High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy-like substance that is found within the fats that are circulating in your blood.  Don’t get us wrong though, your body needs cholesterol to help in construction of new and healthy cells…however, too much cholesterol can greatly increase your risk for heart disease.  Therefore, the goal is to maintain a happy medium of cholesterol that circulates in your blood – easier said than done, right?

Having high cholesterol simply means that you may begin to develop fatty deposits within your blood vessels.  When you have too much in circulation, it begins to accumulate and stick together with no other place to go.  Eventually then, when too much cholesterol substance sticks together and accumulates on the walls of your vessels, it will make it increasingly difficult for blood to flow through.  Without an adequate amount of blood flowing through your vessels…many areas will become compromised and begin to function inadequately.

The most important areas that will be affected are your heart and brain.  If your heart does not receive an adequate supply of nutrient-rich blood, your chance of having a heart attack will greatly increase.  On the other hand if an adequate supply of blood does not reach the brain, your chance of having a stroke will also greatly increase.  Both situations can cause several life-threatening complications that can otherwise be prevented.

There are no noticeable symptoms if you have high cholesterol – the only way you’ll know is if you have blood tests to detect it.  Some providers recommend that a baseline cholesterol test is obtained at the age of 20 and then retested at least every 5 years after that.  If ever your test results are out of the normal range, your provider will then suggest that you be tested more frequently and possibly be treated depending upon your exact test results.  When tested for cholesterol there will be a few values that will be evaluated, including:

-Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)

·      This is the “Lousy” type of cholesterol.

·      LDL transports cholesterol throughout your body and it is the type that builds up on the walls of your vessels making them harden and narrow.

·      Ideal values are between 70 – 100 mg/dL.

-High-density lipoprotein (HDL)

·      This is the “Happy” type of cholesterol.

·      HDL will pick up excess cholesterol that is floating around and take it back to your liver for clean up.

·      Ideal values are 60 mg/dL and above.

- Very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)

·      This type of cholesterol makes LDL cholesterol larger in size, which causes your vessels to harden and narrow more quickly.

·      VLDL contains the most triglycerides, which are a type of fat.

Risks factors may also play a role in your development of high cholesterol, they include the following:

-Smoking 

·      Smoking damages the walls of your blood vessels which will make them more likely to accumulate fatty deposits. 

·      Smoking may also prove to lower your HDL cholesterol.

-Obesity

·      A body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater will place you at a much higher risk for high cholesterol.

-Waist Size

·      Risk increases for men with a waist circumference of at least 40 inches.

·      Risk increases for women with a waist circumference of at least 35 inches.

-Diet Habits

·      Red meat and full-fat dairy products will increase your total cholesterol levels.

·      Saturated fats, found in animal products, and trans fats, which are found in some commercially baked foods, also can raise your cholesterol levels.

-Sedentary Lifestyle

·      Not getting enough exercise places you at risk for high cholesterol.

·      Exercise boosts your HDL and lowers your LDL…which is wonderful!

-Diabetes

·      Having high blood sugar contributes to a higher LDL and lower HDL, which is not good.

·      Having consistently high blood sugar will damage the lining of your blood vessels.

Complications from high cholesterol can be very uncomfortable and even life-threatening.  If your cholesterol is so high that you have several blocked vessels from the excess that is floating around, you may suffer from complications such as chest pain, a heart attack, or a stroke as mentioned above.  If you think you may suffer from high cholesterol, do not hesitate to have yours checked…especially if you have a strong family history of the condition.  The quicker you know where you stand, the less likely you will be to have complications.

Treatment for high cholesterol begins with you!  Starting out by making healthier lifestyle choices such as exercising and eating a more balanced diet are the first lines of defense against high cholesterol.  However, if you have modified your lifestyle habits and continue to have abnormal laboratory values your provider may recommend medication to better take control.  Medications will be discussed thoroughly with you by your provider.  The type of medication that is right for you will depend on various factors including your age, risk factors, your current health and the possible side effects that could occur. 

Total Home Health has a program that will fit into your lifestyle.  Our professional staff will work closely with you and your provider in order to provide you with the most optimal treatment possible.  We will help you to implement healthier lifestyle changes so that you can get your high cholesterol under control without having to worry about taking medication day after day and running the risk of having side effects.  Together as a team we will focus on always making positive changes right in the comforts of your own home…enroll with us today!