In this contemporary era people are reluctant to walk regularly. This can lead to several lifestyle diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol in blood.

Are you someone who isn’t very active in day to day life? Worried about having increased levels of cholesterol? Scared to get a test done and stressed about what could be the impact if your cholesterol levels are high?

Well, you’re not alone. And to empower you with information on cholesterol and its effect on your heart, we’re here.

This blog by Karetrip is an attempt to delve into cholesterol, its symptoms, causes, risk factors, complications and prevention and to analyse whether cholesterol has any relation with heart attack.

Let’s dive in.

What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a wax-like substance found in the human blood. It is very essential for the body and helps in building healthy body cells but on the other hand high cholesterol increases the risk of heart diseases and doubles the chances of getting affected from stroke. It is because high cholesterol deposits fats in the blood cells which hinders the flow of blood throughout the body which makes blood flow difficult through arteries. It eventually may cause heart attacks or strokes.

Types Of cholesterol

There are two types of Cholesterol and the peculiarities of each are illustrated below with the help of a table chart: 1.High density lipoprotein ( HDL) 2.Low density lipoprotein ( LDL)

What Are The Symptoms of High Cholesterol?

The important thing which is to be noted is that high cholesterol does not have any symptoms in the majority of the people. It can be diagnosed only by a physician with the help of proper blood tests.

Causes of High Bad Cholesterol or Low Density Lipoprotein

There are a wide range of causes for high cholesterol and a few of them are discussed here.

1.Stress

There are a number of health disorders associated with stress and one of the important among them is high cholesterol. As it lowers the HDL and hikes the amount of LDL. As stress rises the amount of certain hormones in the body like adrenaline which increases the sugar level in the body.

2.Medications

There are many medicines like birth control pills, retinoids and antivirals that have an adverse effect on the body by increasing the cholesterol level in the body. So always consult your doctor before consuming any medicines.

3.Menopause

Estrogen, a sex hormone, affects the cholesterol level in the human body. When the estrogen in your body decreases naturally, cholesterol level in the body increases. Apart from this, women usually tend to neglect their health after menopause. They become inactive which leads them to gain weight. As a result, their cholesterol level increases.

4. Lack of physical activity

Having moments of inactivity for a prolonged time is injurious to health. It could result in obesity. This obesity indirectly leads to high cholesterol. To make your heart healthy, avoid sitting on a chair for a long time, take a break at least once in thirty minutes.

5.Consumption of large amount of alcohol

It is the duty of the liver to process cholesterol and break it down. So if an individual consumes a lot of alcohol, it adds burden to the liver. That;s how the processing of cholesterol is affected and it hikes the amount of low density cholesterol.

6.Consumption of a lot of sugar It is proven that eating food which is high in sugar increases the risk of getting affected by diabetes. This indirectly affects the functioning of the liver and raises the chances for getting affected by Low Density Lipoprotein.

Other Medical Conditions That Can Cause LDL?

• Chronic Kidney Diseases ( CKD)
• Diabetes
• AIDS
• Thyroid
• Lupus

Foods that Helps in Lowering Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)

• Oats
• Barely
• Beans and Lentils
• Peanut, Walnut and Almond
• Citrus fruits like Apples, Strawberries, Grapes
• Olive Oil
• Salmon
• Whole grains

How Does Cholesterol Increase the Chance for Heart Attacks?

• People with high cholesterol levels may be at increased risk of heart disease. However, recent research has indicated that the exact relationship between high cholesterol and heart disease may not be as clear as scientists previously thought.

• If a person has too much LDL( Low Density Lipoprotein ) in their bloodstream, it may cause plaque buildup in their arteries, which can lead to a blockage. This blockage can reduce blood flow to and from a person’s heart. Over time, this can cause angina and heart attack.

• High LDL (low density lipoprotein) levels may also raise a person’s risk of stroke and double a person’s heart disease risk.

Ways To prevent Low Density Lipoprotein ( LDL)

• Eat a low calorie diet which cuts sugar and excess salt and focus on fruits and vegetables
• Reduce the consumption of animal fats.
• Be in your ideal weight
• Focus on nuts
• Quit smoking
• Manage Stress
• Drink Alcohol at a moderate level or avoid it to the extent possible.

It is clear that the increase in the level of LDL has a negative impact on the human body as it increases the chances for Heart attacks, liver disorders and even leads to strokes.

One important thing that intensifies its seriousness is that there are no visible symptoms associated with Low density lipoprotein.