CHOLESTEROL: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS

 Introduction

If you are reading this article then you must be a health conscious person and you want to remain fit and healthy, that's a great thing.

Now coming to the topic in hand, Cholesterol.

Cholesterol is basically a waxy, fat-like substance that is produced by the cells in your body. It is required in production of various hormones, Vitamin D and substances that help in the process of digestion. Your body makes enough cholesterol for its needs. Some outside sources of cholesterol are animal foods like cheese, meat and egg.

Types of Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fatty substance, that means it's insoluble in water or technically, insoluble in blood. For transportation in the body they combine with proteins and form lipoproteins. They are mainly of 2 types.

1. HDL : High Density Lipoprotein

2. LDL : Low Density Lipoprotein

High Density Lipoprotein

High density lipoprotein is commonly called HDL or "good" cholesterol. It's considered good because it helps in transporting excess cholesterol from different body parts to the liver, from where it can be removed from the body. Healthy level of HDL lowers the risk of blood clots, heart attack and atherosclerosis.

Low Density Lipoprotein

Low Density Lipoproteins are commonly known as LDL or "bad" cholesterol. It's considered bad because it takes cholesterol to your coronary or heart arteries that increases the risk for blood clots and heart attack.

Why is LDL harmful?

LDL takes cholesterol to the coronary arteries. Coronary arteries are the arteries that take oxygen rich blood from your heart to body parts. When you have too much cholesterol in your blood, it combines with other substances of the blood and results in formation of plaque in the arteries. With time this plaque grows and blocks the artery, causing Atherosclerosis. 

When the growth is not checked on time, it can completely block the coronary arteries causing chest pain(biological term: angina) and heart attack. If it builds up in the arteries that take blood to limbs and brain, it can cause peripheral arterial disease, stroke and carotid artery disease. That's the reason it's considered harmful.

Higher amounts of LDL or lower amounts of HDL, both are harmful for your bodies and may lead to serious health problems. Generally we face the problem of high LDL and we commonly refer to it as "High Cholesterol".

Causes

There are various causes because of which you might have a high cholesterol level in your body. Some of them are mentioned below.

1. Genetics

If you have a family history of high cholesterol then you might also be at a risk. Certain genes cause high production of cholesterol in the body. A condition called familial hypercholesterolemia is a genetic disease in which your cholesterol level goes high.

2. Unhealthy Food Habits

The major cause of high cholesterol in today's world is unhealthy eating.

We eat a lot of food that is rich in trans fats and saturated fats, both of which directly increase your LDL levels. Saturated fats are found in dairy products, some meats, chocolate and baked products. Trans fats are found in processed deep fried food items.

3. Smoking

Smoking is injurious to health in a lot of ways. One way is that it reduces the amount of HDL cholesterol in our body  and raises the level of LDL.

4. Lack of Physical Workout

Lack of physical exercises decrease the level of HDL in your body, that's very harmful. It also results in accumulation of fats making you unhealthy and fat.

Risk Factor

Anyone can face the problem of high cholesterol but there are some who are at more risk than others.

1.People with family history of high cholesterol (Genetic)

2. If you are Old, then you might have higher cholesterol levels.

3. Being Overweight or Obese is also a reason of high cholesterol.

How to lower cholesterol level?

High cholesterol levels are not uncontrollable, it's in your hands to control them. There are many ways by which you can reduce your cholesterol level.

1. Medicines

You can consult a doctor for your higher cholesterol and he will prescribe you medicines for your high cholesterol level. One such medicine is Statins. You might know some about the medicines, but you should consult a trained doctor for correct formulation and dosage.

2. Weight Management

If you are obese or overweight then you should control your eating habits and become fit. 

3. Physical Workout

Physical workout helps in increasing the levels of HDL in the body, which in turns reduces the level of cholesterol in the body.

Conclusion

High Cholesterol is a serious and life altering condition if not treated on time. It doesn't show any symptoms other than little chest pain, that also happens at an extremely serious condition. One must get their cholesterol levels checked time to time as precaution.

Stay Safe, Stay Healthy and fit and Stay tuned for more.

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