Five unexpected reasons why cholesterol jumped

Cholesterol is an organic compound found in cell membranes. Necessary for cell construction, synthesis of sex hormones, bile acids, and nutrient metabolism. It plays an important role in the human body, but sometimes causes significant harm.

There are two types of cholesterol in the blood: “good” (HDL) and “bad” (LDL). An increase in the concentration of the latter becomes the main cause of the formation of plaques in blood vessels, resulting in an increased risk of stroke and heart attack. High cholesterol levels are dangerous to health, so they need to be reduced. The most effective methods will be discussed in the article.

What causes cholesterol to rise?

Up to 80% of total cholesterol is synthesized by the human body from fats and only 20% comes to us with food. Moreover, this organic substance is contained exclusively in products of animal origin.

Until recently, it was the abuse of animal fats that was considered the main cause of high cholesterol, but as it turns out, this is not an entirely correct assumption. There are no high or low density lipoproteins in food; they become so during processing in our body. Therefore, metabolic disorders, endocrine diseases, diseases of the liver, intestines and adrenal glands are the main causes of high cholesterol.

At risk of increased LDL and early development of atherosclerosis are:

• patients with diabetes mellitus, obesity;
• people with endocrine diseases, for example, hypothyroidism, deficiency of sex hormones;
• women over 50 years of age, as well as men over 35 years of age;
• people with bad habits;
• patients with diseases of the kidneys, liver, pancreas;
• patients with a hereditary predisposition;
• women who have been taking hormonal medications for a long time.

People at risk should definitely undergo a blood cholesterol test. Because they are susceptible to heart and vascular diseases.

The risk of high blood cholesterol increases with predisposing factors. These include a sedentary lifestyle, bad habits, overeating, an abundance of unhealthy and fatty foods, deficiency of vitamin D, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet.

High cholesterol in women is more often due to excess weight or low estrogen levels. Typically, this problem occurs during menopause. High cholesterol in men occurs at a younger age, after 35 years. The reason for this is bad habits and poor nutrition.

What you need to know about cholesterol?

The content of the article

Cholesterol is a lipoprotein. Lipoprotein is a combination of fats and proteins. Most of the cholesterol (80%) is produced in the liver, 20% of it enters the body with food. A person needs no more than 300 mg of cholesterol per day.

Cholesterol performs several important functions:

• responsible for the formation of cell membranes, maintaining their strength and elasticity;
• participates in the production of bile by the liver;
• participates in the synthesis of vitamin D;
• participates in the synthesis of sex hormones;
• protects the nervous system;
• participates in metabolic processes.

Normal cholesterol levels

On average, a healthy person contains about 2 g of cholesterol per 1 kg of body weight. If we talk about laboratory standards, then this is 3.6-7.8 mmol/l. However, when deciphering the results, it is important to understand what kind of cholesterol we are talking about. There are the following varieties:

• HDL – high-density lipoproteins, “good” cholesterol, which utilizes excess “bad” cholesterol;
• LDL - low-density lipoproteins, the main carriers of cholesterol in the blood, have a second name - “bad” cholesterol;
• VLDL are very low density lipoproteins that transport endogenous lipids.

A high level of the last two types is a predisposing factor for the development of atherosclerosis.

What cholesterol is considered high? Any (general, “good” or “bad”), if its concentration is above 5 mmol/l. If previously there were no limits for HDL, now scientists have come to the conclusion that its optimal level for men is 1.9 mmol/l, for women – 2.4 mmol/l. It is important that its concentration does not fall below 1.5 mmol/l, as this will cause an increase in LDL cholesterol.

If the level of “bad” cholesterol is within 5-6 mmol/l, then it is moderately elevated. If it reaches 7 mmol/l or more, it is life-threatening.

Studies have confirmed that extremely high cholesterol in men increases the risk of premature death by 106%. For women, this figure will be 68%. But the situation is no better in the case of extremely low HDL levels. An excessive decrease in “good” cholesterol also adversely affects health and increases the likelihood of early mortality.

Classification of the disease

The formation of atherosclerotic plaques can occur in individual vessels or affect most of them. Depending on the organ in which blood flow is reduced and the affected artery, the following forms of the disease are distinguished:

1. Heart shape. Ischemic atherosclerosis with damage to coronary vessels and valves.
2. Kidney form. The renal arteries are affected.
3. Brain (cerebral) form. The disease spreads to intracranial vessels.
4. Intestinal form. The mesenteric arteries are affected.
5. Atherosclerosis of the aorta. Its abdominal region is most often affected.
6. Atherosclerosis of the arteries of the lower extremities, mainly femoral.
7. Atherosclerosis of brachiocephalic vessels. These include the right carotid, vertebral and subclavian arteries.

Complications from high cholesterol

High cholesterol is dangerous because it increases the likelihood of developing the following diseases:

• atherosclerosis – accompanied by the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, decreased elasticity of vessel walls, and narrowing of the arteries;
• coronary heart disease – accompanied by narrowing of the coronary artery, which causes myocardial hypoxia and disrupts its functioning;
• hypertension - manifests itself as high blood pressure, against the background of which stroke, heart attack, heart failure and other serious complications are likely;
• stroke - an acute disorder of cerebral circulation as a result of blockage or rupture of a cerebral vessel;
• heart attack – death of a section of the heart muscle due to loss of blood supply.

Most of these diseases are known to be fatal.

High cholesterol at a young age causes early disability and mortality. Due to the increased concentration of LDL, the walls of blood vessels become less elastic, atherosclerotic plaques are deposited on them, which impede blood flow. As a result, blood clots form, which cause heart attack and stroke.

Signs of High Cholesterol:

• heart pain, angina attacks;
• heaviness, pain in the legs even after minor physical exertion;
• the appearance of blood clots with mild bleeding;
• yellow spots on the skin, mainly in the eye area, wen.

More severe symptoms of high cholesterol in men and women appear when LDL levels are at critical levels. This may be a pre-stroke or pre-infarction condition.

The earlier high cholesterol and its causes are identified, the more effective the treatment.

Causes of very low cholesterol

Causes of very low cholesterol may include:

• acute infections;
• sepsis;
• extensive burns;
• fasting and a very strict diet;
• eating too many fatty acids (omegas).

Very low cholesterol can be a sign of diseases:

• hypolipoproteinemia;
• hyperthyroidism;
• liver cancer and other oncological diseases;
• liver cirrhosis, especially in the later stages;
• chronic anemia;
• bone marrow pathologies;
• chronic pulmonary pathology.

How to treat high cholesterol

To reduce LDL levels, it is important to address the cause of high cholesterol and any predisposing factors. First, you should do a lipid profile. The examination shows how serious the increase is . High cholesterol is treated by a general practitioner or cardiologist. There is also a more specialized specialist - a lipidologist.

To reduce high cholesterol levels in the body, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

• Follow a diet. Namely, reduce the consumption of animal fats, “fast” carbohydrates, and foods with trans fats. Nutritional correction reduces LDL levels by 10-15%.
• To refuse from bad habits. Moreover, not only active smoking, but also passive smoking is detrimental to health.
• To live an active lifestyle. It is useful to walk in the fresh air and set aside time for physical exercise. Exercise for at least 30-60 minutes. in a day.
• Control your weight. Fat deposits in the abdominal area are especially dangerous.
• Control blood sugar levels. This recommendation applies to patients with diabetes, as well as people who are predisposed to this disease.
• Cure endocrine diseases, normalize hormonal levels.

Sometimes statins are needed to treat high cholesterol. They produce an immediate effect, but scientists are increasingly talking about their shortcomings. Drugs in this group do not have a selective effect, they reduce everything - both “bad” and “good” cholesterol, and also negatively affect the functioning of the liver. However, their harm is less than the complications of critically high LDL levels.

Why do blood vessels become clogged?

Vessels become blocked for various reasons, but most often this occurs due to cholesterol plaques and the deposition of calcium salts (calcinosis). The mechanism for the formation of such blockages is more complex than it seems, and it lies behind our everyday habits - even the most harmless at first glance. For example, when we eat highly salty foods

, blood thickening and fluid retention occur - blood pressure increases.
When we experience stress
, the hormones adrenaline and norepinephrine are produced - key vessels narrow, and pressure increases because the amount of blood that the heart needs to push remains unchanged. In a normal healthy state, the vessels cope with such loads, but over time, serious problems can begin, and this is not only hypertension.

Products that need to be limited

I would like to say right away that it is impossible to recover with diet alone. Treatment for high cholesterol is complex. However, some dietary restrictions are simply necessary.

If your LDL level is high, limit your consumption of the following foods:

• meat - beef, veal, lamb, pork;
• bird – duck, goose;
• lard, animal by-products;
• sausages, smoked meats;
• canned food;
• high fat dairy products;
• seafood - caviar, shrimp, oysters;
• margarine, mayonnaise;
• chicken yolk;
• coffee;
• sugar, flour products;
• fast food, convenience foods, chips, crackers and other unhealthy foods;
• salt (it prevents the breakdown of fats).

The consumption of fried foods is also limited, but it is impossible to completely remove all animal fats from the diet. If the body feels a lack of cholesterol coming from outside, it will increase its synthesis. When planning a diet, it is important to consult a nutritionist.

Symptoms of atherosclerosis

For years and even decades, the disease can occur without clinical manifestations.
Subsequently, signs of poor blood supply to various organs are observed. With atherosclerosis of the heart, the patient is bothered by “squeezing” pain behind the sternum during physical activity - angina pectoris, arrhythmia, a feeling of palpitations accompanied by shortness of breath, and the development of myocardial infarction is possible.

In case of damage to the abdominal vessels, there may be attacks of pain in the upper and middle parts of the abdomen, which are accompanied by increased gas formation and constipation.

Atherosclerosis of the cerebral arteries manifests itself in dizziness and short-term episodes of loss of consciousness, and tinnitus. As the disease progresses, a stroke may develop with its neurological symptoms - dizziness, headache, lack of coordination and disorientation, numbness or weakness of the muscles of the face, arms or legs of one side of the body, sudden speech disturbances, visual disturbances, prolonged unconsciousness.

Vascular thrombosis of the lower extremities can lead to numbness and discoloration of the skin of the legs, a crawling sensation, and muscle pain when walking - “intermittent claudication.” Subsequently, the skin becomes thin and dry, peels, nails thicken, difficult-to-heal trophic ulcers form, and frequent cramps appear.

The main symptom of renal artery disease is an uncontrolled increase in blood pressure, leading to drug-resistant hypertension.