabetes is the cause of your headache so you can take proper action.
common source of pain. Theyre also a leading cause for days missed from work and school. Headaches are a frequent problem among the American population, but there are numerous causes.
Headaches are classified as being primary or secondary. Primary headaches occur when brain cells or nerves, blood vessels, or muscles around the head send pain signals to the brain. Migraines and tension headaches are common examples.
Secondary headaches, on the other hand, are not directly caused by the type of pain signals mentioned above. These types of headaches are attributed to underlying health conditions or medical problems. Diabetes is one cause of secondary headaches. Other causes can include:
- fever or infection
- high blood pressure, or hypertension
- stroke
- hormone fluctuations, such as those occurring during menstrual cycle
- eye disorders
- structural abnormalities within the brain
The Association Between Cholesterol And Heart Disease
The 20152020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans doesnt include a specific limit, it still strongly recommends eating as little dietary cholesterol as possible. It mentions studies and trials that have produced strong evidence that healthy eating patterns that are low in dietary cholesterol can reduce the risk of heart disease in adults.
An eight-week study published in 2016 stated that elevated LDL is an established risk factor for heart disease and that dietary fatty acids play a significant role in the development of heart disease. The researchers found that making minor dietary changes reduced cholesterol and could potentially reduce future risk of heart disease.
Maybe Shes Born With It
High cholesterol due to genetics is called familial hypercholesterolemia . People with FH are born with high cholesterol because their bodies cant process LDL correctly.
FH is one of the most common inherited diseases, affecting 1 in 220 adults. People with FH have a 13 times greater risk of heart disease. Untreated FH can result in chronically high cholesterol levels and heart disease.
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Frequent Headache In The Back
Health care body Medicover Hospitals explained that a frequent headache in the back of the head could be a sign of high cholesterol.
“The blockage of blood vessels in the area around the head causes a headache in the back of the head. This occurs when the blood vessels are clogged by the cholesterol plaque. If this is left unchecked, the blood vessels can rupture and cause a stroke,” Medicover wrote.
However, Medicover emphasized that the only way to know for sure if the LDL cholesterol in one’s body is too high is to get a blood test from a healthcare professional.
They also added that this is not the only sign of high LDL cholesterol. A person should also be aware of the pain in their hands and feet, and the frequent tingling of hands and legs, according to AJC News.
Medicover wrote that accumulation of LDL cholesterol could clog the blood vessels in the hands and feet that cause pain. While high cholesterol levels could make the blood flow thick and affect its normal flow, therefore causing the tingling sensation in both hands and legs.
Does High Cholesterol Cause Headaches
Most people with high cholesterol show no symptoms until they have a heart attack or a stroke, or experience angina, a painful heart condition.
Given this, does high cholesterol cause headaches? Theres no definitive evidence that it does, Dr. Laffin says.
If your cholesterol levels are extremely high, the physical symptoms are different. We might see deposits of cholesterol in certain unexpected areas, such as your elbows or the Achilles tendon, Dr. Laffin says. Particularly in younger people, you might see cholesterol buildup or deposits in the eye if levels are high.
Where confusion arises is that conditions frequently associated with high cholesterol not high cholesterol itself, on its own can sometimes cause headaches.
I see a lot of people asking, Is my high blood pressure causing headaches? Thats a pretty common question, says Dr. Laffin. The vast majority of the time the answer is no, he adds. Your brain has a remarkable ability to adapt to high blood pressure levels for short periods of time. But if these levels are severely elevated, you can get headaches.
High blood pressure and high cholesterol are also risk factors for atherosclerosis. How that contributes to headaches is a little bit questionable, says Dr. Laffin. However, that plaque buildup in your arteries can also cause high blood pressure, which in turn can lead to a stroke.
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What Causes High Cholesterol
Your liver produces cholesterol, but you also get cholesterol from food. Eating too many foods that are high in fat can increase your cholesterol level.
Being overweight and inactive also causes high cholesterol. If you are overweight, you most likely have a higher level of triglycerides. If you never exercise and arent active in general, it can lower your HDL .
You family history also affects your cholesterol level. Research has shown that high cholesterol tends to run in families. If you have an immediate family member who has it, you could have it, too.
Smoking also causes high cholesterol. It lowers your HDL .
The Appearance Of Cholesterol Bubbles On The Skin
Sometimes, the excessive amount of cholesterol may manifest on the outside of your body as well. A yellowish sort of rash can appear on the skin, which is filled with cholesterol. Theyre called xanthomas and are usually found on the Achilles heel and the hand, although theyre sometimes located on the tendons of your foot, knee or elbow too.
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What Should My Cholesterol Levels Be
Blood cholesterol is measured in units called millimoles per litre of blood, often shortened to mmol/L.
As a general guide, total cholesterol levels should be:
- 5mmol/L or less for healthy adults
- 4mmol/L or less for those at high risk
As a general guide, LDL levels should be:
- 3mmol/L or less for healthy adults
- 2mmol/L or less for those at high risk
An ideal level of HDL is above 1mmol/L. A lower level of HDL can increase your risk of heart disease.
Your ratio of total cholesterol to HDL may also be calculated. This is your total cholesterol level divided by your HDL level. Generally, this ratio should be below four, as a higher ratio increases your risk of heart disease.
Cholesterol is only one risk factor. The level at which specific treatment is required will depend on whether other risk factors, such as smoking and high blood pressure, are also present.
Possible Signs Of Low Cholesterol
Some studies have shown a link between low cholesterol and certain mental health disorders.
- Depression While there are many causes of depression, studies have shown patients with low cholesterol are more prone to depression Researchers do not totally understand the link between depression and low cholesterol, but believe it may be tied to cholesterols role in making Vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for cell growth. If brain cells arent healthy, you may experience anxiety or depression.
- Anxiety Like depression, studies show patients with very low levels of cholesterol had higher rates of anxiety than the general population.
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Tingles In Your Hands And Feet
A sort of tingling sensation in your hands and your feet definitely isnt uncommon if youre dealing with too high cholesterol levels. Because of blocked blood vessels, the peripheral nerves in your feet and hands are also affected as theyre not getting enough oxygen and blood flow. This usually doesnt result in pain, but can induce a rather noticeable tingling sensation instead.
Can High Cholesterol Levels Cause Headache
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Can High Cholesterol Levels Cause Headache?
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The Heart Of The Matter
Cholesterol affects every single cell, organ, and biological process that makes you you. Everyone has it, and everyone needs it but the goal is to have more of the good kind and less of the less-good kind.
High cholesterol usually shows up without warning there arent really any physical symptoms to rely on. If left untreated, high LDL cholesterol can lead to heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease.
Get a regular physical and blood test! Its the only reliable detection method.
High cholesterol is treatable. Its usually managed with medication and lifestyle changes. Theres a lot you can do to help prevent high cholesterol:
- Stick to a healthy diet.
- Get regular exercise.
When Should High Cholesterol Be Treated With Medication
If youve had a heart attack, stroke, or have diabetes or been diagnosed with inherited high cholesterol, youll need to take one or more cholesterol-lowering medications, in addition to being careful with your diet and staying active. Statins can have a tremendous impact for lowering LDL cholesterol, says Khandwalla. Statins decrease your risk of illness and dying if youre in one of these high-risk groups.
In addition to statins, which should always be used first, other cholesterol-lowering drugs include fibrates, niacin, PCSK9 inhibitors, bile-acid sequestrants, and cholesterol absorption inhibitors, according to the CDC.
If you found out your cholesterol was high after a routine checkup, discuss your test results with your doctor. Your doctor will calculate your individual risk of heart attack or stroke to decide if you should be on a statin.
In some cases, the doctor may recommend giving a healthy diet and active lifestyle a try first. However, if your cholesterol levels remain high, you may need a heart scan to look for plaque buildup in your arteries, and your doctor may prescribe cholesterol-lowering drugs to lower your heart-disease and stroke risk.
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What Are The Warning Signs Of High Cholesterol
High cholesterol typically doesnt have any symptoms until it is an emergency event. The only way to know if you have a high level of ldl cholesterol is through a blood test. Leaving cholesterol untreated can lead to the buildup of plaque over time, damaging the heart and putting you at risk for a heart attack or stroke. Keep an eye out for heart attack or early stroke symptoms like:
- Nausea
Ten Symptoms Of High Cholesterol You Shouldnt Ignore
09 December, 2020
Those who know they have a tendency to suffer symptoms from certain health problems are often concerned about it. Therefore, well focus on these below.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance present in the fats of the blood. Although many only know it for its harmful effects on health, in reality, its essential for the optimal functioning of our body.
Cholesterol is necessary for the production of bile, which is responsible for digesting fat. In addition, its also responsible for the production of some hormones and helpful for your cardiovascular health.
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What Is High Cholesterol
High cholesterol is when there’s too much bad cholesterol and/or not enough good cholesterol in your blood.
This picture shows what it looks like if you have low cholesterol, normal cholesterol and bad cholesterol levels.
Sometimes health professionals talk about the terms dyslipidaemia and hyperlipidaemia. Both are clinical terms that mean your levels of cholesterol are outside the normal range.
Symptoms of high cholesterol
You won’t know if you have high cholesterol because it doesn’t usually have symptoms. The only way to know is to have a blood test.
Why does high cholesterol matter?
When your cholesterol is too high it can build up as plaque in your arteries. If the plaque gets too big, or breaks off, it can cause a heart attack and stroke. This risk also increases when your triglycerides are too high.
Your doctor will use the results of your blood test and your other heart attack risk factors to decide whether you need medication to lower your cholesterol or triglyceride levels.
High Blood Pressure Headaches And Other Hypertension Symptoms
Your blood pressure headache may be exactly what you might guess based on the feelings of pain and pressure in your head. As it feels like, that headache is the result of too much pressure in your head.
Other hypertension symptoms are also rare. You might not ever get them or you might get one or more of them only when you have a hypertensive crisis, which can be a medical emergency.
- Nosebleeds
- Blood spots in your eyes, or subconjunctival conjunctivitis
- Reddening of the face, or facial flushing, in the heat, cold, or wind, or after eating spicy foods or drinking hot beverages, or at other times.
Since these symptoms can indicate a hypertensive crisis, contact your healthcare provider or get medical care immediately if you have them.
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What Is Dangerously High Cholesterol
You may be diagnosed with borderline-high or high cholesterol if your blood test results show:
- Total cholesterol higher than 200 milligrams per deciliter
- LDL cholesterol higher than 100 mg/dL
- Triglycerides over 150 mg/dL
- HDL cholesterol lower than 40 mg/dL
But what do these numbers really mean for your health?
While having high cholesterol isnt something youll notice day to day, it does mean youre at risk for or may already have heart disease, the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States.
Want to know more? Here are answers to 11 frequently asked questions about high cholesterol.
Living With High Cholesterol
If you have high cholesterol, you are twice as likely to develop heart disease. That is why it is important to have your cholesterol levels checked, especially if you have a family history of heart disease. Reducing your LDL bad cholesterol through good diet, exercise, and medicine can make a positive impact on your overall health.
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Natural Remedies And Lowering Cholesterol
Its very important to talk to your health professional before using any:
- supplements
- natural remedies
- or complementary therapies.
Sometimes they can do more harm than good. They may interact with any medication that youre taking, which can be dangerous. They can also make your medication less effective. Your doctor needs to know everything that you are taking to ensure that the combination is safe.
If youve been prescribed cholesterol-lowering medication, make sure you take it as directed by your doctor. This is one of the most effective ways to keep your cholesterol levels down.
What Can I Do To Prevent These Problems
High cholesterol doesnt have any symptoms, but its easily detected with a routine blood test. While it can lead to very serious health problems, there are several ways you can improve your cholesterol levels and lower your risk of complications.
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Maintain a healthy diet. That means eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains instead of highly processed carbohydrates, and low-fat dairy products instead of high-fat dairy products. Stick to lean sources of protein, eat nuts and beans for snacks, and lower your intake of red meat, sugar, sodium, saturated fats, and trans fats.
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Stay physically active and try to spend less time sitting. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity every week, such as walking briskly, or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity every week, such as jogging. You can also do some combination of the two. Start slowly and build up gradually towards the target levels.
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Consider medication.Statins, such as and , are medications that lower your cholesterol levels. Statins can also lower your risk for heart attack and stroke if youre already at high risk due to diabetes or other conditions. is another medication that lowers cholesterol. The medication reduces cardiovascular risk in people who are already at high risk, and it may be appropriate for people who cant take statins or who need more intense treatment in combination with statins.
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How Can I Lower My Cholesterol Naturally
For many people, revamping everyday habits can go a long way toward lowering cholesterol without medication. There are a number of lifestyle changes that can be made, and they fall under the categories of diet and exercise, says Dr. Khandwalla.
Eating heart-healthy foods is a great place to start. This means reducing your intake of red meat and full-fat dairy products, both of which contain saturated fats that raise cholesterol. Instead, focus on eating lean proteins chicken, turkey, seafood and adding more soluble fiber to your diet from fruits, vegetables, and oatmeal, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute . Getting aerobic exercise most days of the week can also help lower cholesterol.