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What Causes High Cholesterol Levels

Limit Your Alcohol Intake

What are the causes of high cholesterol? | Apollo Hospitals

Alcohol can increase your levels of triglycerides. Along with LDL cholesterol, high levels of triglycerides raise your risk of heart disease.

Excess alcohol consumption also increases blood pressure and can lead to obesity both additional risk factors for heart disease.

To reduce the risk of heart disease and other risks from alcohol, limit your intake to no more than 10 standard drinks per week and no more than 4 drinks per day.

How Can You Prevent High Cholesterol Levels And Coronary Heart Disease

Prevention methods are very much the same as treatment methods. First, dont smoke. If you do smoke, make plans to quit now. Find ways to add physical activity to each of your days. Take steps to keep your weight in a healthy range. Eat well. Consider following the Mediterranean diet. It is the only diet proven to reduce the risk of heart disease. Take care of any other medical conditions you might have by following your healthcare providers advice and instructions. Learn to really relax and calm down.

Diagnosis Of High Cholesterol

In most cases, your doctor will find your high cholesterol through routine screening. A lipid panel usually measures total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol.

Your doctor may order other tests to help decide whether medicines are needed to lower your risk of heart and blood vessel diseases. These may include a coronary calcium scan, which uses computed tomography to detect calcium deposits in the arteries of your heart, and blood tests for levels of C-reactive protein and lipoprotein-a.

The American Heart Association recommends routine cholesterol screening for all adults after age 20, but your doctor may order lipid tests more often based on your individual and family risk.

Your doctor will ask about your eating habits, physical activity, family history, medicines you are taking, and risk factors for heart or blood vessel diseases. During your physical exam, your doctor will check for signs of very high blood cholesterol, such as xanthomas, or signs of other health conditions that can cause high blood cholesterol.

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You Dont Need To Avoid Eggs And Seafood

Some foods are high in cholesterol but are fine to eat in moderation, as long as your overall diet is low in saturated fats. For example:

  • Egg yolks a single egg yolk contains 200250 mg of cholesterol, which is almost the uppermost recommended daily intake . However, reducing egg intake is probably not important for healthy people with normal blood cholesterol levels.
  • Seafood prawns and seafood contain some cholesterol, but they are low in saturated fat and also contain healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Seafood is a healthy food and should not be avoided just because it contains cholesterol. However, avoid fried and battered seafood.

What Medications Are Used For Hyperlipidemia

8 High Cholesterol Causes

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.

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Treatment For High Cholesterol

Lifestyle changes are one of the first things your doctor will recommend for managing high cholesterol. All medications can cause side effects, including medications to lower your cholesterol, and many people can successfully lower their cholesterol without them. Your doctor will determine which treatment approach is best for you.

Lifestyle changes that can help lower your cholesterol include:

  • Adenosine triphosphate-citrate lyase inhibitors

Buttermilk Regulates Brown Adipogenesis:

Stored energy in the body in the form of fat makes people gain weight. Since brown adipose tissue spends energy, its presence is crucial in weight loss activity. Research has shown that buttermilk regulates brown adipogenesis. Furthermore, it suggests that buttermilk can be the ruling food for anti-obesity.

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How Can I Lower My Cholesterol By Making Lifestyle Changes

You can lower your cholesterol levels by making lifestyle changes, and through taking medicines if that’s what your doctor advises. Some people will only need to improve their lifestyle and diet to get their cholesterol to a safe level. Others may need to take cholesterol-lowering medicines, as well.

Ways To Lower Cholesterol

What Causes High Cholesterol? | FYI

Check your own cholesterol level and if its high, ask to have your kids levels checked.

Here are 5 ways to help keep your familys cholesterol in control:

  • Serve a heart-healthy diet, including:- vegetables, fruit, and whole grains- lean meats and poultry, fish, nuts, beans, and soy products- nonfat or low-fat milk and dairy products- healthy fats, like those found in fish, nuts, and vegetable oils
  • Limit drinks and foods with added sugars.
  • Read nutrition facts labels so that you can limit cholesterol and saturated fat and trans fat.
  • Encourage plenty of exercise. Exercise helps boost HDL levels in the blood and thats a good thing! Kids and teens should be physically active at least 60 minutes a day.
  • Help your kids keep a healthy weight.
  • Its important to make healthy living a family effort. The steps you take to improve your familys lifestyle will have a positive effect on your familys health now and far into the future.

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    How Is Familial Hypercholesterolemia Diagnosed

    FH can be diagnosed through clinical and/or genetic tests. Cholesterol screening is recommended to begin between ages 9 and 11 and once more between ages 17 and 21 and should be continued through adulthood. If the following criteria is met, then a diagnosis of FH could be considered:

    • LDL cholesterol levels equal to or greater than 190 mg/dL for adults 20 years or older
    • LDL cholesterol levels equal to or greater than 160 mg/dL based for those younger than 20 years
    • A patients family history of vascular-related diseases
    • Physical examination for visible symptoms
    • Current diagnoses of vascular-related diseases

    Multi-gene panel testing that searches for variants in the LDLR, LDLRAP1, APOB, and PCSK9 genes can also be used to diagnose FH. However, a negative genetic test does not completely rule out FH if clinical signs clearly point toward the condition. Its possible that other genes and variants that have not yet been discovered could contribute to the disorder. Here at Yale we can perform whole exome sequencing that provides information on all mutations that affect a protein in the body. This allows identification of previously unknown genetic mutations.

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    How Is High Cholesterol Diagnosed

    You cant tell if you have high cholesterol without having it checked. A simple blood test will reveal your cholesterol level.

    Men 35 years of age and older and women 45 years of age and older should have their cholesterol checked. Men and women 20 years of age and older who have risk factors for heart disease should have their cholesterol checked. Teens may need to be checked if they are taking certain medicines or have a strong family history of high cholesterol. Ask your doctor how often you should have your cholesterol checked.

    Risk factors for heart disease include:

    • Cigarette smoking.
    • Having an immediate family member who has had heart disease.
    • Being overweight or obese.
    • Inactivity.

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    Medications To Treat High Cholesterol

    For most people who need medication to manage high cholesterol, doctors will prescribe statins. Statins, also known as HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, are a class of drugs that prevent cholesterol from forming in the liver, where both LDL and HDL cholesterol are made. This lowers the amount of cholesterol circulating in the blood. They are most effective at lowering LDL cholesterol but can also lower triglycerides and HDL cholesterol.

    If you have certain conditions, or if statins arent working to decrease your high cholesterol sufficiently, your doctor may prescribe one of these other cholesterol-lowering medications:

    • PCSK9 Inhibitors A newer type of medicine, PCSK9 inhibitors bind to and inactivate a protein on certain liver cells, which then lowers LDL cholesterol. Administered by injection, they are often used in patients with high cholesterol that doesnt respond to statins or people with familial hypercholesterolemia.
    • Selective Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors The most commonly used nonstatin agent, according to the AHA, selective cholesterol absorption inhibitors prevent cholesterol from being absorbed in the intestine. This means less cholesterol is delivered to the liver and, ultimately, the blood.
    • Bile Acid Sequestrants Also known as bile-acid-binding agents, these drugs work by removing bile acids from the liver. Since LDL cholesterol is needed to make bile acids, the body then breaks down more LDL cholesterol particles.

    Ldl Cholesterol Or Bad Cholesterol

    Ways to Reduce LDL Cholesterol and Prevent Its Buildup?

    LDL cholesterol is often called bad cholesterol. It carries cholesterol to your arteries. If your levels of LDL cholesterol are too high, it can build up on the walls of your arteries.

    This buildup is also known as cholesterol plaque. This plaque can narrow your arteries, limit your blood flow, and raise your risk of blood clots. If a blood clot blocks an artery in your heart or brain, it can cause a heart attack or stroke.

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    What Causes High Hdl Levels

    A few things can push your HDL level above 60 mg/dL. You can control some of these factors. Others you canât.

    Your genes. Certain genes make you more likely to have high HDL cholesterol. Inherited high HDL sometimes protects against heart disease, but sometimes it increases the risk.

    For example, people with a change in the gene SCARB1 have larger than normal HDL cholesterol particles in their blood that increase their heart disease risk.

    Some people of Japanese descent inherit genes that make them produce too little of the protein CETP, which helps carry cholesterol around the body. Having low CETP leads to high HDL levels in your blood, but it doesnt seem to increase the risk for heart disease.

    If you have high HDL and close relatives like your parents or siblings have had heart disease, a heart attack, or a stroke, your doctor might send you to a genetic counselor or cardiologist for more testing.

    Your diet. Foods that are high in unsaturated fats, such as fish, nuts, and green leafy vegetables raise HDL in a good way. Other foods increase HDL cholesterol too much. They are some of the same foods that also raise unhealthy LDL cholesterol, like:

    • Red meat

    Drinking too much alcohol can also raise HDL levels.

    Medications. Medicines like these can increase HDL levels:

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    Ways To Prevent High Cholesterol

    You can prevent high cholesterol the same way you can help lower itby living a healthy lifestyle focused on a heart-healthy diet and exercise. Other strategies that can help prevent high cholesterol include:

    • Quitting smoking
    • Getting enough good quality sleep
    • Limit alcohol intake

    However, if you have familial hypercholesterolemia, you may not be able to prevent it. You can work with your doctor to detect it early and manage it to prevent complications.

    What Causes High Cholesterol In Women The Causes Of High Cholesterol And How To Lower It

    The Cholesterol Myth – The Real Cause Of High Cholesterol

    Cholesterol affects women differently than men in general this is why

    High triglycerides, another type of blood fat, can also mean youre at risk of heart disease, liver disease and diabetes.

    Having elevated levels of either substance in your blood is a concern for both men and women but it generally the risk manifests differently in women.

    This is an overview of the effects of high cholesterol and triglycerides in women, the causes, and what you can do to lower your levels.

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    What Treatments Are Available For High Cholesterol

    Treatment may include:

    • Addressing risk factors. Some risk factors that can be changed include lack of exercise and poor eating habits.

    • Cholesterol-lowering medicines. Medicines are used to lower fats in the blood, particularly LDL cholesterol. Statins are a group of medicines that can do this. The two most effective types are atorvastatin and rosuvastatin. Other medicines that lower cholesterol levels are ezetimibe and PCSK9 inhibitors.

    What Complications Are Possible If You Dont Treat High Cholesterol Levels In Your Blood

    The main reason to treat high cholesterol is to prevent or treat coronary heart disease , also called coronary artery disease or CAD. CHD happens when heart is not able to get enough oxygen-rich blood to function well and kills more people in the U.S. than any other cause of death. CHD usually refers to the large arteries, but there is also a condition called coronary microvascular disease that affects the small vessels and causes damage.

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    What Are The Causes Of High Cholesterol And Liver Enzymes

    Your liver, one of the largest organs in your body, stores energy and nutrients, makes proteins and enzymes, breaks down and removes harmful substances and produces cholesterol. Doctors monitor liver function by determining the level of three important liver enzymes: gammaglutamyltransferase, or GGT, aspartate aminotransferase, or AST, and alanine aminotransferase, or ALT. Several medical conditions that can cause high cholesterol can also cause high liver enzymes.

    If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.

    Link Between Obesity And High Cholesterol:

    Hdlcholesterollow What Does Cholesterol Do To You?,cholesterol can i ...

    Obesity and hypercholesterolemia are correlated. Reducing obesity can also lead to a reduction in the level of cholesterol. A study states that consuming saturated fats can elevate LDL cholesterol. Saturated fats are generally solid at room temperature.

    Some of the saturated fats are:

    • Stearic Acid

    The same study states that consuming polyunsaturated fats can reduce cholesterol levels in a person.

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    Why You Should Avoid Cholesterol

    Cholesterol circulates throughout the bloodstream, and too much of it can have negative effects on your body, especially your heart. High levels of “bad” cholesterol can raise your risk of heart disease or stroke.

    When you have too much LDL cholesterol in your system, it can form plaque, which is a buildup on the walls of the blood vessels. This buildup narrows the blood vessels, which blocks the healthy flow of blood in the body and can potentially cause a heart attack or other problems. For this reason, experts recommend consuming less than 300 milligrams of dietary cholesterol per day.

    Cholesterol also travels within the central nervous system and is important for normal brain functioning. Too much of it, however, may have negative consequences for learning and memory. Reducing cholesterol through the use of drugs called statins may improve memory, but more research is needed in this regard.

    Increase Your Physical Activity

    Physical activity increases levels of HDL cholesterol the good cholesterol that removes LDL cholesterol from the blood. Vigorous aerobic exercise is best.

    If you havent been exercising much lately, gradually build up to the recommended amount of physical activity:

    • People aged 18-64 years should do 30 to 60 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days of the week.
    • People aged 65 years and over should aim for a total of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days .

    Moderate-intensity exercise is a level that increases your heart rate and breathing but allows you to keep talking. Vigorous intensity exercise makes your heart rate higher and makes you breathe more heavily.

    Resistance training and muscle-toning exercises can increase HDL cholesterol. Aim to do this twice a week.

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    Medication May Be Needed

    For some people, diet and lifestyle changes are not enough. High blood cholesterol levels often have a genetic component. Some people inherit altered genes that cause high cholesterol and this cannot usually be changed sufficiently by lifestyle or diet.

    If you are at risk of coronary heart disease and your LDL cholesterol level doesnt drop after scrupulous attention to diet, your doctor may recommend medications to force your blood LDL levels down. Cell cholesterol levels, however, remain normal, so lowering blood cholesterol has no effect on most cell metabolic processes.

    Some people get muscle aches from statins, which are the most commonly used medication to lower blood cholesterol. However, diet and exercise will still be important, even if you are taking medication. Your doctor may also refer you to a specialist who treats cardiovascular disease.

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