What is Cholesterol?

Ever wonder what is cholesterol in the body or food? And even what is its role in the body?

If you have, then you’ll come to appreciate the detailed outline we’ve provided to answer these queries.

There are also answers to cholesterol levels, embolism, blood tests, disease, and so much more.

It, therefore, means you don’t have to search pages unending just to find answers to these queries.

Now walk with us as we show you all you need to know about this substance.

What is Cholesterol in Simple Terms

In simple terms, cholesterol is a fatty substance that is found in the blood and in certain foods.

And this substance is required by the body to create healthy cells.

As such, cholesterol keeps us going.

On the other hand, too much of everything becomes a problem and the same can be said about cholesterol.

Here, excess cholesterol in the body can lead to clogging of the arteries and further health problems in the near future.

For instance, high cholesterol could increase a person’s chances of having heart disease or stroke.

Cholesterol in the blood in the form of fatty substances could grow over time.

When that happens, the free flow of blood through the arteries is blocked, thereby leading to more health problems.

The latter makes it needful for you to undergo a cholesterol test occasionally to ensure that you have healthy cholesterol levels.

Effects of High Cholesterol

The symptoms of high cholesterol are numerous, and that means there are no specific symptoms.

It makes it possible for a person to have high levels and still not be aware.

Here, plaque, which is the build-up of cholesterol in the arteries may tend to form.

And the plaque may become hard thereby making the arteries narrow.

In the same vein, if there are large deposits of this plaque, it could lead to a complete blockage of the artery.

It is also possible for the plaque to disintegrate and lead to the formation of a blood clot.

Blood clots can cause a blockage of the flow of blood.

Consequently, people with a blocked artery could possibly have a heart attack.

And if the artery to the brain is blocked, it can also cause a stroke.

It is possible for a person to have high cholesterol and still not know it.

Causes of High Cholesterol

There are various causes oh high cholesterol in the blood.

Some of these causes have been outlined below:

Unhealthy Lifestyle:

Leading an unhealthy lifestyle where you pay no attention to what you eat or drink can lead to high cholesterol.

For instance, an increase in fat intake could lead to high cholesterol levels.

Therefore, it is recommended that you reduce your intake of foods that have the following:

• Animal foods such as meat
• Saturated fats: These are fats in certain meats, chocolate, deep-fried foods, processed foods, and even baked goods.
• Trans fats: There is trans fats in certain fried and processed foods.

Accordingly, it is possible to treat and even high cholesterol by eating healthily.

Inherited High Cholesterol:

Over and above that, it is worth pointing out that high cholesterol is not only from the consumption of certain foods or generally foods.

There are cases where high cholesterol is inherited.

Hence, it could be passed down to an individual even though they are maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Conditions like familial hypercholesterolemia can be inherited and a person who has it could have LDL levels that are very high.

Excess Weight:

Studies have shown that obesity can cause higher levels of LDL in the blood.

Therefore, exercising regularly and even taking medication can help to reduce the cholesterol in your blood.

And keep in mind that this medication must be prescribed by a certified physician.

High Cholesterol Test

A blood test is often carried out to ascertain the cholesterol level in your blood.

Accordingly, if you’re a man and you’re over the age of 35, then you need to check your blood cholesterol level.

And for women over 45 years, it is important to have their blood cholesterol checked.

The same applies to teenagers with a family history of high cholesterol.

In the end, your doctor is in the best position to determine the frequency your cholesterol should be checked.

There are also men and women who are at least 20 years and maybe at the risk of having a heart disease.

These individuals also need to undergo a blood test to check the cholesterol level.

Some factors that could increase a person’s risk to heart disease include:

• Obesity
• Smoking
• Older age
• Inactivity
• High blood pressure
• Family history of a heart disease

Conclusion

Knowing what this fatty substance in the body is can help you reduce the risks of having certain health problems.

These health concerns range from heart disease to stroke.

It begins with eating more healthily and reducing your intake of the foods we’ve outlined above.

Coupled with that, you can start exercising more regularly and most importantly, seek the counsel of a doctor.