Today we are going to talk about a problem that many people have, but sometimes are not fully aware of. That is the body High cholesterol , or as we medically call it, high cholesterol. This is a bit of a sneaky disease, because it can silently affect the body without showing any major symptoms. So, let's take a look at what it is exactly, why it's dangerous, and how to protect yourself from this condition.
What is High Cholesterol?
Simply put, high cholesterol is a condition where the amount of fats, or lipids, in your blood increases too much. This is also called ``Hyperlipidemia'' or ``Hypercholesterolemia''.
Our bodies need a certain amount of these lipids to function properly. But when they become too high, the body can't use them all. Then these extra lipids start to build up in your blood vessels, or arteries. They combine with other substances in the blood and form fatty deposits called plaques .
These fatty deposits (plaques) may not cause any problems for years. But over time, they can build up inside the blood vessels. This is why high cholesterol can be dangerous if left untreated . Without you knowing it, these extra lipids are causing the plaques to grow. The only way to know if you have high cholesterol is to have a blood test.
This blood test is called a lipid panel . It shows how many lipids are in your blood. What is considered "high" cholesterol depends on your age, gender, and whether you have a history of heart disease.
Good vs. Bad Cholesterol
There are several types of lipids. Of these, you've probably heard of "good cholesterol" and "bad cholesterol."
Good cholesterol is called High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) . Think about it, the "H" in this can remind you of "Helpful". Your "(HDL)" cholesterol takes it to the liver. The liver is responsible for maintaining cholesterol levels. It makes the amount of cholesterol the body needs and gets rid of the rest. So, to carry cholesterol to the liver, you need to have enough "(HDL)". If your "(HDL)" level decreases, more cholesterol accumulates in the blood.
Bad cholesterol is called Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) . This is the one that causes fatty deposits (plaque) to form in the blood vessels. If the level of LDL is high, it can lead to heart disease over time.
When should you get your cholesterol checked?
High cholesterol can start at a young age, in childhood or adolescence. That's why current guidelines recommend starting screening at a young age.
- Children and young adults (age 9 and up): You should have your cholesterol checked at least every five years. You may want to start getting tested earlier if your parents have high cholesterol or a history of heart disease.
- Men: Every five years until age 45. Every one to two years from age 45 to 65. Every year after age 65.
- Women: Every five years until age 55. Every one to two years from age 55 to 65. Every year after age 65.
These are just general guidelines. You should talk to your doctor about what's best for you. For example, if you're in your 20s and have high cholesterol, you may need to get tested every year for a while. People with other risk factors for heart disease may also need to get tested more often.
What are the causes of high cholesterol?
Both lifestyle factors and genetic influences contribute to high cholesterol. Lifestyle factors include:
- Smoking and tobacco use: Smoking lowers your "good cholesterol" (HDL) and increases your "bad cholesterol" (LDL).
- Severe stress: When stress occurs , hormonal changes occur and the body increases cholesterol production.
- Alcohol consumption: Excessive alcohol consumption can increase total cholesterol levels.
- Staying physically active: Exercise, especially aerobic exercise, can improve cholesterol levels. If you work in an office chair all day, or if you spend most of your time sitting, your body may not produce enough "good cholesterol."
- Diet: Some foods can increase cholesterol, while others can decrease it. Doctors sometimes advise dietary changes or refer you to a nutritionist.
Are there any symptoms of high cholesterol?
Many people don't show any symptoms when they have high cholesterol. Even if you're a marathon runner, you can still have high cholesterol. You only start to feel symptoms when your high cholesterol causes other problems in your body.
High cholesterol increases the risk of conditions such as peripheral artery disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. High cholesterol is also common among people with diabetes.
How does high cholesterol affect your body?
If your cholesterol levels are high for a long time, fatty deposits called ``plaque`` will accumulate inside your blood vessels. This accumulation of fat is called atherosclerosis . People with this condition are at a higher risk of developing various diseases. The reason for this is that our blood vessels perform very important functions throughout the body. So if there is a problem in one blood vessel, it will affect the other parts like a wave.
Think of it this way: your blood vessels are like a system of water pipes that carry blood throughout your body. Those fatty deposits, called ``Plaque,'' are like the dirt that builds up in your pipes and blocks the flow of water. This ``Plaque'' builds up on the inside of your blood vessels, obstructing and restricting blood flow.
If you have high cholesterol, it means that this `(Plaque)` is building up inside your blood vessels. The longer it goes untreated, the bigger this `(Plaque)` gets. As it gets bigger, the blood vessels can become narrower, or even completely blocked. Just like a partially blocked water pipe, the blood vessels will work for a while. But they won't work properly, efficiently.
The risk of developing other diseases due to high cholesterol increases depending on which blood vessels are blocked.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is also known as Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and Ischemic Heart Disease. This is what most people mean when they say "heart disease." It is the most common type of heart disease and the leading cause of death in countries like the United States.
CAD occurs when the condition Atherosclerosis affects your coronary arteries. These are the blood vessels that supply blood to your heart. If your heart doesn't get enough blood, it can weaken and stop working properly. CAD can cause a heart attack or heart failure.
What many people don't realize is that CAD can also affect younger people . In fact, about 1 in 5 people who die from CAD are under the age of 65. That's why it's important to get your cholesterol checked at a young age. Over time, these fatty deposits, called plaque, can build up in your coronary arteries. Many people don't realize this until they have angina or other signs of a heart attack.
Carotid Artery Disease
When atherosclerosis affects your carotid arteries, it's called carotid artery disease. Your carotid arteries are the large, frontal arteries that carry blood to the brain. When plaque builds up in these arteries and narrows, the brain doesn't get the oxygen-rich blood it needs.
Carotid artery disease can cause either a transient ischemic attack (TIA), or what we call a "mini-stroke," or a major stroke.
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
When atherosclerosis affects the arteries in your legs or arms, it's called peripheral artery disease (PAD). The arteries in your legs and arms are called "peripheral" because they are far from the heart and the center of your body. PAD is most common in the legs, but it can also occur in the arms.
PAD is dangerous because it often has no symptoms . You may start to feel symptoms when a peripheral artery is blocked by as much as 60%. One of the main symptoms is intermittent claudication . This is a cramping pain in your leg that occurs when you walk or move, but goes away when you rest. This is a sign of reduced blood flow, which means that plaque is growing inside the artery.
PAD can cause serious problems in the legs and feet, and can affect other parts of the body as well. This is because all of your blood vessels are connected to each other through the cardiovascular system. So, if plaque builds up in one place, it slows down the entire vascular system.
PAD is not the same as CAD, but the two conditions are related. A person with one is more likely to have the other. The risk factors for both PAD and CAD are often similar.
High Blood Pressure
There is a link between high blood pressure (Hypertension) and high cholesterol. Cholesterol deposits (Plaque) and calcium can cause your arteries to become stiff and weak. Then, your heart has to work harder to pump blood through them. As a result, your blood pressure becomes too high.
High blood pressure and high cholesterol are two of the leading causes of heart disease. In a country like the United States, one in three adults has high blood pressure, and one in three has high cholesterol. More than half of adults in both groups do not get enough help from treatment, or they do not get any treatment at all.
The medications your doctor prescribes can help a lot, but lifestyle changes can help those medications work best. Lifestyle changes are very important for controlling both high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Some of those changes include:
- Reduce Saturated Fat and Trans Fat: Fast food can be high in both. But even foods in large restaurants can be high in saturated fat, depending on how they are prepared.
- Reduce fried and processed foods: This includes pre-packaged desserts and snacks.
- Reduce Sodium: Some foods contain hidden salt. It's important to read labels when buying food at the store. Some restaurants will even list the nutritional information for the items on their menus.
- Stop smoking and using tobacco products: Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease and blood vessel problems.
Do other diseases affect cholesterol levels?
There is a two-way relationship between disease and cholesterol. High cholesterol can lead to diseases such as atherosclerosis. Also, certain medical conditions can increase your risk of high cholesterol. Here are some medical conditions that can affect your cholesterol levels:
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at higher risk of developing coronary artery disease. This is because CKD causes plaque to build up in their arteries more quickly. People with early-stage CKD are more likely to die from heart disease than from kidney disease.
CKD can cause your blood to contain too many triglycerides ( a type of fat). It can also increase your Very Low-Density Lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol. VLDL is the type of cholesterol that carries triglycerides. At the same time, CKD can lower your "good" cholesterol (HDL) and prevent it from working properly. CKD can also change the structure of your "bad" cholesterol (LDL) particles, making them more harmful.
HIV infection
People with HIV are about twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke as people without HIV. Researchers previously thought that this increased risk was due to HIV medications (Antiretroviral Therapy). They believed that the drugs raised a person's cholesterol levels. But new research has shown that a person's immune system is actually responsible.
Even if your HIV status is under control, your immune system may still be overactive. This can cause your body to develop a state of chronic inflammation . This inflammation can lead to plaque buildup and atherosclerosis.
The good news is that people with HIV are now living longer, but that means more research is needed to understand how chronic diseases like heart disease affect them.
Thyroid Disease
Having thyroid disease can affect your cholesterol levels. This is because thyroid hormones affect the way your body uses lipids. This effect depends on the type of thyroid disease you have.
- Hyperthyroidism: This condition causes your body to produce too much thyroid hormone. Medications used to treat this condition can increase your cholesterol levels (total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL). If you are being treated for hyperthyroidism, talk to your doctor about how to manage your cholesterol.
- Hypothyroidism: This condition causes your body to produce less thyroid hormone. It also increases your cholesterol levels. In this case, treating your thyroid condition will lower your cholesterol levels. However, you may also need to take medications, such as statins, to bring your cholesterol levels back into the normal range. Your doctor will talk to you about what is best for your condition.
Researchers continue to investigate the link between thyroid disease and heart disease. Some studies have shown that thyroid disease can cause heart problems in ways other than cholesterol or plaque buildup. For example, both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can increase a person's risk of developing heart failure.
Lupus
People with lupus usually have high levels of "bad cholesterol" (LDL, VLDL) and triglycerides. They also have low levels of "good cholesterol" (HDL). People with active lupus are at a higher risk of developing high cholesterol than people with well-controlled (silent) lupus.
Lupus increases your risk of developing coronary artery disease. This is because lupus causes your body to become chronically inflamed. This inflammation causes plaque to build up rapidly in your arteries.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
People with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are at increased risk of developing heart disease. This risk increases as they age. PCOS increases the risk of many heart disease risk factors, including diabetes and high blood pressure. People with PCOS are more likely to have higher levels of "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and lower levels of "good" cholesterol (HDL).
Diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus)
Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes) doubles your risk of developing coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease. Diabetes is associated with decreased levels of good cholesterol (HDL) and increased levels of triglycerides and bad cholesterol (LDL).
About 7 in 10 people with Type 2 Diabetes are diagnosed with Diabetes-Related Dyslipidemia. This means they have high triglyceride levels, high "small dense" LDL cholesterol, and low "high density lipoprotein" (HDL) cholesterol. "Small dense" LDL cholesterol is a type of cholesterol that can easily stick to your artery walls and damage them. Having too much LDL cholesterol in your blood can increase the risk of plaque buildup.
Researchers continue to explore how diabetes and heart disease are linked.
How to reduce cholesterol?
Talk to your doctor about the best way to lower your cholesterol. Some people may need only simple lifestyle changes, such as reducing saturated fat. Others may need medication along with lifestyle changes. People with other medical conditions that affect cholesterol may need a more complex approach. Talk to your doctor about your medical history, family history, and lifestyle factors. Together, you can develop a plan to lower your cholesterol levels.
Remember, even the best plans take time to work. We all have setbacks. It's normal to feel overwhelmed, and it's important to tell your doctor if a plan isn't working. Sometimes, no matter how drastic your lifestyle changes, your cholesterol levels won't drop enough. That's because your liver produces most of the cholesterol in your body. So, there are many other factors that are out of your control and have nothing to do with what you eat.
Take it one step at a time, and remember that having high cholesterol is not a personal failing on your part. It's the result of a series of small, silent changes happening inside your body. Control the things you can control, but know that there are medications and other medical interventions to fill in the gaps.
High cholesterol is a sneaky, silent thing. You may have high levels of lipids in your blood for years without realizing it. It can be detected with a simple blood test. High cholesterol affects people of all ages, even those who think they are active and healthy. Some medical conditions increase a person's risk of high cholesterol and heart disease. Talk to your doctor about your cholesterol levels and what they mean for you.
Finally, the most important things to remember
Okay, so, from what we've talked about, there are a few things you should definitely remember:
- Cholesterol is a sneaky disease: it can cause problems inside the body without showing any major symptoms.
- Blood tests are essential: The only way to know your cholesterol levels is to have a ``Lipid Panel''.
- Age doesn't matter: High cholesterol can affect anyone of any age, even someone who exercises regularly and thinks they are healthy.
- Other medical conditions affect: People with certain chronic conditions are at higher risk of high cholesterol and heart disease.
- Know your numbers: Talk to your doctor to understand what your cholesterol level is and how it affects your health.
- Lifestyle and medication if necessary: This condition can be well controlled with a healthy lifestyle and medication taken as prescribed by a doctor.
Taking care of these things will be very important for your heart health as well as your overall health!
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