A Beginner’s Guide to High Cholesterol and Its Impact on Heart Health

High‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ cholesterol is usually referred to as one of the silent risk factors since it hardly ever gives off any symptoms until very serious heart conditions are established. Quite a few people find out about it solely through regular blood tests. However, an unaddressed cholesterol disorder is the main cause that can lead to heart diseases and strokes and can have a damaging effect on the blood vessels for a long time. Knowing what cholesterol is and how it operates is a very important step in keeping your heart safe.

This blog will provide an explanation of what high cholesterol is, how it impacts the heart, and what can be done to control it ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌properly.

What Is Cholesterol and Why Does the Body Need It

Cholesterol‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ is a waxy material that is present in the blood. The body utilizes it for the construction of cells, the production of hormones, and the process of digestion. The trouble is when cholesterol levels are higher than the healthy ones, particularly certain types that are circulating in the blood.

There are mainly two forms:

• LDL cholesterol is referred to as bad cholesterol because that is the one which, in excess, sticks to the walls of arteries
• HDL cholesterol is called good cholesterol because it assists in the removal of LDL from the blood

When LDL levels are high for a long period of time, fatty deposits start to accumulate in the blood vessels. This situation causes arteries to narrow and the blood flow to the heart and brain become ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌less.

How High Cholesterol Affects Heart Health

Over‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ time, excess cholesterol has a major negative impact on the entire cardiovascular system. This process is painless at first, so the problem is often overlooked. After years of plaque accumulation, arteries become less elastic and the amount of oxygen that is delivered to the most vital parts of the body is reduced.

As a result, the risk of these conditions increases:

• Coronary artery disease
• Heart attacks due to blocked blood flow
• Stroke caused by reduced circulation to the brain
• High blood pressure linked to stiffened arteries

Due to the fact that these changes are gradual, early detection through regular screening, therefore, becomes the only way to know for ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌sure.

Common Causes and Risk Factors

High‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ cholesterol is a condition that can be caused by the way you live your life, your genes, or even a combination of both. Some risk factors are controllable, while others are hereditary. 

Major factors leading to this condition are: 

• Eating a large amount of food containing saturated fat and processed food.
• Not getting enough exercise.
• Being overweight and having insulin resistance.
• Smoking and drinking too much alcohol.
• Having a family history of heart disease.

Also, age is a factor as cholesterol levels usually become higher with getting ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌older.

Recognizing the Warning Signs

Cholesterol‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ levels can be very high in some people and they may still feel completely normal. Usually, there are no visible signs until there are complications. In extreme situations, it is possible that fatty deposits may show up around the eyes or joints, however, it is very dangerous to depend on the visible symptoms.

Nothing can compare with a straightforward lipid profile blood test for revealing abnormal cholesterol levels at an early ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌stage.

Managing Cholesterol for a Healthier Heart

High‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ cholesterol is a very common problem, but it is something that should not be neglected in any way. It is through early awareness, regular screening, and prompt treatment that one can keep at bay the risk of serious heart diseases before they even develop. Those who want a specialist opinion and complete cardiac care can count on Sugam Hospital, which is a reliable cardiology hospital in Chennai that provides cardiac care with a personal touch and gives you the direction that you need to save your heart and live a healthy life of a good ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌length.