Can High Cholesterol Make You Dizzy

Choosing The Right Life Insurance Company Is Critical

With any kind of health-related condition, choosing the right life insurance company needs to be a primary objective. Not all life insurance companies take the same view of high cholesterol. With some companies, it may be viewed as a minor condition, particularly if it is well-controlled. But other companies may see it as a major obstacle, and charge much higher premiums.

Its extremely important to make sure that the company that you make application to is one that takes a favorable view of a high cholesterol condition. Choose the wrong company, and you will pay far too much for the policy.

Can High Cholesterol Make You Dizzy

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Possible Heart Symptoms Never To Ignore

If you notice any of the symptoms discussed in this slide show, see your doctor or go to an emergency department right away. If you have any risk factors for heart disease it is especially important to pay attention to your body and get any symptoms checked out by a doctor. Getting prompt medical attention may save your life!

REFERENCES:

• American Heart Association: “Warning Signs of Heart Failure.”
• Anxiety and Depression Association of America : “How Can I Tell If I’m Having a Panic Attack Or a Heart Attack?”

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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.

Nausea Or Lack Of Appetite

Nausea, indigestion, vomiting, or abdominal swelling can occur during a heart attack. Sometimes the poor circulation due to a weak heart or blocked arteries can cause these symptoms. This is common in women, and often gets worse with activity and improves with rest. If you are experiencing nausea or lack of appetite that follows this pattern, see your doctor.

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Experiencing Lightheadness Or Dizziness You Could Have Carotid Artery Disease

If youre experiencing unexplained dizziness or lightheadedness, it may be time to see a doctor. These symptoms can have a range of causes, but some of them are serious and can even be life-threatening, like carotid artery disease.

To find out if your symptoms are related to carotid artery disease, schedule an appointment with us at Prime Heart and Vascular. Our founder, Rishin Shah, MD, is a renowned cardiac and vascular specialist who has the experience to determine if your symptoms are related to carotid artery disease.

Read on to learn more about this condition and its signs, as well as what to do about them.

How Do Doctors Diagnose High Cholesterol

Experts recommend a routine cholesterol screening every 4 to 6 years. A cholesterol screening is an overall look at, or profile of the fats in your blood. It is typically part of a blood test called a full lipid profile, which shows the actual levels of each type of fat in your blood: LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and others, as well as total cholesterol. Depending on your personal health factors and medical history, your doctor may recommend testing your cholesterol more often.

Testing is important because high blood cholesterol is a significant risk factor in andstroke. Lowering blood cholesterol through increased physical activity, weight loss, smoking cessation, and proper diet decreases that risk. However, blood cholesterol is very specific to each person. For that reason, a full lipid profile is an important part of your medical history and essential information for your doctor to have.

If abnormalities are discovered a second series of blood tests may be ordered to help your doctor better understand your clinical situation. For example, different cholesterol subunits respond better to different medications. Other subunits do not respond to medication and, in that case, none may be prescribed.

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Scared Of Getting Diabetes

According to the Journal of Geriatric Cardiology , the type of diet that Dr. Doyle recommends is highly beneficial for preventing and treating type 2 diabetes.

For people accustomed to SAD standard American diet the idea of the whole food, plant based diet will seem impossible.

If preventing and treating type 2 diabetes is as simple as adhering to a particular diet, why dont more mainstream medical doctors push this approach?

Its because medical school spends only a few hours on nutrition, and only in the general sense.

During internships and residencies at hospitals, medical doctors are essentially trained in only diagnostics, drugs and surgery.

Type 2 diabetes is usually treated with diet and exercise alone, yes, but the patient is typically only told to watch sugar intake or cut back on fast food, rather than told to keep intake of animal and processed products under 10 percent.

FoodTherapyMD is the brainchild of Dr. Mitchell Doyle and recognizes that phytonutrients, the substances that make plant food so amazing, can be tailored to fight specific disease states.

Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. Shes also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.

Numbness In The Body Parts

If you are constantly experiencing numbness in your body parts, then high cholesterol can be responsible for that. However, other causes can also be responsible for numbness and swelling.

When bad cholesterol appears high in your body, it affects blood circulation and prevents healthy nutrients from reaching the body. The lack of proper oxygen is also a cause of swelling and unusual numbness.

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High Cholesterol Warning Signs

The following signs typically indicate an advanced cholesterol disorder:

• Chest Pain If arteries leading to the heart are blocked by a cholesterol buildup, it can create chest pain, also called angina. You should contact your doctor right away to have chest pain evaluated. If you have any severe chest pain or chest pain accompanied by sweating, dizziness, nausea, or arm pain, you should call 911.
• Dizziness Feeling dizzy or lightheaded may indicate blocked arteries and can sometimes be signs of a stroke. If you have dizziness accompanied by slurred speech, a sudden severe headache, or numbness on one side of the body, you should call 911.
• Leg Pain Arteries clogged with cholesterol can reduce blood flow to the legs, creating pain. This is referred to as Peripheral Arterial Disease . Signs of PAD include pain in any part of the leg or a feeling that your legs or heavy or tired. Some people also report a burning sensation. Symptoms will usually get better with rest and return with walking or activity.

What Are The Symptoms Of High Cholesterol

High cholesterol typically doesnt cause any symptoms. In most cases it only causes emergency events. For instance, a heart attack or stroke can result from the damage caused by high cholesterol.

These events typically dont occur until high cholesterol leads to the formation of plaque in your arteries. Plaque can narrow arteries so less blood can pass through. The formation of plaque changes the makeup of your arterial lining. This could lead to serious complications.

A blood test is the only way to know if your cholesterol is too high. This means having a total blood cholesterol level above 240 milligrams per deciliter . Ask your doctor to give you a cholesterol test after you turn 20 years old. Then get your cholesterol rechecked every 4 to 6 years.

Your doctor may also suggest you have your cholesterol checked more frequently if you have a family history of high cholesterol. Or if you demonstrate the following risk factors:

• have high blood pressure
• smoke

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Things That Can Affect Your Heart And What To Do About Them

Debby Schrecengast’s blood pressure was “through the roof.” She had gained a lot weight. A history of heart disease ran deep in her immediate family.

When she looks back at herself in 2014, the year she suffered a stroke, she sees a “stubborn old donkey” in denial about her health.

“I had let my blood pressure go uncontrolled and I remained overweight for so long,” said Schrecengast, 56. “There’s some damage that I can’t undo. Now, I try to keep it from getting worse.”

Schrecengast, who lives in LaFargeville, New York, eased back into an exercise routine at her local YMCA. She took nutrition classes and spent evenings swapping healthy recipes.

Since then, she’s dropped 30 pounds and has run a half-marathon. She no longer needs blood pressure medicine.

Stroke survivor Debby Schrecengast made changes to improve her heart health.

“I know now I have to be diligent,” she said. “This really isn’t, ‘I have to be good for six months or I have to be good for a year.’ I have to be good forever.”

Genetics can play a role in cardiovascular health, but so can lifestyle changes. Here are eight factors than can affect the heart and what to do about them:

1. Cholesterol

What to know: “Bad” LDL cholesterol can clog up the arteries that feed your heart and brain and increase heart attack and stroke risk. “Good” HDL cholesterol can help eliminate the bad, but only to an extent. The body also takes in additional cholesterol from certain foods like meat, eggs and dairy.

4. Blood pressure

How To Spot High Blood Cholesterol

High blood cholesterol presents with no signs and symptoms until it causes a significant narrowing of one or more arteries. The only conclusive way to detect high blood cholesterol is with an appropriate diagnostic investigation. These tests are conducted on blood samples and the level of both good and bad cholesterol can be verified.

However, artherosclerosis can cause one or more of the following symptoms when it affects the heart or brain. It is important to note that the signs and symptoms discussed below may occur as episodes which comes and go. Eventually the symptoms will become severe and often permanent once a heart attack or brain stroke arises. Death is a possible outcome in these situations.

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More About The Symptoms Of Cholesterol

The liver is responsible for producing most of the cholesterol in your body, though you can also absorb it from foods that contain cholesterol. The problem is that, even though many organs need it, too much cholesterol causes irreparable damage. In fact, high cholesterol is a potential killer.

The most worrisome thing is that many are unaware that they have it in high quantities since it isnt usually manifested by blunt symptoms.

Consequently, it can lead to the development of more serious health problems, such as arteriosclerosis, hypertension, and kidney failure. Because of this, its very important to identify any signs that could help detect any problems early on.

When To Go To The Hospital

You need to seek emergency treatment if you have any of these symptoms:

Chest Pain

Chest pain should always be considered a serious symptom because it can indicate an emergency situation. If you’re experiencing chest pain and any of these factors apply to you, you should seek emergency care:

• You have a strong family history of early heart disease.
• You’re 45 years old or older and you have any of the risk factors for coronary artery disease, including obesity, smoking, family history, diabetes, high cholesterol, or a sedentary lifestyle.
• The pain is worse than any other chest pain you’ve had.
• The pain feels like it’s spreading to your neck, shoulders, arms, back, or jaws.
• The pain is crushing, tight, heavy, or feels like squeezing.
• You also feel nauseous, weak, short of breath, dizzy, sweaty, or you’ve fainted.
• You feel like something is very wrong.
• The pain keeps getting worse as the minutes pass.
• The pain is unlike anything you’ve experienced before.

Heart Attack Symptoms

If you have symptoms of a heart attack, be sure to seek emergency medical care. These symptoms include:

• Chest or arm pain, pressure, or discomfort that may spread to your neck, back, or jaw
• Shortness of breath

• Dizziness and loss of coordination
• Fainting
• Difficulty breathing

If you’re with a loved one and suspect he or she is having a stroke, use these measures to help you determine if there’s a problem:

Sudden Cardiac Arrest

• Collapsing suddenly

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What Are The Treatments For High Cholesterol

Your healthcare provider may recommend treating high cholesterol with lifestyle changes alone or in combination with medications to actively lower your cholesterol level. Lifestyle changes include eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, getting adequate physical exercise, and quitting smoking.

However, you may also need treatment with medications. Your doctor may order further blood tests to analyze specific inflammatory biomarkers and determine your individual need for cholesterol-lowering medication.

Medications used to treat high cholesterol include:

• Bile acid resins or sequestrants, such as cholestyramine and colesevelam , which help your body eliminate or remove cholesterol from the blood

• Ezetimibe , which prevents the absorption of cholesterol from the foods you eat

• Fibrates or fibric acid derivatives, such as fenofibrate and gemfibrozil , which help reduce triglycerides and increase the amount of high-density lipoprotein in your blood

• Niacin or nicotinic acid , which helps your body increase HDL levels while decreasing the amount of low-density lipoprotein levels and triglycerides in your blood

• Statins, such as simvastatin and , which reduce the amount of cholesterol the liver produces

You can help control your cholesterol levels and reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease by following the treatment plan you and your healthcare provider design specifically for you

Low Blood Pressure After Standing Up

Postural or orthostatic hypotension is a condition in which your blood pressure briefly drops when you get up quickly from sitting or lying down, causing nausea, dizziness, unsteadiness or blackouts. This is common and can be caused by dehydration, standing still for too long, becoming too hot and not eating enough or regularly enough .

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Heart Disease Risk Factors

It is important to pay attention to any symptoms that may indicate heart disease. Don’t ignore them or wait for them to go away see your doctor for testing and diagnosis. Many people mistake heart disease symptoms for heartburn or muscle soreness. If you have any cardiac disease risk factors, including

• being male
• have high cholesterol or high blood pressure
• obesity
• diabetes
• family history of heart disease

If you have any of the above risk factors, you need to pay extra attention to any potential heart disease symptoms.

Rapid Or Irregular Pulse

An occasional “skipped” heartbeat may be no cause for concern. But if you have a rapid or irregular heart rate this could be a symptom of a heart attack, heart failure, or an arrhythmia. This rapid or irregular pulse may also be accompanied by weakness, dizziness, or shortness of breath. Seek medical attention immediately some arrhythmias can lead to stroke, heart failure, or death without prompt medical intervention.

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How To Handle Side Effects

Donât stop taking your cholesterol drugs even if they donât make you feel great. Instead, talk to your doctor. There are a few ways they might be able to help you feel better:

Take a brief break. If you have muscle pain, your doctor may tell you to stop taking your drug for a short time and then start it again within a month. The time off can show if your medicine is causing the pain or if itâs due to another problem.

Check your other meds. If you take cholesterol drugs and other medicines, you might be more likely to have side effects. Tell your doctor about everything you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter meds, and supplements.

Get a lower dosage. Your doctor may try to reduce how much of your medicine you take. You might also be able to take a pill every other day instead of daily.

Switch treatments. If your side effects are too hard to handle, you might be able to try a different statin such pravastatin and rosuvastatin , which are less likely to cause muscle aches.The cholesterol drug ezetimibe may allow you to take a lower statin dose and thereby help relieve your muscle pain, for example.

Consider OTC treatments. Statins may lower levels of a substance in your muscles called coenzyme Q10, and that can cause pain. You may try taking CoQ10 supplements to get relief. Another option, L-carnitine, might help, too. But always talk to your doctor before you start taking any medicine, even ones you buy without a prescription.

Ways To Lower Your Risk

There really isnt a way to prevent side effects however, there are some steps you can take.

• Notify all healthcare providers of any medications you are taking, including any over-the-counter products and herbal remedies. Sometimes, these products can interact with your cholesterol medication and increase your risk of experiencing certain side effects.
• Keep your medical appointments. When first starting your cholesterol-lowering medication and later at periodic intervals, your doctor will want to monitor you for side effects and to make sure that the cholesterol drug is working properly. He or she will usually perform a physical exam, check your cholesterol levels and do other tests to ensure that you are healthy.
• If you are having side effects, try to keep a log of these reactions and when you are experiencing them. Is the side effect occurring immediately after you take the drug? Is it happening only when you take it with your blood pressure medicine or another drug? Is the side effect constant or happening only during certain times of the day? This information will help your physician decide whether or not to modify your dose or switch you to another medication.
• Be honest with your physician if you are experiencing side effects that you cannot tolerate. By letting him or her know, he or she can adjust or change your medication. This will help keep your cholesterol within a healthy rangewithout you being miserable in the process.

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