High Cholesterol: Common Signs and Health Risks
Around 94 million adults in the US have cholesterol levels higher than 200 mg/dL. As common as it is, high cholesterol increases the risks of severe health conditions that require proper medical attention and regular monitoring.
What is High Cholesterol?
The term "high cholesterol" usually refers to the amount of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) in the bloodstream: a higher number means more LDL and, therefore, an increased risk for heart disease.
If you have a normal LDL cholesterol level, your doctor may think it’s safe to keep monitoring your levels and suggest periodic blood tests. However, if LDL cholesterol levels are unusually high (called ">130") or if your HDL (high-density lipoprotein) isn't as high as it should be (called "<40"), there is a greater risk for cardiovascular diseases.
What are the Signs and Health Risk Associated with It?
High cholesterol levels can cause health risks like heart failure and prostate cancer. Let's find out how cholesterol levels put you at a greater risk of contracting these diseases.
Heart attacks
High levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) can lead to a buildup in your arteries, which increases the risk for stroke and heart attack. High levels of good cholesterol (HDL) keep inflammation down, which helps prevent these conditions. The most important thing to do is reduce or control risk factors by adopting a diet with less saturated fat and more vegetables.
Leading causes of stroke are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking tobacco products, physical inactivity, and diabetes. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States every year. Ensuring strong cardiovascular health can help you avoid this health issue as well as others that are associated with heart disease.
Cognitive impairment, dementia, or depression
Studies have shown that people with high LDL or total cholesterol were at a higher risk for poor cognitive function, such as memory loss, confusion, and difficulty concentrating on tasks like reading or completing mental math problems. There is also some evidence that the link between poor cognition and high cholesterols may be due to inflammation in the brain.
Prostate cancer
People with high levels of LDL cholesterol are more likely to develop prostate cancer. Experts do not know why this is, but they know that the risk increases by about 90% for each one-unit increase in LDL cholesterol.
Strokes
Some studies have shown that people with high LDL cholesterol are less likely to survive a stroke than those with low cholesterol levels. There are many reasons why this could be happening. One possible explanation is that high LDL cholesterol can spread clots more easily. If a clot blocks an artery that leads to the brain, this artery will no longer have enough blood flow to supply the tissue with oxygen and nutrients. Over time, these cells will die because they aren’t getting enough energy or nutrition.
Another possibility is that people with high LDL cholesterol have arteries in their brains that are thick and stiffer than those of people with low levels of LDL cholesterol, so it may take longer for them to fill up with blood. They may be less able to respond appropriately to signals from the brain and, thus, leading to a stroke.
Atherosclerosis
People with high cholesterol may also be at higher risk of atherosclerosis, also known as "hardening of the arteries." Atherosclerosis is a problem in which fatty deposits build up inside the inside of arteries. This buildup can make it difficult for the artery to work effectively. If too little blood is flowing through an artery, then oxygen and nutrients may not reach cells in this area. So, they may not be able to function properly, which could increase the risk of stroke.
Colon Cancer
High cholesterol is a risk factor for colon cancer, especially for those with a genetic predisposition. The link between high cholesterol and colon cancer is not well understood. Certain people who have a genetic predisposition can lower the risks by making diet changes and seeking medical attention.
Type 2 diabetes
High cholesterol levels are associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but the causes of this happening might not always be clear. The extra fat stored around the body can accumulate, leading to insulin resistance and eventually diabetes if it remains long enough.
Weight gain or obesity
People with higher cholesterol levels are more likely to gain weight or become obese. Cholesterol is a fatty substance in the blood that has many different functions in the body, including being a building block for hormones and helping cells, nerves, and tissues function properly.
Obesity is the accumulation of excess body fat which can lead to serious health complications. People who are obese have higher levels of bad cholesterol (LDL-C) than people who are not because it's believed that weight gain causes an increase in LDL-C. This means that people with high cholesterol who are also obese may be at greater risk for heart disease or stroke than those with high cholesterol but a healthy weight.
Seek Professional Help From the Comfort of Your Home!
Leaving increasing cholesterol levels untreated can affect your entire body, so make sure you know your cholesterol level and talk to your doctor about the right treatment. If you’re looking for professional online doctors, TelMDCare can help you.
We’re a virtual health clinic that offers treatments for a wide range of diseases and conditions, including high cholesterol and diabetes type 2. We have a team of experienced virtual doctor online who can diagnose and prescribe medicines through an online appointment. Our professional virtual doctors ensure that your examination is thoroughly done wherever you might be.
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