Cholesterol - The Good & The Bad

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In the actual sense, Cholesterol isn't necessarily harmful to the body since it is required for making vitamin D, hormones and digestive fluids. However having too much LDL (low density lipoprotein or bad cholesterol) in the body can cause heart problems and increase the risk for heart attack and stroke.

Some of the health issues associated with high levels of Cholesterol in the body include among others the following:

Risk Of Atherosclerosis

When there is an excess of LDL in our body it tends to build up in the arteries making them clogged and inflexible. The stiffness of the arteries is a condition called atherosclerosis. Blood doesn't pass easily through the hardened arteries which is why our heart has to overwork for pushing the blood through the stiff arteries.
Once your arteries start to clog up, there is increased chance of experienced various heart related problems.

Risk Of Angina And Peripheral Arterial Disease

When the plaque starts to deposit on the coronary arteries, it disrupts the flow of blood to the heart. This leads to intense chest pain called angina. Patients of angina are at a much greater risk for heart attack. When the plaque in the coronary artery clots up or breaks off it could block the flow of blood resulting in a heart attack. Plaque build-up can also block the blood flow to your limbs and stomach- a disease called PAD or peripheral arterial disease.

Risk Of Stroke

Decreases flow of oxygen rich blood to the brain due to a ruptured or clogged artery greatly increases the chances of a stroke. Plaque deposition in the blood vessels can eventually result in a stroke because of disrupted blood flow to the brain.

Problems In The Digestive System

Cholesterol is essential for the production of bile and this forms an essential part of our digestive system. However, too much of bile is converted into crystals and eventually into stones in the gall bladder, creating other equally dangerous side effects.

Stomach Ache

Extremely high cholesterol level can result in fat deposits on the liver, spleen, ligaments and skin. When the spleen or liver enlarges because of fat deposits, it causes severe stomach ache by putting pressure on the other organs of the abdominal cavity.

The higher the cholesterol level in your body, the greater the chances of developing diseases of the heart and blood vessels. High cholesterol doesn't come with any explicit symptoms which is why most of the patients get diagnosed when it's too late. Ensure you check your cholesterol levels on your next scheduled visit to the hospital. Also, if you are experiencing any of the health issues that are associated with high cholesterol levels, it is critical to get a medical check up as soon as possible.

Live healthy when you can

Comments

  1. UnknownSeptember 14, 2017 12:01 pm

    What type of food can contribute to higher cholesterol levels?

    ReplyDelete

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