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.
Surgery And Angioplasty Have Risks And It Takes Time To Get Better
Angioplasty is not as hard on your body as surgery, and the recovery is faster. But stents may not provide a lasting treatment and the original symptoms can come back within a year. Rarely, when a stent is being inserted, dangerous bleeding may happen and the stent may come apart.
Both procedures can, in rare cases, cause a partly blocked artery to close up completely. Then you may need an emergency procedure. If the procedure cannot be done right away, your leg may have to be amputated.
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How Do You Check Your Cholesterol At Home
To use a cholesterol home test kit, you first prick your finger with the lancet. Next, you place the blood droplet on the test strip. The cholesterol home test strip has special chemicals that change colors after a few minutes. You then match the final color against a color guide thats included with the kit.
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What Medications Are Used For Hyperlipidemia
People who need medicine to treat their high cholesterol usually take statins. Your provider may order a different type of medicine if:
- You cant take a statin.
- You need another medicine in addition to a statin.
- You have familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic problem that makes your bad cholesterol number extremely high.
Can You Tell If You Have High Cholesterol By An Eye Exam
Your body makes its own cholesterol, which it needs to function properly however, cholesterol is also found in many foods. If you consume excess cholesterol, this waxy substance may build up in your arteries, narrowing them and putting you at an increased risk for serious health conditions such as heart attacks and strokes. Blood tests will determine your blood cholesterol levels, but during an eye exam, your doctor may detect warning signs.
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How Can I Lower My Cholesterol
There are two main ways to lower your cholesterol:
- Heart-healthy lifestyle changes, which include:
- Heart-healthy eating. A heart-healthy eating plan limits the amount of saturated and trans fats that you eat. Examples include the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes diet and the DASH Eating Plan.
- Weight Management. If you are overweight, losing weight can help lower your LDL cholesterol.
- Physical Activity. Everyone should get regular physical activity .
- Managing stress. Research has shown that chronic stress can sometimes raise your LDL cholesterol and lower your HDL cholesterol.
- Quitting smoking.Quitting smoking can raise your HDL cholesterol. Since HDL helps to remove LDL cholesterol from your arteries, having more HDL can help to lower your LDL cholesterol.
- Drug Treatment. If lifestyle changes alone do not lower your cholesterol enough, you may also need to take medicines. There are several types of cholesterol medicines available, including statins. The medicines work in different ways and can have different side effects. Talk to your health care provider about which one is right for you. While you are taking medicines to lower your cholesterol, you should continue with the lifestyle changes.
NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Who Should 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
- are over the age of 40 people over 40 should have their estimate of CVD risk reviewed regularly
- have a family history of early cardiovascular disease for example, if your father or brother developed heart disease or had a heart attack or stroke before the age of 55, or if your mother or sister had these conditions before the age of 65
- have a close family member who has a cholesterol-related condition, such as familial hypercholesterolaemia
- are overweight or obese
- have high blood pressure or diabetes
- have another medical condition, such as kidney disease, an underactive thyroid, or an inflamed pancreas these conditions can cause increased levels of cholesterol or triglycerides
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How Is Cholesterol Measured
Most people with high cholesterol feel perfectly well and often have no symptoms. The best way to find out if your cholesterol is high is to have a blood test .
Visit your GP to determine whether you need to lower your cholesterol level and what action to take.
GPs can also do a heart health check, that calculates your heart disease and stroke risk.
Ways To Prevent High Cholesterol
Making healthy lifestyle choices can help you keep your cholesterol under control. These include:
If you know you have a family history of high cholesterol or have been diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia, you cannot prevent the condition from developing. However, you can work closely with your doctor to manage your condition well and prevent complications. This includes checking your cholesterol levels regularly and taking medications that can lower your cholesterol.
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Hdl Cholesterol Or Good Cholesterol
HDL cholesterol is sometimes called good cholesterol. It helps return LDL cholesterol to your liver to be removed from your body. This helps prevent cholesterol plaque from building up in your arteries.
When you have healthy levels of HDL cholesterol, it can help lower your risk of blood clots, heart disease, and stroke.
Ways To Lower Cholesterol
Check your own cholesterol level and if itâs high, ask to have your kidsâ levels checked.
Here are 5 ways to help keep your familyâs cholesterol in control:
Itâs important to make healthy living a family effort. The steps you take to improve your familyâs lifestyle will have a positive effect on your familyâs health now and far into the future.
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/6when Does Cholesterol Become A Menace
When the level of cholesterol crosses the ideal or threshold level, it becomes trouble for the human body.
Cholesterol less than 200 milligrams per deciliter in the human body is considered to be normal. Ideally the good cholesterol or the HDL cholesterol should be above 40 for men and 50 for women while the bad cholesterol or the LDL cholesterol should be less than 100. At normal range, the triglycerides should be less than 149 mg/dL.
/6high Cholesterol In India
There are more than 10 million cases of high cholesterol reported per year in India, on an average.
As per a 2017 research study, in India high cholesterol is present in 2530% of urban and 1520% rural subjects. This prevalence is lower than high-income countries. The most common dyslipidemia in India are borderline high low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high low density lipoprotein cholesterol and high triglycerides.
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Prevention Of High Cholesterol
Regularly monitoring your cholesterol levels can also help prevent your numbers from getting too high or low. In general, healthy adults should check their cholesterol every four to six years, but your doctor may ask to check your cholesterol more often depending on your age, overall health, and other risk factors. There are other ways to prevent high cholesterol, too
Specialist Treating And Preventing High Cholesterol
Our heart specialists at University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute help patients successfully prevent and treat high cholesterol. Our preventive measures and treatments for patients with high cholesterol help reduce the risk of stroke, heart disease and other life-threatening conditions.
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that keeps us healthy and helps our bodies perform important functions. However, too much of it can be harmful. When your cholesterol levels are too high, you have high cholesterol or hyperlipidemia.
Your body has two types of cholesterol. Too much LDL or bad cholesterol can lead to the hardening and blocking of your arteries. In contrast, good cholesterol or HDL, can remove dangerous plaque from your arteries. Hyperlipidemia refers to excessive amounts of LDL or bad cholesterol in your body.
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Physical Signs Of High Cholesterol You Should Know About
Cholesterol is a fatty substance which is developed naturally in the body. It performs several vital functions like rebuilding walls surrounding the bodys cells and converting basic materials into certain hormones.
You only need a small amount of cholesterol and almost all of them are produced by your body. Most of the cholesterol in your body is produced in your liver. The rest of them come from your diet. This kind of dietary cholesterol is present in foods such as eggs, meat, and dairy products.
If you have too much cholesterol in your bloodstream, you have high cholesterol. High cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. For this reason, knowing the cholesterol levels in your blood is quite important to prevent any future heart disease and blockages of blood vessels.
There are two main types of cholesterol you should be aware of:
- high-density lipoprotein , or good cholesterol
In other words, high levels of LDL cholesterol can cause more plaque accumulation and increase the risk of a heart attack, stroke and other diseases. On the other hand, high levels of HDL cholesterol can actually help prevent heart attacks and strokes. HDL gains its good name by removing LDL cholesterol from the arteries and tissues and bringing it back to the liver where the excessive LDL cholesterol is broken down.
Risk Factors for High LDL Cholesterol
Physical Signs of High Cholesterol Levels
1. Sore Hands and Feet
2. Frequent Tingling
Cholesterol And Healthy Eating
What we eat has an impact on our cholesterol levels and can help reduce our risk of disease. Try to eat a wide variety of foods from each of the five food groups. Not only does this help to maintain a healthy and interesting diet, but it provides essential nutrients to the body.
The Heart Foundation recommends:
- Plenty of vegetables, fruits and wholegrains.
- A variety of healthy protein sources , legumes , nuts and seeds. Smaller amounts of eggs and lean poultry can also be included in a heart healthy diet. If choosing red meat, make sure it is lean and limit to 1-3 times a week.
- Unflavoured milk, yoghurt and cheese. Those with high blood cholesterol should choose reduced fat varieties.
- Healthy fat choices nuts, seeds, avocados, olives and their oils for cooking
- Herbs and spices to flavour foods, instead of adding salt.
Also, be mindful on how much you are eating and whether you are filling up on unhealthy foods. Portion sizes have increased over time and many of us are eating more than we need which can lead to obesity and increase our risk of cardiovascular disease.
Ideally, a healthy plate would include servings of ¼ protein, ¼ carbohydrates and ½ vegetables.
Serving size can vary depending on age, gender and specific nutrition needs.
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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.
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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What If My Cholesterol Levels Aren’t Healthy
As your LDL cholesterol gets higher, so does your risk of heart disease. Take these steps to lower your cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease:
- Eat heart-healthy foods
- Stay at a healthy weight
- If you smoke, quit
- If you have type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, take steps to manage it
- Ask your doctor about taking medicine to lower your risk of heart attack and stroke
What Are Normal Cholesterol Levels
A normal total cholesterol level is less than 200. A normal LDL level is less than 130. A normal HDL level is higher than 35.
A high HDL level is better. An HDL level higher than 60 is the best. HDL is called the good cholesterol because it helps remove cholesterol from your body. In this way, HDL helps prevent heart disease and stroke. Regular exercise is a good way to increase your HDL level.
If your total cholesterol level is 200 to 239, you have a borderline level. The word borderline is used because levels of 200 to 239 are close to being high. A total cholesterol of 240 or above is a high level.
If your LDL level is 130 to 159, you have a borderline level. If your LDL level is 160 or higher, you have a high level.
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Top Misconceptions About High Cholesterol
This post is available in: Spanish
Did you know that slender people can have high cholesterol? Or that getting older even if youre physically fit can cause LDL, or the bad cholesterol, to rise?
There are plenty of misconceptions about cholesterol, and that can make some adults candidates for life-altering events, such as a heart attack or a stroke.
Cholesterol circulates in the blood and can mix with other substances to form a thick, hard deposit on the inside of the arteries. This can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible a condition known as atherosclerosis.
If a blood clot forms and blocks one of these narrowed arteries, a heart attack or stroke can result. This is why high cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for heart disease.
Nearly one of every three U.S. adults have high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol , which is considered the bad cholesterol because it contributes to fatty plaque buildups and narrowing of the arteries. About 94.6 million, or 40 percent, of U.S. adults have total cholesterol of 200 mg/dL or higher. LDL-C levels of 100 mg/dL or lower are linked to lower rates of heart disease and stroke.
High cholesterol is one of the major controllable, or modifiable, risk factors for coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke. If you have other risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure or diabetes, your risk increases even more.
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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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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.
How Your Toenails Can Tell You If You Have High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in your blood, and having too much of it is bad for your heart and can lead to a stroke.
It is mainly caused by a diet high in fat or by missing out on exercise, being overweight, smoking or drinking alcohol.
But according to the NHS, while high cholesterol is potentially very serious it does not cause obvious symptoms.
The only way to definitely tell if you have high cholesterol is with a blood test.
But Dr Sami Firoozi, a consultant cardiologist at Harley Street Clinic, said there are a two cholesterol complication warning signs that you may be able to spot, according to the Daily Record.
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The signs to watch out for are brittle toe nails, and slow-growing toe nails.
Consistently high levels of cholesterol can put people at risk of peripheral aerial disease where fatty deposits made from cholesterol build up and block the arteries and stop blood supplies to the leg muscles.
PAD is what may cause the signs in your toenails.
Dr Firoozi said: Although PAD is not immediately life-threatening, the process of atherosclerosis that causes it can sometimes lead to serious and fatal problems such as critical limb ischaemia which occurs if the blood flow to the legs becomes severely restricted.
Symptoms include strong burning pain in the legs and feet even when resting, skin turning pale, shiny, smooth and dry, and loss of muscle mass in the legs.
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