Indicators and Symptoms of High Cholesterol

The symptoms of high cholesterol are often invisible, but tell-tale signs include shortness of breath, pains within the legs when walking or running and weaknesses in the fingers and toes.The risk of contracting a heart condition or developing a stroke is proportionate to the amount of cholesterol in your bloodstream so is a crucial check to have made regularly.

As we get older our blood cholesterol starts to rise, usually beginning in our 20s and rising much more sharply after the age of 40. Women before menopause have levels which can be below men of the same age. When a woman is experiencing the menopause her levels of cholesterol, and proportionate risks of CHD will usually rise. Heart disease is unfortunately still the largest cause of death for both men and women in the Western world. High cholesterol levels, however, are modifiable so it is definitely worth having your levels of cholesterol checked regularly to reduce the risks of heart disease.

High blood cholesterol amounts within the body might be induced either by environmental or hereditary factors. On the other hand, levels of cholesterol may additionally be influenced by the lifestyle you lead and the meals you eat. Diets that are high in saturated and trans fats are proven to greatly increase blood cholesterol levels.

High levels of blood cholesterol are linked to the development of deposits in the blood vessels. Doctors name this condition atherosclerosis. In this case, the plaques on the arterial walls reduce the vessel diameter and hinder the bloodstream. In time, the blood vessels supplying your heart may become so narrow that they can not deliver enough oxygen to your heart muscle, particularly when you're exerting yourself. When this occurs, the resulting chest pain can be an indicator that something is seriously wrong. If a fatty plaque breaks off, it could cause a blood clot which can block blood flow to your heart (heart attack) or brain (stroke).. Consequently it is extremely important to monitor blood cholesterol levels to avoid these situations.

Several studies have revealed that worry raises blood cholesterol levels over time. When we're under stress, the altered stress hormone release may cause depression, decreased immune function, heart disease and other side effects for different physical organs. Add to that the higher risk from comfort eating, particularly of greasy foods, and ldl cholesterol amounts are sure to climb.

There are further conditions which add to high cholesterol levels including diabetes, some liver or kidney diseases and underactive thyroid glands. Certain medicines like beta-blockers, steroids or thiazides (a type of diuretic) may also influence blood lipid levels, and naturally smoking causes our arteries to be congested with plaque and contributes to high cholesterol.

Some foods contain additives calculated to reduce blood cholesterol levels. These foodstuffs, often dairy alternatives, usually contain plant sterols and stanols that help control cholesterol levels. If you're tempted to sample some of these foodstuffs, always be sure to read the label and understand the guidelines. If you don't have high cholesterol amounts, you shouldn't eat these products too frequently, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

For further useful guidance on eating a healthy diet and the giveaway signs of high cholesterol go to our website at Low Cholesterol Foods.