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Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is present in every cell of the body. The substance plays an important role when it comes to the digestion of food, production of vitamin D, and production of hormones (adrenaline,estrogen, and testosterone). It is produced by the body but can also be derived from the foods we consume.
There are two main types of cholesterol, namely high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL). Cholesterol isn’t all good, nor is it all bad. At normal levels, it’s essential for the function of the human body. However, when the levels are too high, it becomes a silent danger – has been linked to heart disease and diabetes.
What Causes High Cholesterol
In this section, we’ll discuss the causes of this condition as well as its treatment, and prevention.
Obesity
Being obese or overweight increases your LDL levels and lowers your HDL levels. This is because your body stores the extra calories you eat as triglycerides. Triglycerides serve as the backbone of many types of lipids (fats) in the blood.
Body Mass Index (BMI) is the most frequently used measure of obesity. A normal BMI is between 18.5 to 24.9. A BMI between 25 to 29.5 is seen as overweight, while a BMI of 30 or higher is obese.
Your Activity Levels
Lack of physical activity may negatively affect your cholesterol levels. Research has shown that inactivity can increase your LDL levels and lower your HDL levels.
Unhealthy Diet
The most common cause of high levels of blood cholesterol is consuming unhealthy foods. Unhealthy dietary choices include eating foods that contain trans fats and saturated fats. Trans fats are found in commercially fried foods and baked goods like chips, fried chicken, pies, cookies and muffins among others. Saturated fats, on the other hand, are present in animal products such as meat, pork, cheese, whole milk, eggs, and butter.
Cigarette Smoking
When people think of the long-term effects of smoking, they often think of mouth cancer and lung disease. However, cigarette smoking can adversely affect other aspects of a person’s health including increasing blood cholesterol levels.
Cigarettes contain a host of toxic chemical compounds, including acrolein. Acrolein is a foul-smelling vapour that is easily absorbed into the bloodstream through the lungs. Scientists believe that this compound affects the way the body breaks down cholesterol. Additionally, acrolein affects the transportation of “good cholesterol” (HDL) from fatty deposits to the liver. This makes it easier for cholesterol plaques to get deposited in the inner lining of the blood vessels, leading to atherosclerosis.
Age and Gender
Blood cholesterol levels tend to increase after the age of 20. In men, the levels of cholesterol normally level off after the age of 50. For women, the cholesterol levels stay relatively low until menopause. When menopause creeps in, their cholesterol levels increase to about the same level as in men.
Medical Conditions and Prescribed Medicines
Certain medical conditions and medicines can lower your LDL levels and increase your triglyceride levels. Some of the diseases that cause unhealthy blood fats include diabetes type 2, liver problems, kidney problems and underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroid) among others. Drugs that may increase cholesterol levels include antidepressants, diuretics, and beta blockers.
Preventing High Cholesterol
To ensure your good cholesterol stays ahead of the bad:
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet
- Exercise regularly – for at least 30 minutes per session
- Avoid smoking
- Drink alcohol in moderation
Treating High Levels of Cholesterol
There are different ways of treating high levels of cholesterol; these include:
Statins – this type of medication is used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. It works by blocking the action of HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme in the liver that helps produce cholesterol. Statins are only prescribed to people with cardiovascular disease and those who are at a higher risk of getting heart disease.
Cholesterol absorption inhibitors – CAIs help reduce the levels of blood cholesterol by inhibiting the absorption of dietary cholesterol. Ezetimibe is the most commonly used CAI drug. It is used by people who for one reason or another cannot take statins.
Injectable medications – this is a new class of drugs that can help the liver absorb more LDL cholesterol. This significantly reduces cholesterol levels in the blood. Injectable LDL-lowering drugs may be prescribed to patients with cardiovascular disease or those with hereditary forms of high cholesterol.
