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Facts About High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a complex topic that should be regulated by you and your doctor (a professional). Sometimes, without us even realizing, genetics or lifestyle changes can cause us to have higher cholesterol than others. As you may know, high levels of cholesterol are never a good thing but, luckily, can be reduced through a number of different means. Always make sure to have your cholesterol checked and follow your doctor's orders by living a low cholesterol lifestyle.

  1. Where It Comes From?

    • According to the American Heart Association, cholesterol is caused by two things: the food you eat and your body. Your body produces cholesterol on its own, through various cells, the liver--which creates and also removes cholesterol, and intestines--which absorb cholesterol. LDL (bad cholesterol) is introduced to the body in these ways but can also be inherited from family members. The food you eat also affects how high your cholesterol gets. Diets high in saturated and trans fats also cause high cholesterol. HeartPoint notes that high cholesterol can also come from diseases in your thyroid, liver or kidneys.

    Sometimes Diet Doesn't Affect It

    • As stated earlier, cholesterol comes from your body and the food you eat. Sometimes, when people follow "heart healthy" diets, their cholesterol doesn't change. This may be because some people's cholesterol "does not completely normalize even with the best of diets." In some cases, the enzymes in your liver could be defective or, as the American Heart Association notes, the liver can create more cholesterol than the intestines can absorb, which results in high levels of cholesterol.

      The American Heart Association brings up a valid question: does using a seemingly low-cholesterol alternative, like margarine instead of butter, mean your cholesterol levels will lower? The answer isn't so simple. You have to watch the amount of saturated and trans fat in foods--even in alternatives. Things like vegetable oil and margarine do have less of both fats, but using them isn't enough to lower high cholesterol.

    Anyone Can Have It

    • People who are thin are not less likely to have high cholesterol and people who are obese are not more likely to have it. It is always a good idea to have your cholesterol levels checked by a physician. It is always important to watch what you eat (especially the amount of trans and saturated fats you take in) and regularly exercise. Similarly, men don't have higher cholesterol levels than women.

      HealthPoint suggests having your cholesterol checked every five years, unless you have a family history of or know that you have high cholesterol. Then it should be checked every one to two years. The American Heart Association suggests that you begin having your cholesterol checked at a minimum age of 20 (but earlier is always better).

    Medicines Can Lower It

    • Certain medicines for people with high cholesterol are typically prescribed by doctors, who assess your risk factors and help choose a medicine that is right for you. These types of medicine can include bile acid binders to help get rid of cholesterol in the body, nicotinic acid or niacin to help lower LDL levels, fibric acids to help lower blood fat (triglycerides) and help raise HDL (good cholesterol levels) and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (also known as statins) to help get the body started removing cholesterol and lower LDL levels. It is always important to talk with you doctor about cholesterol and regularly take medicine prescribed to you.

    What Does High Cholesterol Raise the Risk Of?

    • Heart disease (e.g., heart attacks) and strokes can often be associated with high levels of cholesterol. Lowering high cholesterol, just by 1 percent, reduces your risk by 2 percent. However, cholesterol is not the only cause of heart attacks and strokes. Excess cholesterol in combination with fat and plaque can build up on the walls of your arteries and cause these problems. Arteries become clogged, which can create blood clots and limit blood flow. A blood clot near the heart is what creates a heart attack; a blood clot near the brain causes a stroke.

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