Far from medicine people, after learning that they have increased cholesterol, are frightened.
This substance is traditionally considered the culprit of all cardiovascular diseases - atherosclerosis, ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction.
For what reasons does the cholesterol content in the blood increase, what does this mean and what can threaten, what to do and how to treat if blood cholesterol is elevated? And is cholesterol dangerous for health?
Table of the norm in children and adult men and women by age
There was an incorrect opinion that the lower the concentration of cholesterol in the blood, the luchshe. Many patients, seeing in the form with the results of the analyzes, low values opposite the column "Cholesterol", sigh with relief. However, everything is not so simple.
Doctors explain that there is a "bad" and "good" cholesterol .The first settles on the walls of the vessels, forming plaques and stratifications, and leads to a decrease in the lumen of the vessels. This substance is really dangerous to health.
The norm of this substance in the blood depends on the sex and age of the person:
Because elevated cholesterol does not make itself felt, needs to be tested every year.
Why there are increased indices of
Most of the cholesterol( 70%) is produced by the body. Therefore, increased production of this substance is usually associated with diseases of internal organs. To increase the level of cholesterol in the blood lead the following diseases:
- diabetes mellitus;
- liver disease( hepatitis, cirrhosis);
- nephroptosis, renal failure;
- pancreatic disease( pancreatitis, malignant tumors);
- hypertension;
- of the thyroid gland.
But has other factors, that can influence the production of cholesterol:
- Genetic disorders .The metabolic rate and the characteristics of cholesterol processing are inherited from the parents. If the father or mother had similar abnormalities, with a high probability( up to 75%) the child will face the same problems.
- Incorrect power to the .With harmful products, only 25% of cholesterol enters the human body. But fatty foods( meat, pastries, sausages, cheeses, fat, cakes) are more likely to turn into a "bad" type. If a person does not want to have problems with cholesterol, he should stick to a low-carb diet. Overweight .While it is difficult to say whether or not excess weight contributes to improper processing of cholesterol. However, it is proved that 65% of people who are obese have problems with "bad" cholesterol.
- Hyperdynamics .Absence of motor activity leads to disturbances in metabolic processes in the body and stagnation of "bad" cholesterol. It is noted that with increasing physical activity, the level of this substance in the blood rapidly decreases.
- Uncontrolled use of medications .Hormonal drugs, corticosteroids or beta-blockers can lead to a slight increase in the level of cholesterol in the blood.
- Bad habits of .Doctors say that people who drink alcohol and smoke several cigarettes a day often face a strong increase in "bad" cholesterol and a drop in "good".
Communication with cardiovascular diseases
Elevated cholesterol is a common cause of cardiovascular disease. Excess "bad" cholesterol is deposited on the walls of the vessels , reduces their clearance and promotes the development of a variety of pathologies.
The increase in cholesterol causes the development of the following diseases:
- of atherosclerosis with a decrease in the lumen of the vessels or their complete blockage;
- coronary heart disease with arterial damage;
- myocardial infarction with discontinuation of oxygen access to the heart muscle due to clotting of the coronary artery by thrombus;
- angina due to insufficient oxygenation of the myocardium;
- stroke with partial or complete blockage of arteries supplying oxygen to the brain.
Diagnosis, Symptoms and Additional Studies
Usually a person with elevated cholesterol has the following symptoms:
- a light gray rim near the cornea of the eye;
- yellowish nodules on the skin of the eyelids;
- angina;
- weakness and pain in the lower limbs after doing physical exercises.
It is impossible to diagnose the deviation by external signs and symptoms. Sometimes they may be completely absent. Therefore, to determine the level of cholesterol you need to make a lipidogram - a blood test from a vein .It will show what the level of total, "bad" and "good" cholesterol in the blood is
. More details about the lipidogram and its indices are told on the video:
Diagnosis when a high level of
is detected. After determining the level of cholesterol, you need to consult a therapist. The doctor will examine the patient's medical record and determine if he has a risk of acquiring vascular and heart disease.
The risk of developing such diseases is high in people of the following categories:
- with a significant excess of cholesterol;
- with hypertension;
- with diabetes of the first or second type.
Endocrinologist will:
- palpation of the thyroid gland;
- ultrasound;
- MRI;
- blood test for hormones.
The gastroenterologist will appoint:
- ultrasound of the liver and pancreas;
- biochemical blood test;
- MRI or CT;
- liver biopsy.
Only in the case of a full survey, will be identified as the true cause of the deviation and a competent treatment is prescribed.
Tactics for treatment improvement: how to reduce the content of "bad" cholesterol
How to reduce the cholesterol in the blood and bring it to normal? To lower the level of cholesterol, the patient will have to completely change the way of life and cure the concomitant diseases. If the disorder is associated with an abnormal metabolism or a nutritional error, the patient will have:
- adhere to a low-carb or low-calorie diet;
- abandon foods with a high content of trans fats;
- eat tomatoes, peas, carrots, nuts, garlic, fish;
- sleep at least 8 hours a day;
- pay attention to the fight against obesity;
- daily give sports training for at least an hour;
- to abandon bad habits.
Useful for maintaining and cleansing the body of foods and dishes are listed in this video:
Normally a diet and the right lifestyle is enough to bring the level of cholesterol back to normal. But if there is a serious risk of developing cardiovascular disease, the doctor will prescribe medications to reduce blood cholesterol - from "bad" and to maintain "good":
- Statins ( Lovastatin, Atorvastatin, Rosuvastatin).These drugs reduce the production of cholesterol in the liver.
- Vitamin B3 ( niacin).It reduces the production of "bad" cholesterol, but it can damage the liver. Therefore, it should be taken under the supervision of a doctor or replaced with statins.
- Sequestants of bile acids ( "Kolekstran", "Holestiramin").These drugs affect the activity of bile acids produced by the liver. Since the building material for bile is cholesterol, with a low acid activity, the liver is forced to process more of it.
- Inhibitors of suction ( "Ezetimayb").These drugs disrupt the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine.
- Antihypertensive drugs .These drugs do not lower the level of cholesterol, but they allow maintaining the health of the heart and blood vessels. These are diuretics, calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers.
Learn all about the use of statins from a cognitive video clip:
Fans of folk remedies will be disappointed, but most folk remedies are completely useless in combating excess cholesterol .They can be used only as an additional means to drug therapy and diet.
Elevated blood cholesterol levels are not a disease, but a symptom of other disorders in the body. However, this deviation of can lead to serious complications and diseases of the vessels and heart .
Useful video on what is cholesterol in the blood and how to get rid of it:
For the normalization of the level of cholesterol, the patient will have to undergo a complete examination of the endocrine and cardiovascular systems, as well as the study of the gastrointestinal tract. Only after revealing the real causes of increasing cholesterol in the blood can its level be normalized.
