Are you worried about high cholesterol and high blood pressure aka hypertension?

To help you know better how to take care of your health, Karetrip will guide you.

In this blog, we'll explore how high cholesterol and hypertension are connected and why it is important to manage them together for better heart health.

What is High Cholesterol?

High amount of cholesterol in the blood is known as high cholesterol. It comes with no symptoms. It can limit blood flow thereby increasing the risk of Heart attack or stroke. It is detected by a blood test.

The ranges for Total cholesterol in adults are as follows:

Normal: Less than 200 mg/dL

Borderline High: 200 to 239 mg/dL

High: At or above 240 mg/dL

Cholesterol is mainly a fatty substance found in blood which is required to build healthy cells. But when they are found in high quantities, they increase the risk of heart disease.

Cholesterol does not dissolve in blood and is carried around the body in the form of particles known as lipoproteins. It is made by liver and obtained through animal products like seafood, meat, and dairy.

High cholesterol leads to the deposition of fatty acids in your blood vessels which eventually grow making it difficult for enough blood to flow through the arteries. In worst cases these deposits can break and form a clot causing heart attack or stroke.

There are two types of cholesterol

• Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or Bad cholesterol

It is the type of cholesterol that builds up in arteries.

• High-density lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol

It is the type of cholesterol that helps to remove cholesterol from arteries.

Healthy - 60 mg/dL or higher Okay - 41 to 59 mg/dL Unhealthy - 40 mg/dL or lower

Several factors can affect cholesterol like diet, physical activity, weight, age, and gender.

It is very important to monitor your blood pressure. People with high cholesterol levels often end up dealing with hypertension.

Due to high cholesterol levels, your heart needs to work harder to pump the blood through them.

What is Hypertension?

Hypertension is a condition when the pressure in your blood vessels is too high. It is considered as one of the major causes of premature death worldwide.

Who is At Risk of Hypertension?

• High salt in diet

• Older age

• Being overweight

• Not physically active

• Genetics

• Drinking too much alcohol

Symptoms of Hypertension

• Fainting

• Fatigue

• Headache

• Blurry or double vision

• Nosebleeds

• Shortness of breath

• Heart Palpitations

• Vomiting or Nausea

Hypertension is the medical term used by healthcare professionals to describe high blood pressure.

Different types of Hypertension include primary hypertension, secondary hypertension, resistant hypertension and isolated systolic hypertension.

More than 60 percent of people who have high blood pressure have high cholesterol levels too. Together they pose risks to the heart and cardiovascular system.

How High Blood Cholesterol and Hypertension Are Related to Each Other

Many studies have shown that blood cholesterol and hypertension are related to each other. So, it is very important to treat high blood pressure and high cholesterol when they occur together.

• It's important to look for the symptoms and treat other risk factors when either one of them is present.

• To manage blood pressure and cholesterol levels, it is crucial to follow a heart-healthy diet with prescribed medications and at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise weekly.

• When cholesterol builds up along arteries, they become stiff and narrow making it difficult for the heart to pump blood which causes the blood pressure to increase. This further leads to damage in the artery walls there by building up the cholesterol.

• Scientists have found that when people have more than one condition, they work together making the risk of heart disease much higher. Even if your cholesterol and blood pressure levels are slightly elevated, they both interact with each other to more quickly damage your blood vessels and your heart.

• If not controlled it can lead to heart attack and stroke.

• In addition to heart diseases high blood pressure can cause problems throughout the body including the brain, kidneys and eyes. It further leads to decreased cognitive function and dementia.

How To Maintain Healthy Cholesterol and Blood Pressure Levels

• Exercise

Exercise helps to keep your body healthy. It improves your muscle strength and helps your cardiovascular system to work more efficiently. It increases your chances to live longer and helps in weight management.

• Include more fibre and plant-based fat

Adding pulses, oatmeal, Fresh fruits and vegetables is a good way to increase fibre in your diet. Nuts and seeds are great sources of fibre and healthy fats.

• Limit salt and add more potassium

Decreasing sodium intake and increasing potassium can help reduce the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Vegetables and legumes like Broccoli, carrot, beans, avocado and fruits like bananas, apricots are good sources of potassium.

• No smoking

Many research claims that smokers are more likely to develop high blood pressure. So, it is advisable to avoid all forms of tobacco as well as second-hand smoke.

• Cut back on saturated fats

Cutting back on saturated fats helps to reduce LDL which is termed as bad cholesterol. It may also lower the risk of heart disease. For example, you can replace 1 spoon of butter with 1 spoon of olive oil to cut down 5 grams of saturated fat. Saturated fats have health risks whereas unsaturated fats have several health benefits.

• Maintain your body

Healthy weight loss and lifestyle changes can significantly help to keep your cholesterol and blood pressure levels in safe limit.