The Average Level Of Cholesterol
Before we talk about the relationship between cannabis and cholesterol, lets look at an average level of cholesterol? Usually, cholesterol tends to increase with age. Usually, children do not suffer from high cholesterol. You can check their cholesterol levels once in a blue moon. However, if the child is obese or has other risk factors of cholesterol, he/she needs to get checked regularly. On average, men tend to have higher levels of cholesterol than women. However, women tend to experience high cholesterol levels after reaching menopause. The doctor recommended cholesterol levels are:
How Smoking Affects Cholesterol
Smoking lowers your HDL cholesterol, which increases your risk of many heart conditions, in addition to the effect it already has on your lungs. It increases the deposit of plaque in your arteries, and worsens inflammation.
Chronic inflammation in your arteries leads to atherosclerosis, also referred to as hardening of the arteries, which in turn leads to coronary artery disease. To make matters worse, people who smoke and deal with other conditions that cause LDL cholesterol are at even greater risk for heart attack, stroke, and other related conditions.
If ever there was another reason to stop smoking, the damage it can potentially do to your heart is certainly a worthy one. Smoking is an addiction, which can make stopping especially hard. But it can be done, and it will help you get healthier.
If you need to find ways to lower your cholesterol from smoking or other causes, schedule a visit with Dr. Veiseh to get on the road to better health and a longer life. Call our office or request an appointment online today.
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The Risks Of Cigarette Smoking
If you smoke, your risk of:
- heart attack is twice as high as someone who does not smoke
- coronary heart disease is increased if you are a woman using the contraceptive pill
- stroke is three times higher than someone who does not smoke
- peripheral arterial disease, which can lead to gangrene, is increased by more than five times.
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Does Smoking Contribute To Heart Disease
Yes, smoking cigarettes can harm nearly any part of your body, including your heart and blood vessels .
When breathed in, the toxic mix of more than 7,000 chemicals1 in cigarette smoke can interfere with important processes in your body that keep it functioning normally. One of these processes is the delivery of oxygen-rich blood to your heart and the rest of your body.
When you breathe, your lungs take in oxygen and deliver it to your heart, which pumps this oxygen-rich blood to the rest of your body through the blood vessels.
But when you breathe in cigarette smoke, the blood that is distributed to the rest of the body becomes contaminated with the smokes chemicals. These chemicals can damage your heart and blood vessels,1 which can lead to cardiovascular disease the leading cause of all deaths in the United States.2
The Link Between Smoking And Cholesterol
Despite the fact that weve been aware of the dangers of smoking for decades, its estimated that 16 million people still live with smoking-related conditions. Additionally, nearly half a million people die from conditions caused by smoking annually, and smokers tend to die a decade sooner than those who dont.
The addictive nature of nicotine is very powerful, and people who dont stop smoking risk a future of many terrible conditions, such as emphysema, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , and lung cancer.
Smoking also raises the risks of many cardiovascular conditions due to the impact it can have on your cholesterol.
Residents of Beverly Hills, California, struggling with cholesterol problems related to smoking can find help with Dr. Shawn Veiseh and his experienced, dedicated, medical staff. We specialize in finding ways to give you the best health care on your schedule, with numerous in-house options for single visit exams and diagnostic tests.
Lets look at the common causes of high cholesterol, the effects of smoking on your body, and what smoking does to affect the amount of cholesterol in your body.
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How Is Smoking Related To Heart Disease And Stroke
Smoking is a major cause of cardiovascular disease and causes one of every four deaths from CVD.9 Smoking can:10
- Raise triglycerides
- Lower good cholesterol
- Make blood sticky and more likely to clot, which can block blood flow to the heart and brain
- Damage cells that line the blood vessels
- Increase the buildup of plaque in blood vessels
- Cause thickening and narrowing of blood vessels
When Should My Cholesterol Levels Be Tested
Your GP may recommend that you have your blood cholesterol levels tested if you:
- have been diagnosed with coronary heart disease, stroke or mini stroke , or peripheral arterial disease
- have a family history of early cardiovascular disease
- have a close family member who has a cholesterol-related condition
- are overweight
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The Dangers Of Second
While you might not be a smoker yourself, you might be sharing the same house as someone who does smoke. It is a well-known fact that second-hand smoke is also dangerous to your health, but at what extent?
People who breathe second-hand smoke will also inhale the toxic vapors that come with it. This means that living with a smoker can also lead to heart attacks. In the US alone, about 34,000 non-smokers die of coronary heart disease induced by breathing second-hand smoke.
Workers who dont smoke, but have to inhale second-hand smoke at their workplace, are 25 to 30 percent more likely to develop a heart disease. Naturally, it is also possible for second-hand smokers to develop problems with their blood circulation and their vascular system.
Even more, non-smokers forced to inhale tobacco smoke are also 20 to 30 percent more likely of having a stroke compared to non-smokers who dont breathe in cigarette smoke.
Stop Smoking To Optimize Hdl Cholesterol
Smoking cigarettes can lead to a number of health problems, including lung disease and cancer, and also increases your risk of heart attack. But did you know smoking can also suppress or lower those good cholesterol levels?
Smoking can reduce HDL cholesterol in many ways, including by inhibiting HDL synthesis in the first place, blocking its maturation, and speeding up its clearance and metabolism, Dr. Ahmed says. Quitting smoking can help your HDL synthesis and metabolism to go back to their natural levels so that the HDL can do its job better again.
And research agrees. A study published in September 2013 in the journal Biomarker Research found that ex-smokers had higher HDL cholesterol than smokers, noting: We conclude that quitting smoking increases HDL cholesterol, and that this increase occurs rapidly after quitting, with no clear pattern of change thereafter.
If youre trying to quit smoking, talk to your doctor about the many methods to help you through the process.
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Two Types Of Cholesterol
After your provider checks your cholesterol, you will see a few numbers on your lab report. One of them is your total cholesterol. This looks at all the different types of cholesterol levels in your body. Here well look at two main types: HDL and LDL.
People often call high-density lipoprotein the good cholesterol. This is because its job is to bring bad cholesterol to the liver so your body can remove it. High levels of HDL help decrease your heart disease risk. Here are the recommended levels of HDL to get heart health benefits:
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For males: over 40 mg/dL
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For females: over 50 mg/dL
The other type of cholesterol low-density lipoprotein is your bad cholesterol. Thats because it can damage blood vessels, causing coronary artery disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. Lowering your LDL can decrease your risk of heart disease.
So how low does your LDL need to be to get heart health benefits? For people at low risk of heart disease, the LDL goal is less than 100 mg/dl. For those at high risk, or those with diabetes and/or heart disease, the goal is less than 70 mg/dl.
It can be difficult to remember the target levels of HDL versus LDL. Heres a simple way to remember the goals for each: Aim high for HDL. Aimlow for LDL.
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Elevated Cholesterol And Triglyceride Levels
Elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood cause damage to your endothelium. The body needs cholesterol , but too much comes with health risks. Your body usually produces most of the cholesterol it needs in your liver. The rest comes from animal fat in your diet.
While our bodies also need some low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, too much can raise your cholesterol levels dangerously and put you at risk for atherosclerosis and heart attack. Foods that come from animals, such as chicken, eggs, dairy products, beef, and pork, contain cholesterol. Foods from plants do not contain cholesterol.
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Can Cbd Reduce High
Although there needs to be more research about the benefits of cannabis regarding heart-related issues, CBD can be used in smaller dosages to reduce high-level cholesterol. However, it would be best if you always asked a doctor before you start taking it. It is better to take CBD in other forms apart from smoking. Cannabis is available as oils, tinctures, gummies as well as other edibles.
Myth: I Cant Do Anything To Change My Cholesterol Levels
Fact: You can do many things to improve your cholesterol levels and keep them in a healthy range!
- Get tested at least every 5 years .1,2 Learn more about cholesterol screenings.
- Make healthy food choices. Limit foods high in saturated fats. Choose foods naturally high in fiber and unsaturated fats. Learn more about healthy diets and nutrition at CDCs nutrition, physical activity, and obesity website.
- Be active every day. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults get 150 to 300 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. Learn more about physical activity basics and tips.
- Dont smoke or use tobacco products. Smoking damages your blood vessels, speeds up the hardening of the arteries, and greatly increases your risk for heart disease. If you dont smoke, dont start. If you do smoke, quitting will lower your risk for heart disease. Learn more about tobacco use and ways to quit at CDCs smoking and tobacco use website.
- Talk with your health care provider about ways to manage your cholesterol if any medicines are given to you to manage your cholesterol, take them as they are prescribed. Learn more about medicines to lower cholesterol.
- Know your family history. If your parents or other immediate family members have high cholesterol, you probably should be tested more often. You could have a condition called familial hypercholesterolemia .
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What Causes High Cholesterol
Many factors can increase your chances of having heart problems or a stroke if you have high cholesterol.
These include:
- an unhealthy diet in particular, eating high levels of saturated fat
- smoking a chemical called acrolin, found in cigarettes, stops HDL transporting cholesterol from fatty deposits to the liver, leading to narrowing of the arteries
- having diabetes or high blood pressure
- having a family history of stroke or heart disease
There’s also an inherited condition called familial hypercholesterolaemia. This can cause high cholesterol even in someone who eats healthily.
Read more about the causes of high cholesterol
The Best Foods To Raise Your Hdl
Here at Allrecipes, were strong believers that all foods fit. As long as youre not allergic to an ingredient, everything in moderation, we say! So while well never say, Dont eat that! we certainly will shout, Load up on this! And these four foods are particularly on our stock-up-now list since theyve been shown to improve HDL cholesterol levels.
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How The Acrolein In Cigarettes Affects Cholesterol
Acrolein also interferes with the LDL by inhibiting the protective enzyme responsible for keeping the LDL intact. Without this enzyme, the LDL becomes vulnerable to oxidation, a complicated chemical process that changes its molecular structure. Due to this change in structure, the immune system is no longer able to recognize the LDL. In response to this, the immune system releases white blood cells and other disease-fighting substances that bind to the affected area, causing inflammation and further buildup at the site. One study found that the more oxidized LDL present in the bloodstream, the higher the incidence of a heart attack or stroke.
Causes Of High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is the name for the waxy substance found in your blood that helps to build healthy cells, but high levels of bad cholesterol can lead to a variety of problems that can affect your cardiovascular system.
High density lipoprotein, or HDL, is beneficial to your body and helps carry excess cholesterol and remove it from your blood or break it into smaller components in your liver. Low density lipoprotein, or LDL, is the bad cholesterol that builds up in the walls of your arteries, making them harder and narrower, and is associated with a wide variety of health conditions.
LDL cholesterol is often caused by:
- Unhealthy diet
But understanding how smoking affects cholesterol starts with knowing what smoking does to your body.
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Cholesterol Myths And Facts
Cholesterol can be confusing! Learn answers to common questions about blood cholesterol.
What do your cholesterol numbers mean? Can the foods you eat change your cholesterol levels?
Learn the difference between cholesterol myth and fact. Then commit to getting your cholesterol checked this year so you know your numbers and your risk for heart disease and stroke.
Commit to getting your cholesterol checked this year so you know your numbers and your risk for heart disease and stroke.
Is Smoking Bad For Blood Cholesterol Levels
Smoking is the most important avoidable risk factor, responsible for the death of many people, which not only affects lung integrity but also alters blood cholesterol levels. Smokers are at high risk of certain diseases derived from smoking. According to the World Health Organization , four million tobacco-related deaths occur each year. Chronic bronchitis, emphysema and various types of cancers of the respiratory tract are, as many other diseases caused by tobacco consumption. But how does cigarette affect cholesterol? What is the relationship between smoking and hypercholesterolemia?
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This Is How Drinking Alcohol Affects Your Cholesterol
The habits you develop in your daily life contribute to your health in both positive and negative ways. If youre looking to make some positive lifestyle changes to contribute to your health, start with choosing nutritious foods, getting plenty of exercise, and avoiding smoking. Your alcohol intake matters, too.
In moderate amounts, red wine is commonly linked to healthy cholesterol levels. But drinking more hard liquor, beer, mixed drinks, and excess red wine has a negative impact on your cholesterol levels.
At Westmed Family Healthcare, we want you to understand the connection between alcohol and cholesterol. Heres some information about cholesterol and how drinking affects your heart health.
Tobacco Effects On Blood Cholesterol Levels
Smoking increases by itself the risk of damaging the cardiovascular system and, together with other factors, the danger is much greater. The mechanism by which these diseases appear or increase is because nicotine increases platelet aggregability, LDL cholesterol the bad one, and triglycerides in the blood. This favors the appearance of atherosclerosis, with which the arteries become less flexible and there is the possibility of rupture causing a hemorrhage.
Carbon monoxide in contact with blood hemoglobin hinders oxygenation and, consequently, deprives some organs of oxygen, but also causes platelet aggregation and increases LDL cholesterol. For this reason, smoking light cigarettes does not reduce the risk of illness, as the smoker usually inhales more smoke to compensate for the lower dose of nicotine which will increase the carbon monoxide increasing the problems it causes. Tobacco also stimulates blood clotting with the consequent risk of clots within the bloodstream.
Together with other risk factors, their consequences multiply. It is more difficult to control hypertension when the person smokes. LDL cholesterol increases in the blood due to smoking, while HDL cholesterol the good one decreases. Coronary disease patients who continue to smoke are very likely to fall into a previous disease or have other complications such as heart attack, stroke, heart failure, etc.
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Does Quitting Smoking Improves Cholesterol
Some studies show that quitting smoking has a positive effect on cholesterol. With just quitting smoking, the levels of good cholesterol are increased and those of bad cholesterol can be reduced.
In a large study, with about 1,500 smokers, 334 had quit smoking at the end of a year. In this group of ex-smokers, good cholesterol increased by 5%, with better results in women.
In contrary to expectations, these quitters did not obtain significant improvements in levels of bad cholesterol, however, they suffered an increase in weight of 5 kilograms on average. Since another factor in the increase of bad cholesterol is obesity, it seems very likely that if there are benefits in reducing bad cholesterol, these can be counteracted by the increase in weight.
So, if you have high cholesterol and are a smoker, seriously plan to quit smoking. Quitting is not easy, many times medical help is required. What is certain is that it is indispensable that the smoker wants to quit. Occasionally, the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are important and nicotine gum and patches are needed.
It is necessary to keep in mind the reason for stopping smoking, to repeat the message that smoking is dangerous to health, not to return to tobacco. To distract oneself in moments of anxiety, eating some fruit or walking are instruments with which to fight. You have to know that tobacco is a drug and that you have an addiction.