Am I at Risk of High Cholesterol?

The human body needs cholesterol to produce healthy new cells. Cholesterol is a fat and waxy substance, a lipid that travels around the body. While cholesterol is an essential aspect of maintaining bodily functions, elevated levels of it can be harmful to the degree that it could turn fatal.

When the level of cholesterol in your body increases, it can put you at a higher risk of suffering from a cardiac arrest or other heart related disorders. Blood vessels become blocked with fatty deposits and restrict the blood flow.

This condition can develop due to inheritance, or poor eating and lifestyle habits. Continue reading this piece to know if you’re at a risk of developing high cholesterol and if you should consult an online doctor about it.

Factors That Cause High Cholesterol Levels

There are a number of triggers that elevate the levels of cholesterol in the body, and they can be both controllable and uncontrollable.

Gender

Bad cholesterol, or LDL, can go up when a woman reaches her menopause. It also significantly increases the risk of a heart attack.

Age

As a person gets older, their health suffers. Men above 45 and women above 55 are at a higher risk of increased LDL.

Family History

You’re at a risk of developing high cholesterol if the condition runs in your family. It’s known as a genetic condition called hypercholesterolemia, and causes you to inherit higher cholesterol levels fairly early in life. It isn’t frequent, but shouldn’t be left untreated. Your doctor might advise you to take a test for hypercholesterolemia.

Diet

Observe your eating habits closely and check if you consume large amounts of saturated fat and sugar in your diet. Even food such as eggs play an important role in determining your LDL level.

Weight

Obesity can be responsible for lower HDL level and higher LDL level. A sure way of knowing that you’re gaining unhealthy weight it to check whether you have high blood pressure or not.

Exercise

If you sit or sleep for longer stretches of time, you’re putting yourself at risk of developing high cholesterol. Exercise helps a person stay fit and lowers the LDL level considerably.

Smoking

Not only is smoking injurious to lung health, but it also does a significant amount of damage to your blood vessels. This vessel damage is responsible for increased LDL levels in the body.

Diabetes

If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, then your low HDL levels can be attributed to the condition. It’s also responsible for raising LDL levels and putting you at a risk of a cardiac arrest.

High cholesterol can lead to other health complications and needs to be treated by medical professionals immediately. Our online doctors at TelMDCare can help you maintain your cholesterol and even treat other diseases.

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