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What Is The Worst Cholesterol Level

Which Of These Causes Is Your Reason For High Cholesterol

How you can lower your bad cholesterol level

Hannah, Facty Staff

Despite what we often hear, cholesterol is essential for the body to survive. Cholesterol is responsible for building the structure of our cell walls, producing digestive bile acids in the intestines, aiding the body in producing vitamin D, and assisting the body with certain hormones. However, as with many things in life, cholesterol is only good in moderation. Consuming too much cholesterol is dangerous. High cholesterol can be the cause of many fatal conditions such as heart attacks and strokes. Keep reading to learn about symptoms, causes, and preventions of high cholesterol.

Cholesterol And Heart Disease: Understanding The Connection

For years, it had been believed that theres more or less a straight line between cholesterol and heart disease but recent research suggests that this relationship may be more complex.

A Minneapolis Heart Foundation study, published in April 2017 in the Journal of the American Heart Association, found that many people who have heart attacks donthave high cholesterol. The link between cholesterol and heart disease is weak, says Dr. Roberts, who places a large portion of the blame for the persistence of that link on pharmaceutical advertising for statin drugs. Statins dolower cholesterol levels, she says, but atherosclerosis still progresses due to factors like age, poor diet, smoking, and so on.

In addition, a review of studies of cholesterol and cardiovascular disease published in August 2015 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that no rigorous connection could be drawn between dietary cholesterol intake and the risk of CVD.

In contrast, the results of long-term research, published in September 2017 in the journal Circulation, concluded that statin use in men with high LDL cholesterol who had no other risk factors for heart disease reduced their rates of coronary heart disease death, cardiovascular death, and all-cause mortality by 28 percent over 20 years.

Furthermore, a study of more than 400,000 people published in December 2019 in The Lancet found a strong link between non-HDL cholesterol and long-term risk of cardiovascular disease.

Questions To Ask Your Doctor

If testing shows you have high cholesterol, you may want to ask your doctor these questions at your next visit.

1. What are the dangers of having high cholesterol? Can other problems develop?

2. What could have caused my cholesterol to be too high? Is it inherited?

3. Are there things I can do at home or in my life to reduce my cholesterol?

4. Is medicine necessary? Are there alternative treatments?

5. If medicine is needed, how does the medicine work?

6. How long can I take medicine? What are the side effects? Is long-term use harmful?

7. How can exercise help to lower my cholesterol?

8. Where can I learn more about how to live with high cholesterol?

9. What changes should I make to the way I eat?

10. How often do I need to get my cholesterol level checked?

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Other Factors That Affect Blood Cholesterol

The CDC point outs that some health conditions and lifestyle factors can raise cholesterol levels. It says that type 2 diabetes, for example, raises LDL cholesterol levels, as does familial hypercholesterolemia.

The CDC also states that having a diet high in saturated fats and getting low levels of exercise may contribute to high cholesterol levels.In addition, it acknowledges that having family members with high cholesterol increases a persons risk.

The NIH recommends consulting a healthcare professional before starting a new exercise plan, but overall, it advises a person to get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day.

Having a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise can also bring down high cholesterol levels in children.

Generally, the earlier a person starts making these changes, the better for their cholesterol levels, as cholesterol builds up over time.

High cholesterol at any age increases the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. These risks only increase over time.

How Does My Health Care Provider Decide Which Cholesterol Medicine I Should Take

Pin on Bad Cholesterol

When deciding which medicine you should take and which dose you need, your health care provider will consider:

  • Your cholesterol levels
  • Your risk for heart disease and stroke
  • Any other health problems you have
  • Possible side effects of the medicines. Higher doses are more likely to cause side effects, especially over time.

Medicines can help control your cholesterol, but they don’t cure it. You need to keep taking your medicines and get regular cholesterol checks to make sure that you cholesterol levels are in a healthy range.

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Foods That Help Lower Cholesterol

The body already produces cholesterol on its own this vital fat is essential to the proper function of cell membranes. However, consuming foods and drinks high in cholesterol give the body more than it needs, which poses an increased risk for heart disease, stroke, and other ailments. The degree to which foods high in cholesterol raise blood cholesterol varies from person to person, but everyone can benefit from a balanced diet paired with daily exercise to maintain healthy levels. Some foods not only assist in lowering bad LDL cholesterol but also leave the good HDL cholesterol unaffected.

Your Test Results: A Preview

Your test results will show your cholesterol levels in milligrams per deciliter of blood . Your total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol are among numerous factors your doctor can use to predict your lifetime or 10-year risk for a heart attack or stroke. Your doctor will also consider other risk factors, such as age, family history, smoking status, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Lipid profile or lipid panel is a blood test that will give you results for your HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and total blood cholesterol.

Watch an animation about cholesterol score.

Also Check: What Does High Non Hdl Cholesterol Mean

Can Heart Disease In Women Be Prevented

You can help lower your risk by:

  • Learning how to prevent heart disease and making heart-healthy habits part of your daily life.
  • Asking your provider about your personal risk for heart disease and the best way to manage your heart health.

Remember, women can have heart disease without symptoms. But if you pay attention to your risk for heart disease, you can take action to prevent problems or keep them from getting worse.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

What Are The Symptoms Of Heart Disease And Heart Attack In Women

What is Cholesterol?

When women have symptoms of heart disease, they may include:

  • Pain or discomfort in the chest that may be dull and heavy or sharp
  • Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper belly, or back
  • Unusual fatigue
  • Shortness of breath during physical activity

Women who have coronary artery disease are more likely than men to have chest pain when resting or doing daily activities, rather than during exercise. They’re also more likely than men to feel chest pain from mental stress.

Symptoms of a heart attack in women may also be different than in men. Chest pain is the most common symptom for both sexes. It may feel like crushing or squeezing. But women are somewhat less likely than men to have chest pain.

During a heart attack, women may feel:

  • Pressure or tightness in the chest
  • Pain in the upper back, arms, neck, jaw or throat
  • Indigestion, heartburn, nausea, or vomiting
  • Shortness of breath

Heart attacks usually don’t look like the sudden, dramatic events we see in the movies. The symptoms may be mild or strong. They may start slowly. They can stop and then come back.

Recommended Reading: Triglycerides And Cholesterol The Same Thing

Your Ldl Isnt As Important As We Thought It Was

Extensive research studies in countries across the world have shown this time after time.

A 30-year survey by the University of California in Los Angeles tracked 136,905 cholesterol patients from 541 hospitals across the US.

Their findings? Cholesterol is useless at predicting deaths from cardiovascular disease in the over-50s.

Useless.

Study after study concludes the same thing: your LDL cholesterol level can be low or too high and we still dont really know if you are more or less likely to get a stroke or heart attack.

The cholesterol story we tell ourselves is hopelessly flawed. But because its been our best guess weve stuck with it. Despite the fact that tens of thousands of people die as a result of it.

We now know exactly whats wrong with that story. And, at last, we can do something that works against LDL cholesterol.

Is Eating Liver Bad For Your Cholesterol

eating liverLiverhigh in cholesterolhigh ineathigh ineat

They suggest limiting the following foods to achieve this:

  • dairy products made from whole or reduced-fat milk.
  • saturated vegetable oils, such as coconut oil, palm oil, and palm kernel oil.

can Liver Problems Cause High Cholesterol? Liver disease causes damage to the liver, which can mean that it is not able to work as well. One of the functions of the liver is to break down cholesterol. If the liver is not working properly, it can cause cholesterol to build up in the body.

Thereof, is eating liver bad for you?

Even though liver is incredibly healthy and nutritious, it should not be consumed daily. Eating it once per week is enough. Bottom Line: Liver contains many essential nutrients. However, it is very rich in vitamin A and copper, which may cause problems in excessive amounts.

What meat can I eat with high cholesterol?

If you have high cholesterol, you should talk with your doctor about what you eat, including meat. There are good, lean choices. For example, you can consider chicken or turkey breasts without skin pork tenderloin or beef round, sirloin, or tenderloin.

Read Also: Is Groundnut Oil Cholesterol Free

Are Potatoes Good For High Cholesterol

4.7/5highcholesterolare potatoes

In respect to this, what are the worst foods for high cholesterol?

They suggest limiting the following foods to achieve this:

  • dairy products made from whole or reduced-fat milk.
  • saturated vegetable oils, such as coconut oil, palm oil, and palm kernel oil.

Secondly, what is the best drink to lower cholesterol? Drinks That Can Help You Lower High Cholesterol

  • Tart cherry juice. PR Newswire notes a study published in Food & Function found tart cherry juice may help cholesterol levels and cardiovascular health in general.
  • Cranberry juice.

Keeping this in view, what should you not eat when you have high cholesterol?

Here are 4 high-cholesterol foods that can negatively impact your health.

  • Fried Foods. Fried foods â such as deep-fried meats and cheese sticks â are high-cholesterol and should be avoided whenever possible.

What snacks are good for high cholesterol?

5 Snacks to Help Battle High Cholesterol

  • Nuts. Almonds, walnuts, and even peanuts are great for your heart.
  • Vegetables. Vegetables are a fantastic source of essential minerals, vitamins, and fiber, which help lower LDL cholesterol.
  • Popcorn. When you eat a smart serving size and avoid the butter and salt, popcorn can be low in calories.

Here are some of the best morning foods for improving your numbers.

  • Oatmeal. A bowl of oatmeal packs 5 grams of dietary fiber.
  • Egg white scramble with spinach.
  • Apple bran muffins.
  • Ldl Does Matter But In A Special Way

    High Cholesterol

    Over a period of a year Scott Davis studied the cholesterol scientific literature all of it.

    The research literature showed that high LDL wasnt on its own causing strokes or heart attacks.

    There was something else that was doing the damage.

    If you had this something else then you were in trouble. If you didnt have it, you were out of the woods.

    And this was regardless of your actual LDL level. It was this other element that was the key to life or death.

    And this other element is called oxidized cholesterol.

    Oxidized cholesterol only exists within LDL cholesterol which is why high LDL could be a health problem.

    But you can have lots of LDL cholesterol yet only a low proportion of it is oxidized.

    On the other hand however you can have low LDL readings yet lots of that LDL is oxidized.

    Heres a simple illustration of this vital point: imagine Mary has high LDL cholesterol but only a small portion of it contains oxidized cholesterol.

    Whereas Bob has low LDL cholesterol but quite a bit of it is oxidized.

    Bob thinks hes safe.

    But its that oxidized cholesterol that builds plaque inside his arteries. And its that plaque that narrows the arteries and restricts blood flow.

    Which strains Bobs heart and makes a heart attack so much more likely.

    And when a piece of that plaque finally breaks free and travels to the brain Bob has a stroke.

    Even with a low LDL reading Bob had too much oxidized cholesterol. And that can have tragic consequences.

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    What Types Of Cholesterol Are There

    There are two different types of cholesterol including:

    • “Bad Cholesterol” which carry cholesterol particles throughout your body. LDL cholesterol is bad because it builds up in the walls of your arteries, making them hard and narrow which can increase the risk of a heart attack.
    • “Good Cholesterol” which picks up excess cholesterol and takes it back to the liver. Having high HDL is linked to lower risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

    What Is The Highest Recorded Cholesterol Reading

    According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest triglyceride level ever reported was 3,165 milligrams per deciliter or 21 times the healthy level of 150 milligrams per deciliter in 1998. Triglycerides, a dangerous type of fat that contributes to the overall cholesterol count, is used together with LDL and HDL cholesterol to determine a persons overall risk for heart disease, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is important to overall heart health, according to the Mayo Clinic. Normal total cholesterol levels are below 200 milligrams per deciliter, while LDL cholesterol levels below 100 milligrams per deciliter and HDL cholesterol below 60 milligrams per deciliter are ideal. LDL cholesterol is commonly referred to as bad cholesterol, while HDL cholesterol is considered good cholesterol.

    Measured in milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood, the LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglyceride counts can be influenced by genetic factors, exercise, diet, smoking and high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association. The test to measure all three factors is called a lipid panel or lipid profile.

    Also Check: Diet To Lower Triglycerides And Blood Sugar

    Chocolate And Chocolate Spreads

    Commercially available chocolate spreads contain added sugar and a lot of saturated fats. Milk and white chocolate also have high levels of saturated fats. They are bad for cholesterol.

    Don’t forget to check the label before you buy chocolates and chocolate spreads. Meanwhile, dark chocolate can be a better alternative to satisfy your sweet tooth.

    The American Heart Association Recommends

    LDL Cholesterol level: Your lab results explained

    All adults age 20 or older should have their cholesterol checked every four to six years. If certain factors put you at high risk, or if you already have heart disease, your doctor may ask you to check it more often. Work with your doctor to determine your risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke and create a plan to reduce your risk.

    Read Also: How Much Apple Cider Vinegar To Lower Cholesterol

    What Is Cholesterol And Is It Unhealthy

    Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in your body and in animal products such as meat, eggs, and dairy.

    It plays important roles in the production of hormones, vitamin D, and the bile necessary for digesting fats. Its also an essential component of every cell in your body, giving cell membranes strength and flexibility .

    Your liver produces all the cholesterol your body needs to function, but cholesterol can also be introduced by eating animal products.

    Since cholesterol doesnt mix well with liquids such as blood, its transported by particles called lipoproteins, including low density and high density lipoprotein or LDL and HDL.

    LDL is often referred to as bad cholesterol because its associated with plaque buildup in your arteries, while HDL helps excrete excess cholesterol from your body .

    When you consume extra cholesterol, your body compensates by reducing the amount that it naturally makes. In contrast, when dietary cholesterol intake is low, your body increases cholesterol production to ensure that theres always enough of this vital substance .

    Only about 25% of cholesterol in your system comes from dietary sources. Your liver produces the rest .

    How To Win The Fight Against Cholesterol

    So heres what happened.

    Just over 2 years ago I attended an alternative health exhibition in a neighboring state.

    Actually, Im the last person to look at alternative remedies.

    Rightly or wrongly, I trust doctors in everything. If they cant remedy a problem then, to me, that problem clearly has no remedy.

    But my fears about cholesterol then were exactly the same as yours probably are now.

    I knew strokes ended in paralysis or death. And heart attacks ended in disability or death.

    And both are much, much more likely to happen the longer your cholesterol remains high.

    I was very scared by the prospect. I looked at my loved ones and I just knew that I didnt want them to see this happen to me.

    And so there I was at this conference, listening to alternative health practitioners discussing little-known treatments for some of societys biggest health problems.

    On the second day of the exhibition I was talking to a guy who, it turned out, had himself suffered high cholesterol for 14 years.

    His condition was genetic too. Seven members of his extended family had variations of very high cholesterol.

    Two had died. One had experienced a stroke that had left her wheelchair-bound.

    But the other four including him no longer had a cholesterol problem at all.

    Theyd gone from being in the very high risk category

    to no longer having even the slightest chance of a stroke or heart attack.

    And he explained to me how hed achieved this.

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