Cholesterol is a fat
like substance that circulates in the blood and is
produced by the body from dietary cholesterol and saturated
fats in food. Cholesterol is not harmful if kept within
acceptable limits.
It is used by the body to perform a variety
of vital functions, including building
and maintaining cell membranes, hormone synthesis,
and the manufacture of Vitamin D. It is only when blood
cholesterol levels become too high,
that too much cholesterol can become a problem.
The body manufactures two types
of cholesterol - LDL (which is seen as a 'bad' form of
cholesterol) and HDL (which is seen as a 'good' form
of cholesterol).
When LDL levels are too high, this leads
to a buildup of plaque in the arteries,
with an increased risk of heart attack and atherosclerosis. Healthy levels
of HDL will help to clean away cholesterol in the arteries
before it has a chance to build up.
In order to maintain healthy levels, we
need to keep the LDL levels down and
the HDL levels up.
What are the symptoms of high cholesterol?
High cholesterol levels often exist without
any significant symptoms and many people
only discover the problem after they have had heart problems
like angina or even a heart attack.
If your cholesterol levels are very high,
you may notice small yellow nodules beneath
the skin of your eyes, eyebrows or elbows. Although it
is possible to do a home test (obtainable from your pharmacy),
these tests only measure total blood cholesterol levels
and do not measure HDL.
The best way to find out whether you have
high cholesterol levels is to visit your doctor, homeopath,
naturopath or other health care provider.
Healthy adults should have their cholesterol
levels measured at least every five years and more frequently if they are overweight, already have
a cholesterol problem or if there is a family history
of heart disease or high cholesterol.
What causes high cholesterol levels?
There is a definite link between
high cholesterol levels and a diet high in dietary cholesterol and saturated
fat, although genetic factors also play an important
role. Smoking, being overweight and insufficient exercise
can also contribute to high cholesterol levels.
How is it usually treated?
It is very important to take steps to control your
cholesterol levels. If it is left untreated, high cholesterol
can result in heart disease or even stroke.
The good news is that high cholesterol
can be well controlled by combining
a healthy lifestyle with the correct medical treatment.
This can include synthetic prescription medication, natural
remedies or a combination of both. If you
are already taking prescription medication to control
cholesterol levels, it is important to consult your
doctor before making any changes.
Synthetic prescription medication for high
cholesterol:
In response to soaring rates of high cholesterol
and atherosclerosis, the pharmaceutical companies
have produced a class of drugs which are collectively
known as 'statins'.
The statins have a one dimensional effect
of reducing the body's ability to synthesize cholesterol.
They do not, however, distinguish between
the 'bad' cholesterol (LDL) and the 'good' cholesterol
(HDL) and can also reduce levels of
Co-enzyme Q10 and L-carnitine, two very important molecules
which are involved in energy production and fat metabolism.
Myalgia and even stomach,
lung and liver tumors have also been associated with
the use of these drugs. It is very important that people
who are taking prescription medication for high cholesterol
be regularly monitored by their doctor.
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