What are the things that affect your cholesterol levels? Let's talk.

When we hear the word cholesterol, it's a word that scares many of us, isn't it? If your blood report says your cholesterol is a little high, it can be a little scary. Because we all know that when these levels increase, serious diseases like heart attack and stroke can occur. So what are the real reasons why your cholesterol levels fluctuate? Let's talk about it in detail and simply today.

First, let's understand what cholesterol is?

Simply put, cholesterol is a fat-like, waxy substance in our blood. We need a certain amount of it to keep our body's cells healthy. But too much of it can be a problem. Like dirt clogging a water pipe, cholesterol builds up in our blood vessels (arteries), narrowing and blocking them.

When we talk about cholesterol, we often hear about two main types.

1. LDL (Low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol: This is what we call "bad cholesterol." These are the ones that stick to the walls of blood vessels, depositing and blocking them. Like barbed wire on the road.

2. HDL (High-density lipoprotein) cholesterol: This is the "good cholesterol." To be precise, these remove bad cholesterol from the blood vessels and carry it to the liver. It's like a street sweeper.

How what we eat affects cholesterol

The main and most obvious factor affecting cholesterol levels is our diet. In fact, our liver produces most of the cholesterol our body needs. But the foods we eat outside, especially foods high in saturated fats, can upset this balance.

Trans fat is even more dangerous because it not only increases bad LDL but also lowers good HDL. That means it kills two birds with one stone, harming us from both sides.

The relationship between body weight and cholesterol

Anyone of any body size can develop high cholesterol. That means even a thin person can develop high cholesterol. However, the risk is much higher for someone who is overweight, that is, someone who is obese.

Think about it, as our body fat increases, the way our body makes cholesterol and the process of removing it from the body changes. Simply put, as we gain weight, our body's ability to remove bad cholesterol decreases.

The effect of not exercising

Walking or cycling until you break a sweat every day is very good for your overall health and cholesterol levels. When you exercise less, you tend to gain weight, which directly affects cholesterol.

Aerobic exercise, especially walking, running, and swimming, can increase our good HDL cholesterol levels . But remember, to reduce bad LDL cholesterol, diet control and weight loss are essential while exercising.

Smoking is a terrible enemy.

The chemicals in cigarettes damage the walls of our blood vessels. When this damage occurs, the bad LDL cholesterol becomes more likely to stick to those walls. Not only that, smoking also lowers our good HDL cholesterol levels. It also narrows the blood vessels, thickens the blood, and makes the heart work harder. That's why smoking is the worst enemy for someone with high cholesterol.

Do some diseases cause cholesterol to increase?

Yes. Some chronic diseases cause long-term inflammation in the body. Simply put, this is like an internal wound that doesn't heal. This long-term inflammation can lower good HDL cholesterol and increase bad LDL cholesterol.

The following medical conditions can affect cholesterol levels:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Lupus
• Psoriasis
• Intestinal diseases such as IBD (Inflammatory bowel disease)
• Gum disease
• Some bacterial and viral infections

Pregnancy, stress and diabetes

Pregnancy

During pregnancy, the mother's liver produces more cholesterol to help the baby grow inside her. This is completely normal. By the third trimester, cholesterol levels can double or quadruple what they were before pregnancy. These levels usually return to normal within a month after delivery. However, if you had high cholesterol before you became pregnant, it is important to talk to your doctor about it and get it under control.

Stress

When you are under a lot of stress, your body produces a hormone called cortisol. This hormone can raise your cholesterol levels. Also, when we are stressed, we tend to eat "comfort foods" that are high in sugar and fat, we don't exercise, and some people turn to smoking. All of these behaviors are bad for cholesterol.

Diabetes (Type 2 Diabetes)

Diabetes can lower your good HDL cholesterol levels. Also, even if you control your blood sugar levels, your bad LDL cholesterol levels can increase. Therefore, someone with diabetes should definitely pay attention to their cholesterol levels.

Is this something that comes from generations?

Some people have high cholesterol due to genetic reasons. That is, it is inherited. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a condition that runs in families. People with this condition have difficulty removing bad LDL cholesterol from their blood.

Age and gender

As we age, our bodies are less able to remove cholesterol from our blood as efficiently as they were when we were younger. This is one reason why the risk of heart disease increases with age.

Typically, during youth, women have lower levels of bad LDL and higher levels of good HDL than men. But after menopause, women's bad LDL levels begin to rise.