What Are the Effects of High Cholesterol on the Body?
Cholesterol
is a fatty, waxy substance that is needed to develop healthy cells.
However,
too much cholesterol can cause health problems. High cholesterol can be
inherited or caused by unhealthy eating and lack of exercise.
Prevention includes limiting foods
that are high in cholesterol, exercising regularly and talking with a medical
professional about any questions or types of medication.
Atherosclerosis
Uncontrolled
high cholesterol can cause atherosclerosis, which occurs when plaque builds up
in the artery walls.
Plaque
is a substance that is made up of cholesterol, fat and calcium.
When
plaque builds up in the artery walls it causes the arteries to become hard and
narrow.
The
arteries provide blood and oxygen to the body and when blocked, the blood and
oxygen cannot pass through.
This
can result in a stroke or heart attack.
The
Heart Lung and Blood Institute reports that signs and symptoms of atherosclerosis
can include
1. chest pain,
2. shortness of breath,
3. numbness or
4. pain in limbs.
Nevertheless, some people won't
experience any symptoms.
Heart Attack
When cholesterol builds up in the
artery walls and blocks oxygen and blood flow, a person is at risk of having a
heart attack.
During
a heart attack, the plaque ruptures and forms a clot that can block the
arteries from receiving blood and oxygen, and the heart muscles begin to die.
If
blood flow is restored in time, through cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR,
the heart can sometimes be revived.
According
to MayoClinic.com, signs and symptoms of a heart attack can include
1.
shortness of breath,
2.
chest pain,
3.
sweating,
4.
fainting,
5.
nausea and
6.
vomiting and
7.
pain beginning in the chest and
8.
PAIN radiating to
a.
the shoulder,
b.
arm,
c.
back, or
d.
even to the teeth and jaw.
People who are experiencing any of
these signs and symptoms should seek medical treatment immediately
Angina
• Angina, which is characterized by
the chest tightening and pain, is the result of restricted blood flow due to
clogged arteries from too much bad cholesterol in the blood. Arteries become
clogged and narrow because of the fatty deposits of plaque building up which
restricts blood flow to the heart. Angina can often lead to coronary heart
disease.
Stroke.
When the arteries to the brain become
blocked or narrowed due to high cholesterol, blood and oxygen can't get to the
brain. When brain cells don't get enough oxygen and blood, they begin to die
and a person can suffer a stroke. Signs and symptoms include difficulty
speaking or slurred speech, difficulty walking, paralysis or numbness on one
side of the face or body, blurred, double or blackened vision. Some people
experience a sudden, severe headache that can result in vomiting, dizziness or
altered consciousness. Strokes require immediate medical treatment.
Peripheral Artery Disease
• High cholesterol also increases the
chance of peripheral arterial disease. The disease is a result of leg arteries
becoming blocked by plaque buildup. As a result, your legs fail to get the
needed oxygen or blood and PAD develops, which is a painful disease of the leg
arteries. Besides affecting the legs, PAD can raise the threat of a heart
attack and other heart problems.
High Blood Pressure
• While good cholesterol doesn't
cause high blood pressure, bad cholesterol does. In fact, good cholesterol can
help with attaining a normal blood pressure. High levels of bad cholesterol can
stick to the artery walls, as well as other blood vessels. This blocks the
passageways for the blood to flow, making your heart work twice as hard.
There's also a stronger force of blood on the artery walls, which leads to high
blood pressure.
Function
Cholesterol helps the body produce
hormones, bile acid, and vitamin D. Cholesterol moves through the bloodstream
to be used by all parts of the body.
Food Sources
Cholesterol is found in eggs, dairy
products, meat, and poultry. Egg yolks and organ meats (liver, kidney,
sweetbread, and brain) are high in cholesterol. Fish generally contains less
cholesterol than other meats, but some shellfish are high in cholesterol.
Foods of plant origin (vegetables,
fruits, grains, cereals, nuts, and seeds) contain no cholesterol.
Fat content is not a good measure of
cholesterol content. For example, liver and other organ meats are low in fat,
but very high in cholesterol.The popular matumbo( intestines) also
contains a lot of cholesterol.
For more Information please Call
Joint Medical Service
Tel. 0724 255 378 (24/7)
Information compiled by Ms. Judith Odera
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