![]() On top of lifestyle changes, your healthcare provider may recommend medication. ![]() ![]() Reducing your intake of foods containing trans and saturated fats (and replacing them with healthful choices such as fruits and veggies) Lifestyle Changesīecause some lifestyle decisions often contribute to high cholesterol, combating the condition often means reversing those habits and creating new ones. A healthcare provider will likely discuss two options: making lifestyle changes and taking medication. High cholesterol treatments aim to lower levels of LDL and triglycerides in your blood. Taking certain medications, such as beta blockers and certain birth control pills Having certain conditions like type 2 diabetes or kidney disease Other people aren’t born with high cholesterol but are at higher risk for developing it because it runs in their family.Īdditional risk factors of high cholesterol include:īeing a woman who's gone through menopause These people have high cholesterol at birth. Some people have an inherited condition called familial hypercholesterolemia, which impacts the body’s ability to get rid of cholesterol. Sometimes the development of high cholesterol is out of your control. Lifestyle choices include smoking, which can lower HDL, and not exercising, which can lead to weight gain and, in turn, a subsequent rise in LDL.Įating foods high in trans fats and saturated fats also contributes to high cholesterol by increasing the liver's production of LDL. Examples of foods high in trans fats include:ĭairy products, such as cheese and ice cream This can happen for reasons within your control, such as lifestyle choices, or outside of your control, like family history. High cholesterol occurs when too much cholesterol circulates in the blood. A level of 200mg/dL to 239mg/dL is considered borderline high. Healthcare providers will generally diagnose you with high cholesterol if your total cholesterol number is above 240mg/dL. The level is determined by the following formula: HDL+LDL+20% of your triglycerides. Total cholesterol: This is the amount of cholesterol circulating in your blood. Your triglycerides should be below 150mg/dL. Triglycerides: Theses are another type of fat in the blood that can thicken artery walls. Optimal levels are at least 40mg/dL for men and at least 50mg/dL for women. High-density lipoprotein (HDL): Referred to as the “good” cholesterol, this type moves extra cholesterol to your liver so that it can rid your body of it. Levels should be below 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Low-density lipoprotein (LDL): This is often called the “bad” cholesterol because it’s the type that forms plaque inside the arteries. A lipid panel will reveal the following numbers relating to your cholesterol: The blood test measures several aspects of your blood, including your blood's levels of two types of lipoproteins, which are proteins that carry cholesterol throughout the body. This test may require fasting beforehand for up to 12 hours. A healthcare provider will draw a sample of blood from your arm or finger. The only way to diagnose high cholesterol is through a blood test called a lipid panel. Some children with high cholesterol may have arcus juvenilis, which is a light gray or blueish ring made of mostly cholesterol around their iris. Another sign of high cholesterol may be found in your eye. In rare instances, people with high cholesterol may develop soft, yellowish cholesterol deposits on the skin called xanthomas. Your exact symptoms will depend on the location of the artery that's blocked, but in general a blocked artery may cause: The build-up in the arteries can form clots, which may block blood flow to the heart, brain, and tissues in the arms and legs. This build-up is a condition called atherosclerosis. Over time, excess cholesterol joins with other substances to form thick deposits called plaque on the inside of arteries. Instead, you may eventually experience symptoms from complications of the condition. High cholesterol itself usually doesn't have any symptoms.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |